HELP! Compact Flash Card Corrupt

Gambit

Hoping someone can help me as I need some advice
Basically took photos on Sat morning on several memory cards and uploaded them onto my laptop in the evening. When I got to my last card it wouldnt read anything. I put it in my Canon 400D SLR and I get the message that the card is corrupt!

Has anyone else had a similar problem? Any advice on where to go from here as I really need these photos!

Things I have tried:
- Used a card reader to try and read the CF card (no luck)
- Putting the CF back in the camera (camera says card is corrupt and shows no images)
- Used a software program called PC Inspector File Recovery (cannot find the card)
- Took it to Jessops (they scratched their heads and offered to sell me a card reader)

Redqueen

Often when memory cards say they have corrupted it is exactly that. You could try downloading some data recovery software (we use PC Inspector at work) and see if it can salvage anything, but in my experience there is often nothing you can do. We get this a lot in my job, I often get students in tears when I tell them their work has been lost

Gambit

Thanks for your prompt response Redqueen!
Yeah, I thought it was a lost cause but thought I give it a try here just in case. Do you know why these things happen? As would like to find out what went wrong with this card so can try to stop it happening again *shrug*

tronator

Gambit wrote: »

When I got to my last card it wouldnt read anything. I put it in my Canon 400D SLR and I get the message that the card is corrupt!

Do you switch off the camera when you remove cards from it? And also, when "ejecting" from the computer, do you "safely remove" them first?

Now to your problem. When inserting the card into the reader, does it show up under "My Computer" at all? If yes, you could try Recuva. If not, then I don't have a real idea apart from trying it with an Ubuntu LiveCD.

MonicaMoo

Hi Gambit

Exactly the same happened to me on Saturday after I had taken 150 plus photos for a client. I use a recovery package called Card Recovery v5.20, I think thats the correct name, it rescued all of my files although it left a few still corrupt!
Do you format your cards once you have moved the pictures on to a storage device? I would recommend this.
Hope this helps

Liz

Redqueen

Gambit wrote: »

Do you know why these things happen? As would like to find out what went wrong with this card so can try to stop it happening again *shrug*

There are a few things that can cause it, power failures or surges, not connecting it to the PC properly or removing it properly with the safely remove hardware option. A lot of the time though it is just one of those things that happens and you'll never know why it did! It's usually worth buying flash memory cards/pens from a known brand, as these are usually more stable. I've personally never had any trouble with Kingston or Sandisk, but theres always one bad apple in every barrell and sometimes it's just bad luck!

Gambit

tronator wrote: »

Do you switch off the camera when you remove cards from it? And also, when "ejecting" from the computer, do you "safely remove" them first?

Now to your problem. When inserting the card into the reader, does it show up under "My Computer" at all? If yes, you could try Recuva. If not, then I don't have a real idea apart from trying it with an Ubuntu LiveCD.

Yeah, I always turn off the camera when removing memory cards and use Lightroom which ejects the cards for me too. Unfortunately it's not even read by my PC so does not come up on 'My Computer'

MonicaMoo wrote: »

Hi Gambit

Exactly the same happened to me on Saturday after I had taken 150 plus photos for a client. I use a recovery package called Card Recovery v5.20, I think thats the correct name, it rescued all of my files although it left a few still corrupt!
Do you format your cards once you have moved the pictures on to a storage device? I would recommend this.
Hope this helps

Liz

I usually format the cards in camera after every use. My problem is that the card wont be read at all so unsure if any software could help but will give it a try tonight too.

Redqueen wrote: »

There are a few things that can cause it, power failures or surges, not connecting it to the PC properly or removing it properly with the safely remove hardware option. A lot of the time though it is just one of those things that happens and you'll never know why it did! It's usually worth buying flash memory cards/pens from a known brand, as these are usually more stable. I've personally never had any trouble with Kingston or Sandisk, but theres always one bad apple in every barrell and sometimes it's just bad luck!

Yeah, these are Sandisk. Maybe it is just bad luck, just hope it doesnt happen again!