PHOTO DISASTER

michael whillier · Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 488 Location: Queensland

Dug / Anyone

I am from Brisbane. Please read the below sob story and let me know if I have any chance of recovery

Regards
Michael

HELP NEEDED
How can I recover data off my Compact Flash when it comes up with Format Error? Is there someone who can get my data off?

BACKGROUND

5 weeks ago I bought a new 8Gb SanDisk for my NikonD70

I shot 2 seperate bouts of 500 to 600 photos after installation and downloaded and deleted the photos

Yesterday I did a shoot in the morning about 300 shots - I recharged the battery, but did not have time to download the data and clear the disk.

In the afternoon I did a further 300 shots (in total about 700 pics on the disk with some other inbetween use). The camera told me I had about 150 shots left. I had done repeated reviews of the shots on camera and could see all of them without any hint of problem.

Then it came up with the message FOR (Format Error). When I turn on the camera and try to review pictures it tells me Card Not Formatted.

I know that if I now format that card the data will be gone forever.

IS THERE ANYONE
I am hoping that there is someone who can help recover the data from the disk. Cop films always show that they can recover data from computers, surely there is a person in Brisbane who can do this too.

gggraph · Posted: Sun May 30, 2010 10:38 am Post subject: Re - PHOTO DISASTER

Hi Michael - are you reading the card from the camera, or from a card reader? If the camera, I would buy a card reader and try it from that. (Dick Smith has a multi-format reader for about $30).

Plan B is to get a data recovery utility eg: http://www.cardrecovery.com

I've never used this, so have no idea as to its uselfulness.

Or try a commercial recovery service: eg
http://www.cbldatarecovery.com.au/flash-data-recovery.html

(I just googled "CF data recovery brisbane")

Hope you get it sorted.

Cheers

Grant

Dug · Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 4837 Location: Gippsland

I am not a computer guru I am a photographer Sad

Sorry but I get other people to do this stuff for me.

Try what Grant suggested or email me at silverimage (at) powerup.com.au and i will put you in touch with the people I have used to recover my stuffups .

Hope this works out OK

michael whillier · Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 488 Location: Queensland

Thanks Grant and Dug

I was reading from the camera so will invest in a card reader.

I will also follow Dug's example and get a computer person to assist - sadly my son is in Sydney otherwise I would have used him to solve.

MJ

poonstar · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 8 Location: Melbourne

Hi Michael,

Your SanDisk card should come with RescuePro file recovery utility, otherwise you can download from their web site and register with the serial number on the packaging. This little app works really well with recovering files from your card.

http://www.lc-tech.com/software/rprodetail.html

Otherwise, try Data Rescue PC3 for Windows or Data Rescue 3 for Mac from

http://www.prosofteng.com/products/

demo versions are available. I've tried the Mac version and it worked a treat.

Best of luck!!

Bill

michael whillier · Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 488 Location: Queensland

Thanks Bill - I appreciate people taking their time to assist.

Computers and me do not mix - like electricity and water.

I have found a "propellor head" computer person who has offered to help recover. He has about 5 different options that he can try and advised that it is best not to tamper if I am unsure.

Seeing there are about 600+ pics that are at stake I am happy to get an expert on the matter.

Today I will buy a card reader and then look at what else I need to solve the case if it recurs.
I will access the sites that you and Grant recommended too.

Meantime I will follow Dug's wisdom and let experts do what I know nothing about.

The Pook · Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 2904 Location: Tasmania

Did you just plug the card into your usb port and try to read it with your computer? Did you try another card in the camera? Could be the connection in the camera if it does the same with another card.

michael whillier · Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 488 Location: Queensland

Pook

The camera works fine with the other card, and has never misbehaved in several years but it is the new card that misbehaved . . . but only on about the 5th usage, and only when I had a lot of photos on it

Thanks for the thought

I hate modern technology which loses things - at least film cameras you could see when you messed up the loading, or opened the camera back before rewinding - but these modern inventions it all happens invisibly.

Must be linked to the devil

The Pook · Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 2904 Location: Tasmania

michael whillier · Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 488 Location: Queensland

Pook

When I try downloading the computer tries to take over and wants to rush off and all manner of clever things.

I am aware of this and always tell it to cancel immediately, which does not mean that it has not done something naughty by this stage

I have had no similar trouble with the previous smaller card which I still use. Additionally, my wife lets the system download from her camera(s) and has nad no trouble.

Possible reasons:
- it does not like being cancelled (but how do I stop it grabbing the files in the first place - hopefully this will be overcome by my YESTERDAY's purchase of a card reader machine that downloads from the cards / backs up

- different cameras

- faulty 8Gb card, or faulty initial formatting

- it does not like me (I am now developing yet another personality disorder as a result)

I will work in smaller sessions and rotate cards so that I lose less in future and use the reader to backup during a shoot too. Hopefully that way I will run a smaller risk of losing too many pics.

michael whillier · Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 488 Location: Queensland

Thanks to a really nice computer boffin (he sourced several of the suggested programs, and then some more) I have recovered the pics.

Lesson 1 - take a portable backup with you
Lesson 2 - back-up every so often, even if a model has to twiddle thumbs
Lesson 3 - be nice to computer people
Lesson 4 - do not let the camera fool you in reformatting
Lesson 5 - distruct all electronic devices and follow 1 to 5 repeatedly

M

sunfire · Joined: 01 Mar 2008 Posts: 1430 Location: Toodyay

That is good news, so glad you managed to save your pics.
always something to keep in mind. Very Happy

Godspeed · Joined: 28 Jul 2010 Posts: 1

My 1TB computer hard drive failed ( there was lot of pictures Smile

), tried different softwares and companies, no hope at all. Finaly found guys from PD who got it all ...(http://www.hotfrog.com.au/Companies/ProDigi-O%C3%9C/Data-Recovery-from-b...).

michael whillier · Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 488 Location: Queensland

Thanks for the updates - all very useful.

I have since had several more problems with the D70 and different memory cards - it seems that the camera is VERY touchy about what card it will accept - all 4 others I have been sold by "experts" end up causing tears at unpredictable stages. The only card that I can rely on is a SanDisk Extreme 2Gb card

Fortunately the other cards fit into the new D700 and it seems far more robust.