On 7/18/06, Chris King <cbking@alum.rpi.edu> wrote:
> I need some computer geek help. I have a compact flash card in my
> (admittedly old) digital camera. I tried to read it in a USB card
> reader, and I got asked if I wanted to format the card. I clicked no,
> since I didn't want to overwrite my pictures. I put the card back in the
> camera, and now the camera says the card is not formatted.
>
> Have I lost my pictures?
Hard to say, Chris. Were you able to access the card via the USB
reader? Once the card is plugged into the reader, you should be able
to look at all the files on it using your Windows Explorer (right
click on the Start menu). At that point you can do a "drag and drop"
from your Compact Flash Card to your computer hard drive (My
Pictures). Once that is done, delete all the pictures from your card.
If you are using your camera software loaded into your computer you
may have to close out the camera software program first. After you
have retrieved the pictures and saved them on your hard drive, open
your camera software and chose the option to format the card.
Now.... If the camera software asked you if you wanted to format the
card, it sounds as if your pictures may have already been transfered
to your hard drive by the camera software. Can you check and see if
you have them on your hard drive before starting anything else
(above)? If you do, then you *should* format the Compact Card before
putting it back into the camera. Be aware, however, that formating the
card starts your picture indexing over again from the beginning
(DSC0001 - or whatever). I say this because in the future will will
want to save more pictures from the card onto your hard drive. When
you do, you will need to rename the picture files or they will
over-write earlier pictures with the same file name(number).
Hope this helps...
Cheers!!
Jim - 68 Midget in Dodge City
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