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Help - corrupt Compact Flash card!

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Dear all;

I have a problem, and I hope it's not a BIG one.
During the past weekend, I have taken more than 200 photos
on a 512Mb Compact Flash card.
While taking the last picture, the camera suddenly displayed "Card error" and then shut down.
Since then, I can no longer access the card!
Not even on my computer, and not even while using a seperate card reader.

Some observations:
- The card worked perfectly during the entire weekend,
until I shot that last photo where the error was displayed.
- I have an old camera. Is it possible that these are not compatible with big CF cards of 512Mb and more?
- BEFORE I started using the card this weekend, I had already noticed that, when reading it with a card reader,
Windows Explorer shows not one, but TWO removable media,
of which one is empty.
- I had reformatted the card on my computer before using it this weekend. I have heard that this is not good, and that it's always better to reformat CF cards on your camera instead. Maybe this is a possible cause?
- I have tried Pantera Soft's Flash File Recovery.
The problem is that this tool only seems to see the empty partition on the flash card, not the one on which the photos are stored.
- I THINK that maybe the FAT32 file system is corrupt.

Conclusion: Does anyone have experience with recovering data from corrupt CF cards?
Apart from the tool I used, have you had any good experience with another tool for restoring data from a corrupt CF card?

Many thanks in advance!
I hope I haven't lost more than 200 photos.
Carl

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armadillo1 said:
If the memory card is not recognized in the PC or it is impossible to access the data on it, the controller on the card is damaged. There is only one way to get the data back, unsolder memory chips and directly access their raw data with a programable chip reader. Software can't help, that is a physical damage! Have a look at: CF xD SD memory card/stick photo recovery


I have some amazing photos of cassowaries on my compact flash card that cannot be accessed. I can see them through the playback on the camera but they register as corrupt and 0 bytes when trying to access them through the computer. Please don't let these photos be lost !! How do you unsolder the memory chip?

Actually, due to corruption of memory card you are suffering from this problem. Well.........don't worry because these days corruption of memory card is common issue which can be resolved easily and for this, just format your memory card.

If after formatting the memory card of your digital camera still you encounter the same problem then you have an alternate option of Foto Recovery software which by using advanced techniques quickly resolve the corruption issue of memory card.

Just download this software for a trial only. I am sure, it will definitely resolve your problem. :wahoo: 

if you have lost your memorable photos from your memory cards and want to recover them. at this situation you need an advanced photo recovery Mac software that helps you recover lost photos from the different types of memory cards or another storage media. This also recover recover your photos "however the file system of storage media has been corrupted". Use this advanced application if you want to get back your lost photos.

Mind that there is usually a white small tab on the side of a memory card reader, make sure it's on the right ("unlocked") position. Also remember to check if your type of memory card is supported by your camera or card reader, as you know different camera providers have different restrictions on certain memory cards.

If all above checks are with no problem, then I am afraid the only reason for that is your card is "really" corrupted or crashed. Pick up a cf card data recovery program to retrieve photos as soon as possible.

Note: never let the card meet any physical damage before you recover the inaccessible photos.

TNT2 said:
Dear all;

I have a problem, and I hope it's not a BIG one.
During the past weekend, I have taken more than 200 photos
on a 512Mb Compact Flash card.
While taking the last picture, the camera suddenly displayed "Card error" and then shut down.
Since then, I can no longer access the card!
Not even on my computer, and not even while using a seperate card reader.

Some observations:
- The card worked perfectly during the entire weekend,
until I shot that last photo where the error was displayed.
- I have an old camera. Is it possible that these are not compatible with big CF cards of 512Mb and more?
- BEFORE I started using the card this weekend, I had already noticed that, when reading it with a card reader,
Windows Explorer shows not one, but TWO removable media,
of which one is empty.
- I had reformatted the card on my computer before using it this weekend. I have heard that this is not good, and that it's always better to reformat CF cards on your camera instead. Maybe this is a possible cause?
- I have tried Pantera Soft's Flash File Recovery.
The problem is that this tool only seems to see the empty partition on the flash card, not the one on which the photos are stored.
- I THINK that maybe the FAT32 file system is corrupt.

Conclusion: Does anyone have experience with recovering data from corrupt CF cards?
Apart from the tool I used, have you had any good experience with another tool for restoring data from a corrupt CF card?

Many thanks in advance!
I hope I haven't lost more than 200 photos.
Carl

If you want to retrieve files from your CF card, you only need CF Card Recovery Software to recover the data inside. :wahoo: 

What's a Compact Flash card?

Typically uses flash memory in a standardized enclosure, the Compact Flash (CF) card is a popular mass storage device format used in a variety of portable electronic equipments, such as cameras, camcorders, DSLRs, game devices, music players, etc. to store photos, videos, audio files and other multimedia files safely and to make their portability easier.

This Guide Can help you :How to recover CF card data deleted, formatted or lost on Mac?

* Accidental deletion

* Pressing the reformat button in camera

* Various reasons of damage like low battery power, turning off on writing/reading, etc.

* And so forth

You may have lost your vital photos, videos and audio files from a CF card due to any reason above. As a matter of fact, the files are not completely erased from the CF card on the deletion or formatting. Only files names and properties are erased, the file content is still hanging around and recoverable. All you need is to get a CF (Compact Flash) card recovery Mac tool, which can help to retrieve all the contents. UFUSoft CF card Data Recovery for Mac (compatible with Mac OS X 10.8(Mountain Lion), 10.7, 10.6, or 10.5) is one of that. Before acting, keep in mind that less operation on the CF card gives you higher chances to get lost files back.

TNT2 said:
Dear all;

I have a problem, and I hope it's not a BIG one.
During the past weekend, I have taken more than 200 photos
on a 512Mb Compact Flash card.
While taking the last picture, the camera suddenly displayed "Card error" and then shut down.
Since then, I can no longer access the card!
Not even on my computer, and not even while using a seperate card reader.

Some observations:
- The card worked perfectly during the entire weekend,
until I shot that last photo where the error was displayed.
- I have an old camera. Is it possible that these are not compatible with big CF cards of 512Mb and more?
- BEFORE I started using the card this weekend, I had already noticed that, when reading it with a card reader,
Windows Explorer shows not one, but TWO removable media,
of which one is empty.
- I had reformatted the card on my computer before using it this weekend. I have heard that this is not good, and that it's always better to reformat CF cards on your camera instead. Maybe this is a possible cause?
- I have tried Pantera Soft's Flash File Recovery.
The problem is that this tool only seems to see the empty partition on the flash card, not the one on which the photos are stored.
- I THINK that maybe the FAT32 file system is corrupt.

Conclusion: Does anyone have experience with recovering data from corrupt CF cards?
Apart from the tool I used, have you had any good experience with another tool for restoring data from a corrupt CF card?

Many thanks in advance!
I hope I haven't lost more than 200 photos.
Carl


I had the exact same problem. I had taken over 600 photos on a trip to Patagonia, suddenly the camera read 'card may be damaged'. when I got home I assumed I would simply be able to retrieve the photos via a card reader. No such luck, computer did not even recognize the card as being there. A local company attempted to retrieve the photos but were unable to do so, telling me that the 'controller chip' was bad and the card would have to be taken apart to read. They referred me to a company in the US that wanted 800-1000 dollars to retrieve the photos which was out of the question for simple vacation photos, but I found a company in Germany by the name of RECOVERFAB, www.recoverfab.com that was able to do it for a fraction of the price. Totally easy, placed the order on the internet, sent them the card by simple international post and as soon as they had the card they retrieved the data and sent the previews of the photos. If they are unable to get the photos off of the card you don't pay anything so its risk free. Could not be happier, a trip to Patagonia is a once in a lifetime vacation.
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