Camera memory card dead

[zero]

Camera memory card appears dead.
Went blank while taking pictures.
The camera doesn't show anything when the card is in it, and putting it in the computer, it says that it needs to be formatted.

What can I do?
Where can i send it to retrieve the photos?

[ka jowct]

I wouldn't send it anywhere without trying one of the images rescue apps. I believe Lexar has one, and there are others.



I've used one called Picture Rescue that was being sold by Prosoft at the time that I bought it. Not sure what the deal is with Picture Rescue now, but it worked. Prosoft now sells something called Klix for image recovery:

[OWC Jamie]

Olympus has a card recovery software (it was windows only, iirc when I tried it [a long time ago])
There are a bunch of others out there ( I haven't had a SD card go bad yet)

maybe clean the gold contacts, too
( although I've only seen that work for a card that wasn't recognized at all, that used to work )

a piece of white t-shirt or white paper is often enough. shouldn't need chemicals, although tooth paste makes a good tarnish remover, but you have to be sure to remove all traces of toothpaste.

[AllGold]

I always used PhotoRescue. There are a bunch of different camera card photo recovery utilities, some free some pay. As long as the card didn't have a complete hardware failure, you should be able to recover most if not all of you photos.

[Phy]

PhotoRescue has always worked for me.
Remember to reformat the card (preferably in your camera) when you're done rescuing the photos.

[GGD]

PhotoRec is a very good free tool, it's user interface runs in the Terminal, but isn't too difficult to use.

http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec

[Paul F.]

If PhotoRescue won't "see" it, forget it.. it's done.

[Ombligo]

I routinely have student cards go bad (yep, they rip them out while shooting) and despite having several different rescue programs including both Lexar's and PhotoRescue - not one has been recoverable.

I wouldn't suggest getting to optimistic.

Sorry

[GGD]

Ombligo wrote:
I routinely have student cards go bad (yep, they rip them out while shooting) and despite having several different rescue programs including both Lexar's and PhotoRescue - not one has been recoverable.

I wouldn't suggest getting to optimistic.

Sorry

Sounds like the digital equivalent of opening the camera and exposing the film.

[zero]

Thanks!