Smart Media Card - Problem with Formatting

[Nerak936]

After taking a couple dozen pics during our day trip to Hyannis yesterday, I couldn't get the card info to upload into the computer.

When I checked the card in the camera, the camera told me that the card needed to be formatted. The only options available to me were to 1) Power Off or 2) Format the card and "erase" the pics. I ended up formatting the card and lost the pics from the day.

I know the card had the pics on it at the end of the day, as I had reviewed a few of them just before we came home.

I had used this card (128mb) during our past few trips to Playa and in Texas, and it was working fine.

Did the card go "bad" on me?? Did it go over "to the Dark Side"?? I don't trust it now and will toss it rather than take a chance again on my pics being lost. Was there a way I could've formatted it and NOT lost the pics on it?

Couldn't find any info in the instruction booklet concerning this. All it says about formatting is that it needs to be done to new cards (which I knew).

It's a Olympus D-550 camera. And I really love it.

Originally Posted by Nerak936

After taking a couple dozen pics during our day trip to Hyannis yesterday, I couldn't get the card info to upload into the computer.

I had a similar problem. The card would not read in my USB card reader. It would work in the camera and if I tried another computer it would work properly. It would also work properly if I rebooted my computer. I don't know if the probelm was hardware or software, but I bought a new card reader and everything has been fine since.

If you can take and view pictures in the camera, I would think the card is OK.

[Nerak936]

Originally Posted by dgk

I had a similar problem. The card would not read in my USB card reader. It would work in the camera and if I tried another computer it would work properly. It would also work properly if I rebooted my computer. I don't know if the probelm was hardware or software, but I bought a new card reader and everything has been fine since.

If you can take and view pictures in the camera, I would think the card is OK.

I rebooted a few times and still no go. So I tested the PC by inserting another card, and it was uploaded fine, so I don't think it's the PC. And after I formatted (reformatted?) the questionnable card and shot a few pics, those loaded fine.

Just wondering if there were a way to reformat that card without having to lose the pics on it.

[Babaloo]

Originally Posted by Nerak936

IJust wondering if there were a way to reformat that card without having to lose the pics on it.

I'm afraid not.

[denisea]

Karen, couple of questions that may help to isolate the problem:

• When you used your SmartMedia card and downloaded the photos the time just prior to this one, did you do it using the camera or a card reader?
• When you used your SmartMedia card and downloaded the photos the time just prior to this one, did you erase the photos after download using the camera or your computer?
• When you formatted the SmartMedia card originally or later reformatted the card, did you do so using the camera or the computer?
• What version of Windows software are you running on your computer?

With SmartMedia cards and your Olympus camera it's recommended that formatting be done using the camera and NOT the computer. Here's some info that may help with this problem and hopefully, prevent future problems of this nature:

• It's possible that your camera's card slot needs to be cleaned. Using a air canister to give it a blast of air should do the trick if that is the issue.
• If you're running Windows XP, there are well known issues with erasing/reformatting/formatting SmartMedia cards (and other types of media cards) that renders the cards unusable in your camera. This is the result of XP adding files to the card during formating. According to Olympus, XP adds indexing mechanism files onto the card everytime it is inserted. This is not 100% accurate. XP only places additional files on the card if you use the preview option or thumbnail views when you access the card from your PC. To avoid this from occuring: when inserting your card and the XP 'what to do' option list pops up, select TAKE NO ACTION... which tells the computer to treat the card files just like any other files.
  
  Now a solution to saving the card in question for continued use with your camera is to format the card on your computer using FAT16 options (because XP uses a standard FAT32 format). To do so you will need to format the card again. To correct the format type, when the format popup menu opens, simply select 'FAT' from File System box. That's all there is to it.
  
  
• Before you reformat the SmartMedia card in question, there's a chance you might be able to recover your photos. One option, though I've never personally used it so cannot offer any opinion on it, would be to use a software program such as PhotoRescue... click here.
• As a general rule, it's advisable to just download (copy) photos off your memory cards (SmartMedia as well as other types of media) and not to manipulate (erase, reformat, format) memory cards in the computer. The preferred scenario would be to download (copy) the photos from the card either directly from your camera or a card reader and use the camera to erase/format the card.

[JimmyMN]

Originally Posted by Nerak936

Just wondering if there were a way to reformat that card without having to lose the pics on it.

There are specialized utilities (inexpensive software tech tools) that MIGHT have recovered those files (photos), even after a format. Since your chip formatted okay, it's likely you had a corrupt file allocation table. Once you format the chip and take more photos, the possibility of recovering those lost files decreases dramatically. Chalk it up to experience but here are some simple tips that can help reduce the possibility of it happening again:

1. Transfer your photos to your PC
2. Backup those transferred files to a CD
3. Then format the chip (in the camera, not on a PC)

If you simply use the erase/delete feature of the camera to eliminate those old unwanted photos, you create holes in the data structure and potential for file corruption. If you use the erase/delete feature to eliminate them via the PC when a chip reader is used, you also risk file corruption. If you format a memory chip on the PC via a chip reader you run the risk of creating an unstable, erratic or incompatable file allocation table.

If you follow the 3 part process and always format the chip after transferring and then backing up, you'll refresh the lanes of storage and hopefully reduce the potential for catastrophe.

EDIT: Actually started this reply before Denise posted the above response but got caught up watching the New Orleans - Hurricane Katrina news feeds. Essentially, a condensed repeat of the same info.

Jimmy

[thetraveller]

I can vouch for Photorescue.

During our trip to Cuba last year, my Compact Flash got corrupted. When I came home I search the internet and found this program. It recovered all the photos from the card. I can even get back photos after the card has been formated (depends on how the camer/reader formats the card).

[denisea]

Originally Posted by JimmyMN

EDIT: Actually started this reply before Denise posted the above response but got caught up watching the New Orleans - Hurricane Katrina news feeds. Essentially, a condensed repeat of the same info.

Yes, however, I believe that your condensed version is likely to be much easier to understand and follow than my unabridged version, especially for those that are not computer/tech geeks. Thanks for translating the info into simple layman terms.

[denisea]

Originally Posted by thetraveller

I can vouch for Photorescue.

During our trip to Cuba last year, my Compact Flash got corrupted. When I came home I search the internet and found this program. It recovered all the photos from the card. I can even get back photos after the card has been formated (depends on how the camer/reader formats the card).

Thanks... that's great news! And excellent info to know in the event that I or anyone else ever where to need it.

[Nerak936]

Originally Posted by denisea

Yes, however, I believe that your condensed version is likely to be much easier to understand and follow than my unabridged version, especially for those that are not computer/tech geeks. Thanks for translating the info into simple layman terms.

In other words: So that even NERAK can understand it!! I know you didn't mean it that way, Denise, but believe me, it applies!!

THANKS SO MUCH people for your help!! I'm at work right now, so I'll have to wait til tonight to digest this and bounce back at you what I think you are saying. I can say in brief that I've always formatted the cards in camera (never in the PC), and always erased the cards in camera (not in the PC). In short, is Jimmy saying I should always erase the cards (after uploading the pics into the PC) and then re-format them to make them neat and sweet for the next use??

[JimmyMN]

Originally Posted by Nerak936

Is Jimmy saying I should always erase the cards (after uploading the pics into the PC) and then re-format them to make them neat and sweet for the next use??

The process of formatting the chip will also ERASE the photos. Deleting them prior to formatting would be an unnecessary redundant step.

...and send a copy of those photos to CD for the day when your hard drive dies.

Jimmy

[Nerak936]

Originally Posted by JimmyMN

The process of formatting the chip will also ERASE the photos. Deleting them prior to formatting would be an unnecessary redundant step.

...and send a copy of those photos to CD for the day when your hard drive dies.

Jimmy

Good reminder, Jimmy. When I got the new PC with the CD burner, it took me a while, but I burned ALL of my photos to CDs. But I haven't done it since. Gotta make a habit of doing that.....

[denisea]

Originally Posted by Nerak936

In other words: So that even NERAK can understand it!! I know you didn't mean it that way, Denise, but believe me, it applies!!

LOL! You said... I didn't. Besides I know that you could have figured it out... we're slowly making you a little bit more geeky all the time without you even realizing it.

And yes, you should make it a habit of backing up your photos and other critical info on your computer on a regular basis. I'd recommend doing a back up of your photos to CD everytime you download new photos from your camera to your computer... now if I'd only heed my own advice.