Desperately needing help with XD memory card

[sean0801]

Folks, i am really needing help from those that know.

Just got back yesterday dfrom my first trip to sharm, on the last day i got in the water with my camera (olympus c350 zoom with PT 017 housing) just your basic point and press thing. It had been fine all week but this time it was showing me a screen i'd never seen before (POWER OFF / FORMAT) not knowing what to do, but thinking formatting would be bad i just took the power off option and got on with the snorkelling regardless. Later back on the boat, i re powered it up and everything was fine, all my pictures were there etc etc.
This morning i plugged it in to my pooter to download all the pictuers, and it gave me the same screen (POWER OFF / FORMAT), now even after powering off reseating the memory card or removing and refitting the batteries i can't get rid off this screen. I've tried another memory card and this works fine.

Please tell me i aint lost all my pics, any help on this will be very much appreciated and a donation to RNLI will be forthcoming.

Thanks folks

[Sooty Stoo]

Have you tried going through the my computer icon to the card, but instead of opening it, right click then selecting 'explore'?

If that doesn't work, then as far as I know, it's freaked out and needs re-formatting, ALTHOUGH I may be very wrong.

[sean0801]

Originally Posted by Sooty Stoo

Have you tried going through the my computer icon to the card, but instead of opening it, right click then selecting 'explore'?

If that doesn't work, then as far as I know, it's freaked out and needs re-formatting, ALTHOUGH I may be very wrong.

I havn't but i'll give that a go when i get home, if i reformat the card will i lose all the pictures?

[Sooty Stoo]

I'm afraid so.

Sorry.

[Scubee]

I would think that reformatting it would be your very final option. In fact, with the cost of XD cards, I wouldn't, because then, for sure you will lose your pics.

You could try putting the card into another camera, or card reader. If you get the same problem, then the card may be bu88ered, but someone with a few skills may be able to get the pics off for you.

I have a camera which takes XD cards, and I am quite happy to put your card in it to see what happens but distance may be a problem. SOmeone near you may be better placed to help.

[Horndog]

Before you format card, If saw a feature on Gadget show, a while ago which shows that data can almost always be retrieved from a memory card.

It might be worth a phonecall to a local Photo Shop or some one else on YD may be able to offer a different option?

try a google search for "xd Data recovery" comes up with a lot of companies offering the service. I cant recomend any or give any Idea on price though

Marc

[turbanator]

I had a card go bad once, different symptoms to yours though.

Photorecovery sorted me out, I even licenced it , but have since lost my licenced copy , there is a free demo download.

hth
P

[sean0801]

Thanks folks, that gives me a few things to try and makes me feel a bit better. losing these pictures really isn't an option regardless of the cost of retrieving them

[Scubee]

Originally Posted by sean0801

Thanks folks, that gives me a few things to try and makes me feel a bit better. losing these pictures really isn't an option regardless of the cost of retrieving them

Got some good ones? I hope we will get to see them.

[sean0801]

First time to sharm, first holiday with girlfriend, first time she had been in the ocean, first , first , first....

I'm not much of a photographer but if i retrieve them i'll try and post a few