Corrupted SD Card?

[Alvi]

Hi everyone!

I took some pictures of a friend's piano last weekend and when I wanted to get them out of the SD card I noticed my MacBook didn't even detect an SD card in it. Later that day I connected it via USB to my Mac and also my Desktop PC and nothing happened. However, my DSLR detects it and it's pictures. What can I do to recover them?

 

[themumu]

Since the camera detects it fine, the problem is with the SD card reader in the computer, not with the card. Try a different computer, a different card reader, or plug the card into the camera, and connect the camera to the computer using a USB cable.

 

[Alvi]

Since the camera detects it fine, the problem is with the SD card reader in the computer, not with the card. Try a different computer, a different card reader, or plug the card into the camera, and connect the camera to the computer using a USB cable.

I did that, as I stated on the first post

Later that day I connected it via USB to my Mac and also my Desktop PC and nothing happened

 

[themumu]

I did that, as I stated on the first post

Oops, reading too fast Ultimately, if the camera detects it and shows the photos, the card should be fine. I guess there is not much else to do but try different devices.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Was the card plugged directly into the Mac? When you say it didn't detect it what steps did you take to discover it? Do you mean iPhoto (or whatever application you use) didn't open up and import your pictures or you couldn't find the device in finder?

 

[Laird Knox]

Put the card in the camera and plug the camera into the computer. You might be able to download them that way.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Put the card in the camera and plug the camera into the computer. You might be able to download them that way.

He tried that already.

 

[Laird Knox]

Oh, I read that as he connected the SD through USB rather than the built in port.

 

[bdj33ranch]

Long shot

Some cameras have a small built in memory. If your camera does maybe you can transfer internally to the camera memory. Then insert a different SD card and transfer to it from camera memory. Kind of a long shot but….

Also will the computer read any other SD cards from that camera?

 

[Designer Dale]

Try shutting the computer down and connecting the card reader with memory card already inserted. Boot the computer and see if it recognizes the card.

If not, remove the card from the reader and see if the computer gives you a Media or Disk not Properly Ejected warning. If this happens, then the computer is seeing the card but hasn't been told what to do with it (or has forgotten) and is ignoring it. In that case, click on the Desktop and select Finder Preferences from the drop down on top and make sure External Disks is checked to show on the Desktop. As a last resort, make sure your photo software is set to open a camera or disk/card when it is attached. If you are using Image Capture, this is located in the lower left corner of the app window.

After that, I'm out'a bullets...

Dale

 

[someoldguy]

Did you try all the available usb ports on each computer when you connected via usb? The card seems OK as the camera reads it . Do you have a second card you could put a few images on with your camera and see if it downloads? Can you get access to a 3rd party usb card scanner?

 

[bdj33ranch]

Another thought

Seems like I had a problem with an older computer reading the newer higher capacity SDHC (above 16GB) and all SDXC cards. There may have even been issues with Class 10 cards.

And, just to make sure, you are connecting directly - not through a USB hub….

 

[Alvi]

I think the SD card is broken... I finally managed to get those pictures out of the card but I'm unable to format it from the Disk Utility on my MacBook and also from Windows.

This is just strage

 

[Designer Dale]

I think the SD card is broken... I finally managed to get those pictures out of the card but I'm unable to format it from the Disk Utility on my MacBook and also from Windows.

This is just strage

Always use the camera for formatting any photo media card. Computers don't really understand these things. Would you format a USB drive with your camera just because it has a USB port? I don't think so.

Dale

 

[themumu]

Always use the camera for formatting any photo media card.

Indeed. I would even say, always use the camera you will be shooting with to format the card. Although it's easy to imagine that all formatting tools are the same, the reality is that I had several instances when a camera refused to read a card that was formatted using a computer, or using a different camera. They can be very picky like that.

1. Put the card in the camera.
2. Format the card.
3. Shoot photos.
4. Remove card from the camera.
5. Import photos into a computer.
6. Repeat from step 1.

 

[MiniD3]

Fwiw,

You have good advice here, especially regarding formatting in camera, a must IMHO and do it every time I put an empty or used card back in the camera

One practice I have seen of late is deleting images to make more space,
I don't know why but I am starting to see a few cards corrupt when this practice is overdone, (had to recover 1100 images for a relation last year), he was in Japan and run out of space

Lastly, do not buy cheap cards, not worth it, I bought a waterproof compact recently and they threw in a cheap card with the deal, (it had their company logo on it), silly me used it, after about 4 shoots, lost 400 images! I should have known better

An old photog journo friend of mine who travels the globe, says "just carry a hat full of cards", he doesn't even carry a laptop any more. He once fell in during a river crossing in NZ, dried out all the cards, still had the images, didn't care about the cameras, (insured), but still had the images, all good!
....Gary

 

[ChrisA]

Hi everyone!

I took some pictures of a friend's piano last weekend and when I wanted to get them out of the SD card I noticed my MacBook didn't even detect an SD card in it. Later that day I connected it via USB to my Mac and also my Desktop PC and nothing happened. However, my DSLR detects it and it's pictures. What can I do to recover them?

Easy: Leave the card in the camera and connect the camera to the computer ising a USB cable. I NEVER take the card out of the camera because my camera uses CF cards and my iMac lacks a CF slot.