Formatting memory card for a digital camera?

Question

I have a kodak easyshare c180 digital camera. I used it this past week and have some very important photos on it. Someone thought they'd be smart and remove the card and now it's telling me that it needs to be formatted causing all the pictures on it to be deleted. Losing these photos is not an option. I've tried to open the files through my computer but it's still giving me the format problem. Is there anyway to bypass this just until I retrieve the photos from it?

Answer 1

You didn't mention in your attempt to read the card with your computer, whether you just plugged in the camera via USB cable, or tried to read the card using a card reader. If you don't have a USB card reader, get one and try to read the card that way. They're very inexpensive, here's an example:



http://www.amazon.com/Transcend-Flash-Memory-Reader-TS-RDP5K/dp/B001NS828K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1309123515&sr=8-1



If you still can't see the files with the reader, your next attempt should be to use recovery software with the card reader. There are very freeware options that you can try before considering the payware route. Here are a few:



http://camerarepair.blogspot.com/2007/12/recovering-those-accidentally-lost.html



Finally, after recovering and saving your photos to your computer, now format the card IN YOUR CAMERA using the camera's format feature. This should rejuvenate the card to good as new, but as you're aware, it will also erase the card.

Answer 2

Oh boy. It sounds as if that removal stunt (the camera was probably turned on at the time), has

corrupted your card. If neither device will read it there's a couple of things you can try.



A usb card reader may work. They're not expensive and are available where ever cameras are sold.

If you get the same reaction with it - it doesn't look good.



There are some free download programs for photo recovery that may help... just google.



Barring that some photo stores have software that may get them back for you but it will cost you.

If I were you I'd make the friend pay the fee if this is what you end up doing.



If none of these work the card is bad and everything on it is lost.



Now consider this, why did you allow anyone to handle your camera in the first place - never a good idea... but I guess you've already figured that out.

Answer 3

You have high chance to restore deleted or formatted images from digital camera sd card (including microsd, sdhc, sdxc, fash card, memory stick, sd mini card). Read detail tutorial below for how to recover lost pictures from digital camera.



First thing first, stop using the digital camera, do not use it to take more photos, ,do not use it to save any new files to digital camera memory card.



Next, download a professional digital camera photo recovery software, recommended asoftech photo recovery program as it helped me last time, it's high quality and easy-to-use. Download the camera recovery software for free from: