Digital camera memory card problem

[HardyGirl]

Leave to the HardyGirl to have yet ANOTHER technology problem.

This morning I went to take a picture and I get a message that my memory card is unusable. What would make the card unusable? I was importing pics yesterday and left the card in my laptop, would that do it? I can't even review old pics on the camera anymore, but I can on my laptop. I know I can just get a new card, but I don't like not being able to review old pics on this card. Has anyone had this happen?

[Brazoo]

Maybe reformat the card and see what happens?

Reformatting will erase everything, so back up the pics first!

[HardyGirl]

I have no idea what the means.

[WannabeMego]

Without sounding too technical...what most likely happened was the Memory Card did not unmount (release) itself properly from your laptop.

Did you just remove the Memory Card while the computer was still on? If so, that could have done it...

If you can still view the pictures on the Memory Card through the laptop, one easy way (again, without getting too technical) to unmount the Memory Card from the Laptop would be to shutdown the Laptop with the Memory Card still in it. Once it's totally shutdown, remove the Memory Card then insert it back into the Camera while the Camera is completely turned off...then turn on the Camera with the Memory Card in it.

Hopefully that will work...

[HardyGirl]

I did take the card oout while the PC was turned off and put it into my camera while it was off as well. That's how I discovered this. *sigh* I guess there's nothing I can do.

Without sounding too technical...what most likely happened was the Memory Card did not unmount (release) itself properly from your laptop.

Did you just remove the Memory Card while the computer was still on? If so, that could have done it...

If you can still view the pictures on the Memory Card through the laptop, one easy way (again, without getting too technical) to unmount the Memory Card from the Laptop would be to shutdown the Laptop with the Memory Card still in it. Once it's totally shutdown, remove the Memory Card then insert it back into the Camera while the Camera is completely turned off...then turn on the Camera with the Memory Card in it.

Hopefully that will work...

[UnderdogDJLSW]

Sharry,
Do you have back ups of the photos on your hard drive? If you do, then doing as Brazoo suggests (reformatting) could be done and then you can just drag and drop the saved photo files back onto the reformatted card from your hard drive. You could also so that if you bought a new card, too.

[HardyGirl]

Sharry,
Do you have back ups of the photos on your hard drive? If you do, then doing as Brazoo suggests (reformatting) could be done and then you can just drag and drop the saved photo files back onto the reformatted card from your hard drive. You could also so that if you bought a new card, too.

Yes, I have most of the pics saved, but once again, I don't know what you mean by formatting. Remember folks, I'm technologically illiterate. I've had a digital camera for less than a year. Until then I was using a regular camera, (which I may go back to 'cos this is SO annoying!!), so please don't take it for granted I understand the jargon, 'cos I don't.

*takes a deep breath*

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

I had a weird, simiar thing happen. I got an SD card in my camera, and the other day when I wired it into my computer I got a "your card is incompatable" warning. The card stays in the camera, has been there for years and never did this before. I turned it off and on again and it worked.... but it's weird that you got something similar.

Don C.

[mego73]

I'm wondering if the card just went "bad". Or maybe it is something like some dirt is on the contacts of the card or the camera.

[HardyGirl]

I'm wondering if the card just went "bad". Or maybe it is something like some dirt is on the contacts of the card or the camera.

Well, then it probably wouldn't work in the computer either, but it does. I hope it isn't the camera. I'm ready to go on this cruise, I need my camera.

[scifiguy94]

When the card is plugged into your laptop do you know how to locate it in computer or my computer file under removable storage devices? If you do, reformating will be easy.
Reformating should solve the problem after you transfer any other pics you want to save to your laptop hard drive.

[HardyGirl]

For the third and FINAL time, I don't know what reformatting MEANS!!

Never mind, folks. I'm going to get a new memory card tomorrow, and pray I don't need a new camera.

[clemso]

For the third and FINAL time, I don't know what reformatting MEANS!!

Never mind, folks. I'm going to get a new memory card tomorrow, and pray I don't need a new camera.

Every digital camera has this function. Somewhere on your camera will be a command that allows you to reformat. You sometimes have to do this so that your camera can find a format that allows it to talk to your memory card. Your card has clearly been corrupted. Glad you made copies of your pics.

[WannabeMego]

What is the Make & Model of your Camera?

I may be able to find the User Guide for it online so I can find the page that shows you how to format your Memory Card.

[ctc]

>I don't know what reformatting MEANS!!

It's when you completely wipe everything out and start fron scratch. It kinda resets the device to how it was when you first got it. (Kinda....) If you click on the item, you should have a "reformat" or "reset" (or something similar) command on the menu. It'll reset everything. (AND ask you a zillion times if that's what you REALLY want to do....)

Don C.