Corrupted Files again

[Catcha]

I am really wondering what causes this as. my photos recently downloaded fine from my last sydney trip 2 months ago , using a brand new CF card.

But have not had the need to format the cards as they were not full, Tonight decided to take some happy snap of a Kris Kringle party we had and tonight decided to load them up in the card reader, corrupted file.
Decided to load my other CF card in to find the same message. So thats two cards with corrupted files.......

Anybody else experiencing this problems cause its like everytime I expect to put my CF card into the reader, i'm going to be sitting at my comp trying to recover the damn things aarrghhh frustrating.


I must be doing something wrong in causing this

[ipv6ready]

Did you have this problem couple of months ago?

I can't really help. But if you still have the cf card rescue program then I guess its a lot of hassles but you will get most of your picks back.

I presume you are using different brands?

Have you tried different CF Card Reader?

And if you still have a problem how old is your d70? If less then a year -> send it to Nikon for a checkup. And a service.

I have used kingston, sandisk and lexar with no problems.

I am sure others in this forum will give you other ideas.

Quick question? do you format in the camera or the PC?

[Catcha]

Did you have this problem couple of months ago?

I can't really help. But if you still have the cf card rescue program then I guess its a lot of hassles but you will get most of your picks back.

I presume you are using different brands?

scandisk transend

Have you tried different CF Card Reader?

only got one

And if you still have a problem how old is your d70? If less then a year -> send it to Nikon for a checkup. And a service.

I think it might be card reader

I have used kingston, sandisk and lexar with no problems.

I am sure others in this forum will give you other ideas.

Quick question? do you format in the camera or the PC?

I haven't done a firmware update since I got the camera that coulc be it..going to do it now

[MattC]

Just wondering if you ever work from the CF media.

A couple of terms sprung to mind in regard to transfer mode of data.... sync and async. In terms of the Windows OS this is "Optimise for Quick Removal" (sync - disable write caching... ie write then and there enabling card to be pulled without thought) and "Optimise for performance" (async - enable write cache but means using "Safely Remove Hardware" as data may not be written to CF but stored in a cache somewhere). These settings are found in Properties (for the drive) > Hardware > Properties > Policies in WinXP.
Sync is very bad for solid state media due to the finite number of write cycles the media can endure and it is the area of the FAT that usually fails first. Even with a life of hundreds of thousands or millions of cycles (sounds like a lot but it is not really), continuously writing to the media, especially one area (ie FAT), will shorten its life significantly. Async writes to the media when the cache is full or when you manually sync through "Safely Remove Hardware". BTW, sync is the default setting for WinXP when using removable media. Changing to async would be better for the life of the media but may not fit well with "Safely Remove Hardware" as the card reader itself (maybe not yours... mine does) needs to be unplugged then plugged before re-use.
My policy for using solid state media is to do a straight transfer of files (either to or from) and then remove it... never working from it.

Just a few thoughts and probably totally unrelated to your problem. It could be that you are suffering a dodgy card reader or flakey camera. I'd blame the card reader first.

Cheers PS. But two cards at once???!!!!

[the foto fanatic]

Just wondering if you ever work from the CF media.

My policy for using solid state media is to do a straight transfer of files (either to or from) and then remove it... never working from it.

Cheers

I read somewhere (maybe Thom Hogan) that the best work flow is:
- transfer pix from card to computer via card-reader. Use "copy" command rather than "move" command
- check to see that pix have been copied to new location
- remove card from reader and return to camera
- format card in camera. Never format the card in your computer.

I hope this is helpful and good luck with retrieving your pix.

[MattC]

Yep, that is exactly how I do it - although I can see how the quoted statement could (maybe) lead you to believe otherwise. I use my cards for other stuff as well.

Cheers

[the foto fanatic]

I was agreeing with your post, Matt!!
Sorry if it appeared otherwise.

[MattC]

 LOL No drama.

Cheers

[Glen]

Trevor, I think your first line should be "transfer from card to computer"



Ben, do you format the card after every use in the camera? I would suggest that is the first thing you start doing it if you dont already.

Just wondering if you ever work from the CF media.

My policy for using solid state media is to do a straight transfer of files (either to or from) and then remove it... never working from it.

Cheers

I read somewhere (maybe Thom Hogan) that the best work flow is:
- transfer pix from card to camera via card-reader. Use "copy" command rather than "move" command
- check to see that pix have been copied to new location
- remove card from reader and return to camera
- format card in camera. Never format the card in your computer.

I hope this is helpful and good luck with retrieving your pix.

[greencardigan]

Have you tried using the USB cable instead of the card reader?

[gstark]

Do you turn the camera off - and wait for the camera to power down - before removing or inserting the card from to to the camera?

Failure to observe that procedure can lead to the problems you're describing.

[Matt. K]

A number of things to avoid doing with CF cards. If you use the cards to transfer other data...then reformat in - camera as soon as you have completed the transfer.
Do not create extra folders from within your camera. Extra folders seem to cause some problems with read reliability. Also avoid renaming folders.

Reformat the card in - camera only....and after each big shoot.

As Gary mentioned...never insert or remove card whilst camera is switch on.
If you are still having problems then suspect the card reader. Try borrowing one to see if it cures the problem.
Good Luck

[Catcha]

Have you tried using the USB cable instead of the card reader?

Might have to try it out

Ben, do you format the card after every use in the camera? I would suggest that is the first thing you start doing it if you dont already.

I don't format the card every use Cause I don't use it all up (I know i'm bad)

Eg Sydney Trip Took it down with a Scan disk, took heaps of photos but not to full capacity, Decided to purchase another one and took a few on that as well.

In between that time I have been adding pictures to both cards with the Sydney trip on it exchanging cards but mainly keeping the Transend in there for miscellanous shooting to practise and also downloading it to iview that seems fine

Two months past till last night when i decided to make sure I have backed up all my stuff. I took the camera out last night to take pictures of the Party all was good come home to download it no go....I though ok I just grab mysecond card to see whats left to backup just in case I miss something corrupt file again.

I guess in the end is it a no no to store the information on the CF cards for a certain period without downloading them?

If I start shooting with a card I should reformat the card all the time


Eg I don't fill up my cards so after whatever I shoot I download it, then keep on shooting again with the previous shots on it, and repeat the process again. Until I feel the need to format the whole thing and start again. Is this a bad procedure ????

[MattC]

It certainly does not hurt to format the card before use. Besides that, there is no point in having shots that have already been downloaded hanging around on the card, using up space and ultimately end up being downloaded a second or third time. That also consumes disk space and requires periodic cleaning, plus care would need to be taken not to overwrite identical images that may have had adjustments applied if you start moving them around. Just good housekeeping....

Cheers

[shutterbug]

Maybe trying taking the card to a friends place and try it on there pc/mac with there reader too?

[Glen]

Ben, your workflow sounds messy, if not exactly detrimental to your cards. I use a card, download when I want then stick it back in the camera and reformat immediately. Reformatting in camera is better than on your PC as then the FAT etc match your camera. No card problems yet.

[the foto fanatic]

Trevor, I think your first line should be "transfer from card to computer"

That's what it says!

(Now that I have edited it!! Thanks for picking up that rather large gaffe, Glen. )

[Catcha]

Ben, your workflow sounds messy, if not exactly detrimental to your cards. I use a card, download when I want then stick it back in the camera and reformat immediately. Reformatting in camera is better than on your PC as then the FAT etc match your camera. No card problems yet.

Problem is I like to keep things on the card to a certain point before I format everything. well it does automatically now sort of

It's like I take 20 shots at a party, ok have 380 shots left, download on computer, think to myself well 380 left might as well whack the card back in and keep shooting until i reach a certain level say 180 shots left then decided to format the card and start fresh again.

But from now on I will certainly try the advice given start fresh on time everytime I shoot