Not Happy - Unsolicited Format of CF Card...

[leek]

I went for a walk about the Rocks and Circular Quay today and I'm sorry to say my D70 (or the CF card) had a hiccup that caused me to lose half of my photos...

After I'd taken about 15 shots, I framed for another and while the camera was focussing correctly, the shutter didn't fire... When I looked at the LCD on the top, I noticed that "For" was flashing... I consequently lost the shots from the first half of my day...

This is the second time this has happened to me... I gave the camera the benefit of the doubt the first time, but I'll be watching closely from now on...

[LostDingo]

thus why it can of concern when you have an 8 gig card in camera

sometimes better to change more frequently although I would love to have an 8 gig card

[Suri]

thus why it can of concern when you have an 8 gig card in camera Evil or Very Mad

sometimes better to change more frequently although I would love to have an 8 gig card

Something I have always considered as well.
The big cards would be a pleasure, if they could be afforded, but to lose such a large amount of data could be very upsetting.

As a matter of habit, I always download - check - then erase in camera, never waiting for the card to become full.

Must admit that I have never practised this caution with our point and shoot Canon G3 - just the SLRs.

[leek]

If I'd thought about it at the time, I should have changed CF cards and tried to recover the files at home... As it was, I left the card in there and my new photos overwrote the old ones...

[Nnnnsic]

Depending on whether or not you got BGLOD, you may have the faulty CF slot which happened on the cameras that didn't have BGLOD.

It pops up only from time to time, but a lot of people don't even know it exists.

[skyva]

As you seem to have worked out, formatting the card in camera only writes to the file allocation table, and does not overwrite photos. Taking the card out and running a program like lexarmedia Image Rescue will recover all the images if you do not take any more photos. I have not had your problem with my d70 but I have recoverred photos from cards that were formatted accidently.
I got the image rescue software free with something I bought, can't remember what it was now, but it is very useful software to have. The software just tells you it has found files of unknown format on the card and doesn't tell me whether it was jpg or nef, however if it is 4-5mb it is nef, 1-2 mb jpg. I rename them appropriately and no probs.
Is this what others do, or is there better software out there?

Although I have seen others say not to, I will sometimes do a format on a card using a pc to check for bad sectors, which can then be mapped out. I then format it again in the the camera so that the file allocation table is set up correctly for the camera. I use sandisk ultra 2 cards and have had no problems, so maybe try a format on the card in a pc where it writes to and reads the sectors, as there might be bad areas. Maybe the camera tries to reformat the card when it gets to bad spots on the card as it fills up.

[leek]

Depending on whether or not you got BGLOD, you may have the faulty CF slot which happened on the cameras that didn't have BGLOD.

It pops up only from time to time, but a lot of people don't even know it exists.

Hmmm... No... I haven't had the BGLOD (yet) and I hadn't heard of the faulty CF slot problem... What was annoying is that it quite merrily took about 20 shots and then decided to reformat... Is there anything that can be done about the CF slot?

Skyva... I'll certainly adopt that approach if it ever happens again... I use PC Inspector which is freeware and seems to work well...

Just tried a format and check disk on the PC and neither reported any errors on the card...

[Matt. K]

John
It's not impossible to press the 2 buttons accidently. I once noticed that my camera was 'flashing FOR' when I had not intentionally activated it.

[leek]

John
It's not impossible to press the 2 buttons accidently. I once noticed that my camera was 'flashing FOR' when I had not intentionally activated it.

It's possible Matt... but you'd have to be very unlucky... The left hand button is tucked away out of trouble, but I must admit that the top right button is dangerously close to the shutter button... My understanding is that you need to hold down both for about a second to request a format and then hold both down again to confirm... It seems unlikely that you could do it accidentally, but it is a possibility...

Anyway... I have a plan of attack for next time (assuming that I notice)... Swap cards and I should be able to recover later at home...

[stubbsy]

John

I'm with you - I doubt that you could accidentally press the two buttons since it needs to be done TWICE to do the format. That said I also find it hard to see the camera software deciding to do a format too. Are you certain it said FOR and not something else like CHA which would indicate a card problem.

[birddog114]

My thought is: how can you get "FOR" if you just accidentally pressed two buttons and required to do again to get the "FOR"

"FOR" & "CHA" are two difference words and I'm sure leek seen it well.

Swapping cards or not won't help with the "FOR" & "CHA"

[leek]

John

I'm with you - I doubt that you could accidentally press the two buttons since it needs to be done TWICE to do the format. That said I also find it hard to see the camera software deciding to do a format too. Are you certain it said FOR and not something else like CHA which would indicate a card problem.

No... Definitely FOR...
Probably a glitch, but I'd be interested to hear more from Leigh about this CF slot problem...

[Nnnnsic]

Before I'd put my D70 into Maxwells, I'd been getting random "CHA" errors from my camera from CF cards.

The problem was simple:
Every so often, I'd get a "CHA" error that would force me to turn the camera off or pull the card out, even if I'd been shooting with no problems a minute ago.

It wasn't the card.

So when I put the camera in for warranty before the Maxwell one gave out, I asked them to check the CF slot.

When I got it back, the receipt said something like "Faulty CF slot replaced".

I've since heard of this happening with other D70 users and they've been in the same group as the rest of us who got our cameras after the BGLOD issue had been fixed.

So, while I doubt it's in every post-BGLOD camera, it is one that does seem to be present in quite a few.

[DVEous]

... Obsolete ...

[tasadam]

What about flashing the firmware in your D70?
If there is a problem that is not hardware (faulty CF card) maybe that will help - iron out glitches??

And for card recovery - I was surprised the first time I used a CD card recovery utility I found - I had formatted the card heaps since the card was last "full", and used it heaps since then too, but hadn't filled the card in a while.
The program was able to recover some images that were there from the last time the card was full. Certainly surprised me!

[leek]

The same problem hit me twice again today... with two different CF cards... I'm starting to believe that it may be something to do with a faulty CF card slot...

This time, I swapped cards and didn't lose any shots...

I might have to test out my extended warranty on the D70 and send it in for repair...

[birddog114]

The same problem hit me twice again today... with two different CF cards... I'm starting to believe that it may be something to do with a faulty CF card slot...

This time, I swapped cards and didn't lose any shots...

I might have to test out my extended warranty on the D70 and send it in for repair...

leek,
It's time to seek for a new camera (D200 or D2x) for your coming BD.
And give it to your little Leek.
I'm sure it gets older as we go.

[Jenno]

John,

I had a similiar experience on Sunday with my D70.

Took 2 images, checked them on screen at the time and they were OK. Continued to take other shots without any hint of a problem until I tried to PP them in capture. 2 images out of 20 would not load.

The camera had created addditional sub directories on the card as well which is something I hadnt encountered before.

Bit weird and concerning.

Formated the card and havent taken any images since.

I'll try again on the weekend

Can anyone shed any light on what may have happened?

Ray

[birddog114]

Jenno,
Photos (files) were corrupted.
- Try difference card reader or USB cable
- Format the card with D70
- Perhaps giving some doubts with the CF card slot of your D70 (Interface)

[Jenno]

Thanks Thanh,

I use a card reader to transfer the images and havent had any problems before.
I have formatted the card in the D70

The puzzle is why would it create the 3 directories on the card. That gave me the impresssion it was a fault in the camera or as you have suggested the CF card slot rather than the CF card reader

Ray

[Mal]

Just had the same problem today.
I can also add that when I previewed the files "in camera" I would get the "No files" dialogue information where a corrupt photo should have been, all the others were still viewable. I also continued shooting today and as such lost about 20 photos. When I went to download to the computer via the card reader there were no photos but a text document in the folder saying corrupt files. I should have kept this and placed it here but instead did a disk format on CF card via the USB connection and then also did another on the d70. Lets see if it continues to happen. Hopefully not. Love to hear what your end result was Leek?

[birddog114]

Mal,
The end of the result from leek is:
He ordered and got his D200 last week
Perhaps he now left his D70 in the cupboard and let it RIP

[leek]

Love to hear what your end result was Leek?

I've had the same problem several times since then... with different CF cards...

Now that I have my D200, I think I might take the D70 to Maxwells to get the CF slot repaired...

[Mal]

Now that I have my D200, I think I might take the D70 to Maxwells to get the CF slot repaired...

Thanks Leek, so the end result is I have to spend $$$$$
Better get this done before I head O/S next month. Anyone have any idea on how long and how much this little repair will cost me?