lost images/ unformated card

[Vodka]

Just got back from trip to Italy with 500 images on a 16gb Lexar professional 800x UDMA 7 flash card

Shot both RAW and jpeg on the card.

Card was formatted to start, as always.

Shot images and all ok when reviewing in camera over a period of 3 days

Went to download the images from the card .

NO IMAGES!!!!

I get the the notice "card not formatted, do you wish to format now"

I haven't reformatted, just removed the card from the card reader. I have also placed the card back into the camera and getting the same notice ' card not formatted ' etc

again removed card without reformatting

Heart has now sunk thinking I've lost 500 images from the Millie Miglia!!!!

any ideas / solutions really appreciated

[Timc]

Just do a Google search for "unformatted memory card" and hopefully you might find a bit of software to download that does the trick on a free trial basis?

[Andy L]

Unfortunatly I'm in the same boat as you but about a week ahead & not so many photos to recover.
Its also a Lexar card but only 8gb & 400x & failed in the PC internal card reader.

These have all been tried on 2 different PCs with a USB card reader
I have tried Recuva which didn't work but gave an error message about a missing partition.
I then tried testdisk / photorec which also failed to find anything.
Next attempt was EaseUS datarecovery & easeUS Partition Master... Nothing
Tried to reformat card in camera. All that happened was the camera said busy followed some time later by change battery pack.
An Apple Mac was the next attempt again with no result.

So if anyone out there has any other suggestions.
It does seem to be related to the missing partition but i now have no idea what to try next to recover it.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but I suspect the cards are physically broken

MTIA for your help
Andy

[Brevet Cable]

See this topic ( amongst others on here ) for possible solutions :

http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=68425&p=678694&hilit=lost#p678694

As per that topic , if you get the "card not formatted" , do not format the card as you'll probably lose all the data on it ( they won't be recoverable ).....there are programmes out there ( free ! ) which will restore the card's FAT without formatting it -- as I posted in that topic , 'TestDisk' should do the job : http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk

[Black Mike]

The card should have come with a bit of paper with a serial number for the Lexar Image Rescue software.
Don't know if it will work without it but you should be able to download from their website.

[Brevet Cable]

From what I recall when I used it some years ago , it won't recover anything if the card's FAT is duff......or have they changed that with the recent versions ?

[Black Mike]

I've used both the Sandisk and Lexar software with good results on dodgy cards. A friend had a similar message on a PNY SD card and it recovered all the images. Took a while mind you.

[john001]

If you really want the pictures send it to a professional retrieval company - it is not cheap but you stand the best chance of getting them retreived.

There is free software to download but it was all useless when I tried. DO NOT reformat it or it will all go.

[BMrider]

Just a thought, you said you reviewed the images whilst card was in the camera, have you tried putting the card back in camera and see if you can view the the images? I dont use a card reader but transfer straight from camera to computer by cable.

[Black Mike]

Just a thought, you said you reviewed the images whilst card was in the camera, have you tried putting the card back in camera and see if you can view the the images? I dont use a card reader but transfer straight from camera to computer by cable.

Never done it myself but definitely worth a try I'd say and others have said, DO NOT FORMAT the card.

[Brevet Cable]

As per the OP's initial post :

I have also placed the card back into the camera and getting the same notice ' card not formatted ' etc

[Homer]

Could it just be damaged/dirty contacts?

The fact that you have tried to format isn't good although most of the time formatting just wipes the FAT and leaves the data intact anyway.

[flashman8]

I used this to recover images from a corrupted hard drive..........

http://www.z-a-recovery.com/download.aspx

I got the images back without having to buy the activation code

hope this helps...........

[Miramar]

I have also used Zar successfully.

Best of luck.

Dave

[Vodka]

Cheers for all the advice , really appreciated.

I will go through the software retrieval procedures as suggested. I've also contacted Lexar direct and fingers crossed looks reasonably hopeful.

I'll report back with the result so it might serve some help with others in a similar predicament

cheers

[Vodka]

Unfortunately the Image Rescue software from Lexar was unable to retrieve any images . Have now been sent to Lexar Scotland for rescue attempt. Failing that; they're off to California !

Watch this space.

[john001]

Good luck - let us know what happens. I have a card siting on my desk from Yeovilton last year with Vulcan, Etendards, Sea Kings from Commando assault none of which I will see again and I have still not made up my mind where to send it.

[sebcoe]

I had a similar problem with a new 32bd Lexar professional card recently - had most of my pics from La Ferte Alais on it! After some frantic Googling and an online chat with Lexar, established that the issue for me was that the card reader I used could not cope with the speed of the card. Bought a new reader and everything was fine. Horrible feeling though - hope you get it sorted.

[Vodka]

Update from Lexar

'I am contacting you regarding our attempt to recover the data from your Lexar card.

We were unable to access any data using the software available in our UK lab so we have sent your card on to the specialist lab in Milpitas, California and they will attempt to recover the data for you.

As soon as we get an update on this, we will let you know however this process can take around 12 weeks.'

not looking too good. Really thought the recovery would work. . but looks like a full interrogation of the memory structure!

fingers crossed. .for the next 3 months!!!!

[Vodka]

Some good news. In fact Excellent news!

After losing all my images on the flashcards . .they have all been returned on 6 DVDS with ALL images in both jpg and Raw files .

Lexar also replaced the flash cards with new ones.


Phew. Excellent customer Service from Lexar throughout this process with both communication , action and even an apology.

Go LEXAR!

[john001]

Some good news. In fact Excellent news!

After losing all my images on the flashcards . .they have all been returned on 6 DVDS with ALL images in both jpg and Raw files .

Lexar also replaced the flash cards with new ones.


Phew. Excellent customer Service from Lexar throughout this process with both communication , action and even an apology.

Go LEXAR!

It's a good advert for Lexar - based on your experience I may consider them in the future

[flashman8]

that's great service and excellent pr for Lexar.....................

did you have to pay for the dvd`s , or was that all part of the service from them..............

[Vodka]

All Dvd's included jpeg and Raw files as originally shot.

All dvd's supplied as were the replacement flash cards, at no extra cost whatsoever.

Only cost factor was sending the original flash cards to Scotland Lexar; recorded / tracked delivery . .£fiver

I have since processed the Raw files and they haven't suffered any deterioration in quality whatsoever


Very very happy customer of Lexar here.

[Vodka]

Now I know this I wouldn't consider using any third party and pay for that service.