Help needed

[carlosrowlett]

I went to a show last weekend and brought my digital camera to take some photos. The next day I was formatting an older photo from a few weeks before. I agreed to the confirmation of formatting it, and before I knew it every single photo (including the ones from the concert) was gone. Are they deleted forever? How can they be deleted if I was only formatting? I think they must be somewhere in the camera or on the memory card. I've taken it to 2 camera places to see if they can be recovered, but to no avail. There must be some other option!

Any advice would be appreciated, those pictures mean a lot to me!!

Thanks.

[Frog]

When you format a memory card it erases all the -photos on the card.
I format my cards right after I download my photos.
I get a warning that all photos will be deleted and whether I want to proceed.

[pafindr]

You agreed to format the memory card?
If that's the case then you wiped the disk clean. There is nothing that you can do for it.

[jetrim]

Not so fast boys, anyone else remember this:

Lexar Image Rescue™ 3 software is simple, intuitive image recovery software that can recover lost or deleted files from any type or brand of memory card, using any card reader-giving you peace of mind that your valuable images and files are not lost.* And Lexar Image Rescue 3 software not only provides image recovery, but now restores video and audio files as well.

check it out here: http://lexar.com/software/image_rescue.html

[pafindr]

I didn't think you could recover files from a formatted disk.
After doing a little digging I see that a formatted disk isn't totally erased.
Standard formatting only erases the file structure information not the actual files.
Hopefully, Carlos, you can still recover those files.
Good luck.
Thanks jetrim for jumping in and setting the record straight

[freygr]

1) do not use the card, you will over write the existing photos and make them NOT recoverable

2) if the card 16 gig you will need 16 plus gig on your hard drive

3) use the Lexar Image Rescue™ 3 , or another recovery program to recover your photos. Be aware it can take a very long time depending on memory card size and other factors. Over night is not to long and may be a day or longer.

Under stand formatting can very depending on your card type. Most of the time the format just deletes the FAT table by marking the enters as unused.

[another view]

First off, like it was mentioned, if you have a problem with a card or accidentally deleted something (like I did last summer), stop using it. Grab another card, continue shooting and deal with it later.

Check the post near the top of the Help Forum for advice on how to handle this. Lots of people have had problems and different things work in different cases. Lexar software may work, maybe not - but if not Google to find other recovery software (new stuff comes out once in awhile).

If you didn't take another shot after you formatted the card, you have a pretty good chance of getting the images off of it. They don't really "disappear"; it just removes the directory. If you really need the shots, try a place that specializes in data recovery ($$$).

Other than the one shot I deleted accidentally in-camera last summer, I've never had a problem. Here's what I do - shoot, download entire card, backup, put card back into bag. The next time I put that card into the camera, I format it right before I shoot it. That way, if there's a problem with the download or backup, I have another copy on the card for at least a few days or until I use it again.

[icicle]

Not so fast boys, anyone else remember this:


check it out here: http://lexar.com/software/image_rescue.html

Agreed with this one, I also use image_rescue, and I have also been there and done it myself.
and if you have boughten any lexar cards you might be able to get it for free.

[mn shutterbug]

I've formatted my card several times, reused the card several times, and in all but 1 case, was able to recover photos taken several months ago. I use the recovery software that came with my Sandisk card. You should be able to recover most, if not all, of the photos on the card, even if it's been used since you formatted it.

[freygr]

I've formatted my card several times, reused the card several times, and in all but 1 case, was able to recover photos taken several months ago. I use the recovery software that came with my Sandisk card. You should be able to recover most, if not all, of the photos on the card, even if it's been used since you formatted it.

A note, You will only be able to recover non-overwritten photos. If the photo you need has been overwritten it's non-recoverable. That is why you do not use the card until you have FINISHED with the file recovery.

[Martin Brazil]

Why format the card every time it is used ?

[freygr]

Why format the card every time it is used ?

You don't need to, but it makes them feel good. The only time you really need to format it is if there is a problem with the file system on the card, then it just resets the FAT and rewrites the sector markers if needed(most of the formatting is handled by the cards firmware to prevent premature failure from exceeding the finite number of write cycles of flash memory)