Picture problems... Help!

I have a Sony Cyber-shot 5.1 mega pixels (dsc-w5) and this is the first time something like this happens to me.
I just camed back from my holidays with only 150 pictures. The problem is that when I tried to download them from the memory card to my laptop (Windows vista) some pictures had terrible defects. When I downloaded them I saw that part of each picture is grey while the other part was good.
I tried to download them to my computer and realized that the thumbnail of the picture was excelent, but when I tried to open it, it said that the drawing falled.
Also, some hours ago each time I turned on the camera I was able to see each one of the pictures and they were great. Now, each time I turn on the camera it says that there's nothing in the card.

Please! I'm really in need of help.
I hope theres a way of making disapear the grey part of my pictures while the thumbnail is ok. And I hope also that theres a way of downloading all my pictures once again without any mistake on them.

I'll wait anxiously for any help or answer.
:)
Thank you.

Pd: Here's an example of a grey picture.

See the thread from the other Cybershot owner also in this forum... Basically, it looks like your memory card is corrupt. However, all may not be lost...

One free package I just found is from MJM Data Recovery. They have a free download for their photo recovery tool. You can google them for a link to it. It'll pull any .jpg files it can find on your card. That one seems kinda old though, so you might want to look around a little for a better tool...

Once you have recovered the photos and have them safely saved on your computer you'll want to reformat the memory card using your camera.

Always insure you have fresh batteries when taking photos. Some cameras run the risk of corrupting memory cards when trying to save photos as they are running out of power. It's best to avoid the situation.

Thanks for your help! :)
But the problem is that all the pictures were deleted by the camera or by the memory card. I dont really understand how that happened because I was able to see all of them some hours ago.

Thanks anyway :)

I agree with NoKnees - it sounds like your memory card corrupted.:(

There are many ways which this can happen, here are a few:

#1. It was shocked with static electricity.
#2. It got wet or moist.
#3. It was left in the sun or in an extremely hot/cold place.
#4. The golden contacts are dirty/scratched/damaged.
#5. It was dropped.
#6. Battery power ran low as the camera was writing to the card.
#7. Or, the memory card was simply "old" - they do not have an infinite life and expire after heavy use.

Google "memory card recovery", you'll get plenty of hits - including free downloadable recovery programs. Good luck, and I hope you manage to retrieve your images.

I have a sony cyber shot 7.2mp and while reviewing the pictures on a computer while camera was attached to the USB drive, I tried to rotate to save one of the photos and received an error could not save, so I just cancel the save file. Now when I turn my camera on to view 2 files come up as file error, if I attach the camera to the USB those two files are now half gray. Please help... these are obviously the 2 most important photos to me. I google memory card recovery, but there are so many I am not suer what to choose.
Thanks for any help!!! 512mb sony prostick

beach08 - I strongly suggest you get a card reader and don't rely on the camera.

If you were looking at the files in the camera, and rotating them using the computer - I would not do that.

Copy the files on to the computer.
Then unplug the camera.
Then edit the pictures.
Same for a card reader. Copy the images and then take the card out of the reader.

Saves you accidentally trying to write back to the card.


Software?
I actually bought mine - "Don't Panic 2"
And got a free program with Sandisk - Rescue Pro.

"Don't Panic" recovered well from a corrupted CF card, retrieving almost all the damaged images. I think I lost 1 out of 50.

Your right Smartwombat, exactly what you said is what I was doing, Thanks for the tip and you better believe I won't do it again. I will try the program you referenced. Thanks again

I think they upgraded to version 3 or maybe 4 since I bought it.
But version 2 worked for me and I never saw a reason to upgrade :)