Can view photos on my CF card on my camera but won't download with reader says not formatted? What to do to?

Question

I shot 150 photos on my Nikon using compact flash card, and I see the photos on the camera but when I try to download using usb reader, I cannot open the card drive, it tell me card is not formatted do I want to format card? How do I get these pics off my card like they appear while in the camera?

Answer 1

DO NOT FORMAT. it will delete all of your pictures.

Formatting is when it cleans the USB completely, form hidden files and everything.

Unless you actually want to delete them then Format it.

Answer 2

There are several possible problems -

If you are using a card with a large GB size it may be too high of a capacity for the reader (especially if the card reader is older).  The contacts in the card reader may be dirty or have a bent pin which will confuse the software.

If you are using software that came with the camera it may have a configuration problem.  If you are using Windows try accessing it with My Computer and see if it recognizes the card that way.

If you have another CF card, try that one in the reader and see if it works.  If it doesn't, chances are the reader or USB connection is bad.  Try switching to a different connection preferably directly into the computer, not through a hub.

If none of those efforts help, the next step is to get a recovery program that will help recover data off of erased/unreadable disk and memory cards.

There are a number of these utilities available, some for free, some with free trials and many to buy at a wide range of prices.  Also, SanDisk CF cards often come with a Mini CD of recovery software.  Be sure you find one that will recover corrupted files, in case that is your problem.

Google Data Recovery CF to find lots of resources to help.

HTH

Edit:  ADDITIONAL NOTES.  If there is a message blocking access to the card reader with this card and you are using Windows, try canceling that job with "Task Manager".  If that doesn't work try to reboot your computer to clear it.  If that still doesn't work try to use your Nikon camera as the card reader by connecting the camera to the computer with the cable and software that came with the camera.  (Be sure you have a fresh battery charge before doing this, you DO NOT want a POWER FAILURE in the camera while doing this!!!)

It sounds like your card is damaged or you may have a counterfeit.

Other possibilities are -

1. Your recovery software isn't sophisticated enough to handle something that Nikon included in their processor.  Nikon is believed by some people (Canon fans?) to use some sort of proprietary algorithm that makes it hard to use cards that have been formatted in Nikon cameras in other devices, but I doubt that is the case.  But some software reads the card with machine level instructions that can get past almost every problem with the card.

2. The card was formatted on a computer, not the camera.  This is a known problem with some card readers and Windows software.

Try finding another recovery software product to use on the card or check with the card manufacturer's web site to see if they have any specific recovery recommendations.  They should be very anxious to help you because they usually want to sell you more cards and not to "dis" them.  The exception is counterfeiters, and there are lots of them selling cards on the web.

If all else fails and the pictures are important enough to warrant the expense you can send the card to a recovery service where they have expert technicians and more sophisticated software to recover lost data.

Email me if you want more specific advice.