Rebel XT trip to NY and card is corrupted

[boomerang]

Just got back from NYC and my Lexor 80x 1gig card is showing 37 photos and 200 corrupt files :(

I just tried photorescue but the program is not finishing through recovery method two...and support had little answers.
So I dropped off the card to at local photo shop that handles recovery.... no verdict yet!


Card has worked fine for about 400 photos....any reason for the change.

Im really sad and hope it works out.

Would you guys trash the card at this point for fear of future problems.

[Edgar in ATL]

Sorry about your malfunction. Reformat and test before tossing. Did you open CF door without turning off camera?

[Grrry]

I had this happen with a Lexar 1G 80x card several times. After a few times, even the computer would not talk to the card. I exchanged it under warantee since I had it less than 9 days when it happened. A friend at work has now had a 2G Lexar 80x card do the same thing to him, and he's in the process of trying to exchange it under warantee.

I've found that any time I use the camera to erase individual pictures before unloading the images to the computer I end up with corruption problems. I've stopped doing any erasing, and am strictly sticking to reformating after I've unloaded the card now. I've not had the problem again since, but then I'm still within the first month of having the cards & camera.

[AcuraFan]

i have no problems with my 2gb and 1gb lexar cards.

[boomerang]

Grrry thats exactly what has happened to me. Did you get to recover the images?

The place I brought it to says the card keeps crashing there system. Probably will start buying SanDisks.

[defordphoto]

I tellya. I read more and more and more about Lexar cards going belly up. Seems their quality control has gone down the crapper in a HUGE way. The only Lexar card I have is the one Canon gave away a few years ago for filling out a survey. I stick with Ridata and Sandisk and I have a couple of IBM MDs. So far, zero failures.

[cactusclay]

Bummer, I never use anything larger than 512.

[cfcRebel]

Perhaps i'm too cheap. I went with lowprice CFs, kingston and Viking. Zero failures.

[Tudordoc]

I am scared to read this thread as I have a Lexar 1gb 80x card. However I have just been reading this thread in another forum http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/remark,13020914. I wonder if the corruption comes from taking the card in and out to use a card reader? Are those without problems using the direct usb2 connection, and those with problems using a card reader?

I think I'll reformat the card before doing an important shoot!

TudorDoc

[Grrry]

Grrry thats exactly what has happened to me. Did you get to recover the images?

The place I brought it to says the card keeps crashing there system. Probably will start buying SanDisks.

I was able to recover the images with the rescue program from Lexar.

I've not had it happen since I stopped erasing photos I decide on the spot are bad, but instead wait until unloading onto my computer. I'm not sure if it's going to repeat or not yet. That my co-worker had his 2G card go belly up really disturbed me. I bought 2 of the 1G cards under the presumption that it was better to have a spare than to have one and only one card that could have problems. I've had someone else tell me they had a problem with their CF card (at one of my son's soccer games), but the way they got it to clear up eventually was to remove all the batteries (including the time/date keeper) and let the camera sit for a while. After that they claimed not to have the problem any longer.

This leads me to wonder if the Rebel is causing the problem, damaging the cards, not that there's faults with the cards themselves.

[gquiring]

I have been using an older 40X Lexar card with no issues. Is there a known problem with the 80X cards?

[Grrry]

I dunno if there's a known problem or not. I just keep running into people having trouble with corrupted pictures, way more than I expected when I started using my nice pretty nifty nice new Rebel XT. ;)

[Jackal]

I have a 1gb 80x lexar card and I've run into 1 or 2 corrupted pictures since I've gotten it. I have no clue what caused them....They just showed up as "CORRUPT" in black and yellow when trying to preview them. They weren't important images so I wasn't angry. It hasn't happened in a long time but hopefully it doesnt happen to any important pictures :(

[gastroboy]

what camera's are you guys using when this error comes up? I am assuming that not all of you have rebel xt's?

I only ask cos this is getting me kinda worried...

[Grrry]

what camera's are you guys using when this error comes up? I am assuming that not all of you have rebel xt's?

I only ask cos this is getting me kinda worried...

Every one of the instances I mentioned of the cases where I've spoken to someone directly was a Canon Rebel. One of them was the older rebel (where the gentleman removed the batteries for a while, and the problem went away), the rest were ALL Rebel XT's.

This started to concern me when as I started to track down other stories on the matter. I started doing that after my Lexar card went south and I found several isolated instances of people reporting like problems. Most of them have just been mild image corruptions happening semi-regularly and they've blown it off as something they did (at first I wondered if I'd popped the CF card while the camera was still on for instance). A handful have been catastrophic where the card ceased to work with the camera or their computer. In every bad case it's been 80x cards.

That doesn't mean Lexar has screwed up, just as it's possible for your computer setting to control your monitor can damage the monitor, I'm wondering if it could be something in the camera damages the CF card. Or the combination of the 80x card and the Rebel maybe has some setting that's not quite right. Or who knows, maybe the 80x cards have quality control problems and some percentage of them are slipping out without problems being caught. I don't know.

[defordphoto]

Bummer, I never use anything larger than 512.

I use nothing less than a 1g.

[mdm]

I don't know about these lexar cards but I had a flash drive go bad and sent in for repair. They sent it back and it worked for 2 days and it almost caught fire before my eyes while plugged into the computers front usb. If I wasn't there watching I wouldn't have believed it and it could have screwed up the motherboard.

[tim]

Did you open CF door without turning off camera?

I do that all the time, though i'm careful to let it stop writing to the card before I take it out of the camera.

I use two 1GB Sandisk Ultra II and i've never had a single problem with them. I have those two 1GB cards, and a 2GB card of the same model on the way. I wouldn't bother buying anything less than 1GB, and i've now moved to 2GB cards for all new purchases.

[CappuccinoDavid]

You won't believe it, but I went to Dell (ooh the four letter word) and just got a Kingston 1GB and the price wasn't bad, I think it was around 67.00 USDollars. If it bottom up I will let you know. Canon said to use there Card, but I don't believe them.

[robertwgross]

Hints:

1. First, make sure that your new CF card is formatted. I recommend doing a complete format in the computer to make sure it is squeaky clean, and then do the quick format in the camera.
2. Never open the CF door on the camera unless you are damned sure that the camera is not writing to the card. Then maybe wait an additional two seconds, just to make sure that the camera did not pause in the writing session.
3. Once any CF card starts to act strangely, get it out of the camera and don't put it back in until you have checked it out. Checking it out would involve doing file recovery, then a complete format in the computer, and then a quick format in the camera.
4. Keep your camera battery at a reasonably good state of charge, and if you get an indication that the battery is going flat, then it may already be insufficient for it to complete the writing session, which means that it is maybe corrupting the CF card right then.
5. Along the same lines as battery maintenance, make sure that the camera accessories you use are not abnormally drawing down the battery into a flat state. I think of the built-in flash, and AF lenses, especially ones with I.S. (since they use more power from the camera).

If you think about it, the Digital Rebel XT has a smaller battery than the other cameras of this same family. That smaller battery has much less capacity. If you have too much load on the battery, it is going to have power problems earlier, and that might manifest as improper CF card writing sessions.

I think the Digital Rebel XT's battery type is the one thing that shocked me the most when that camera was introduced recently. It does not seem like a good choice for heavy duty use.

---Bob Gross---

[tim]

I think the Digital Rebel XT's battery type is the one thing that shocked me the most when that camera was introduced recently. It does not seem like a good choice for heavy duty use.

It's either to give the 20D an advantage, or to make it small and light. Maybe a bit of both.

[mgchan]

I've had a Rebel for almost a year before selling it and getting the 20D about a month ago, and I've never experienced any problems with my CF cards. What I always do is to make sure the camera is switched off before I ever remove the card. I also find it easier just to reformat the card each time in the camera, rather than deleting photos.

[Sicily1918]

Hints:

1. First, make sure that your new CF card is formatted. I recommend doing a complete format in the computer to make sure it is squeaky clean, and then do the quick format in the camera.
2. Never open the CF door on the camera unless you are damned sure that the camera is not writing to the card. Then maybe wait an additional two seconds, just to make sure that the camera did not pause in the writing session.
3. Once any CF card starts to act strangely, get it out of the camera and don't put it back in until you have checked it out. Checking it out would involve doing file recovery, then a complete format in the computer, and then a quick format in the camera.
4. Keep your camera battery at a reasonably good state of charge, and if you get an indication that the battery is going flat, then it may already be insufficient for it to complete the writing session, which means that it is maybe corrupting the CF card right then.
5. Along the same lines as battery maintenance, make sure that the camera accessories you use are not abnormally drawing down the battery into a flat state. I think of the built-in flash, and AF lenses, especially ones with I.S. (since they use more power from the camera).

---Bob Gross---To add to your excellent list:

6. Buy/have at least two cards. I wanted a 2GB CF, but decided it would be best to have two 1GB cards instead -- you never know when something may happen (previous experience with a Sony mem stick).
7. When transferring files (whether it's from a card reader or the direct USB plug), never do a move -- always do a copy and then re-format the card after you put it back in the camera.
8. Invest in a $10 card reader if you haven't done so already.
9. Go here (http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=6007-7303) and check your Lexar card's serial no. See if the problem's with the 1st or 2nd generations.

[Jackal]

That site you linked says:

Lexar 1GB 80X Write Acceleration *second edition*
(Edge stamp: 39121GBBB4304A4B6)

Lexar 1GB 80X Write Acceleration *first edition*
(Edge stamp: 39011GBBI32049D66)


My Lexar 1GB 80x says:
39121GBBB1005A4B6

So mine is niether the 1st or 2nd edition? Mine is a 4 number difference from the 2nd edition (the 1005 part). Unless it's the rest of the numbers/letters that matter.

[Sicily1918]

Yours is second edition (you need to look at the last four digits only). I have the same card and it's been great. hmmmm...

[boomerang]

So I just wanted to update my experience-

I used about three diffrent recovery programs, dropped it off at a local lab(the card crashed there computer three times). Finally I sat down with photorescue which kept freezing on recovery method two. So I pretty much pulled the card out of the reader than put it back during a freeze point and it would unfreeze the rescue program and continue to scan.I was able to recover all the pictures and save them to the hard drive.

Im sure this was a rare case but for anyone who has a card that seems unreadable and
unrevoverable, my advice is dont give up.

[robertwgross]

So, if you have recovered your image files, now what are you going to do?

---Bob Gross---

[boomerang]

Send back the card to Lexar, try to get a replacement and probably sell it if they give me a brand new one. Looks like I will stick to SanDisk from now on, and be more attentive to when the card is being read etc. and hope to never deal with this again.

I know many people who use the Lexar brand and are very happy, but after my situation and hearing the same issue that Grrry went trhough I would prefer to switch brands.

I think its such a tough call because it 'could' be the card or the camera or the computer or the reader......there is no real way to trace the root of the problem.

[Wazza]

Glad you were able to get those images off. :)

I also have the 2nd edition Lexar 1Gb 80x.

I bought two of them, rather than just a 2Gb, as it was faster, and probably more reliable if one broke. In just under 3 months, I've never had a CF card problem, and now using a CF card reader, and then put card back in camera and select Format, rather than delete all in play mode.
23,000 files have gone through these cards, with the 20D. Only problem has been body related, where I've had a few lockups, and need to release battery.

[robertwgross]

Looks like I will stick to SanDisk from now on, and be more attentive to when the card is being read etc. and hope to never deal with this again.

First of all, Sandisk is not going to help you one bit with your misunderstanding.

It matters more when the card is being written to, not being read from.

---Bob Gross---

[boomerang]

I have to disagree, this particular problem was about the card not being recognized by the reader or computer on its initial read. The card was fine all the images were viewable on the camera which were viewed prior to reading. Than once it interacted with the reader/computer the card was corrupted- I than tried to view them in the camera to find an 80% corruption.

I did not directly blame Lexar, but we have another member suffering the same situation so in my mind switch brands and give it a go.

[robertwgross]

When a card is inserted into a card reader and is read for the first time, and then fails, that means one of several things, and it is not Lexar versus Sandisk.

How was the card formatted on Day One, before it ever went into the camera?

---Bob Gross---

[boomerang]

I am not claiming a Lexar vs. SanDisk issue- Im sure people have problems with SanDisk products. My point is that in my situation upon posting this mess, another member was under the same complaint about Lexar 1 gig 80x.
So honestly I will as you do with any problem start to take out pieces of the puzzle and I will start with Lexar. If the problem happens again using SanDisk than I will dive deeper into the issue.

If you have any advice on maintaing my cards to prevent a problem in the future I would appreciate advice, I am new to photography and am learning as I go. What ever steps as far as format and reading/writing would help me from making the same mistakes.

Honestly my first interaction with the card was a format in camera. If this is wrong please let me know.

thank you

[robertwgross]

Honestly my first interaction with the card was a format in camera. If this is wrong please let me know.

Not necessarily wrong, but not a robust method.

Did you read my posting in this thread from one day ago?

---Bob Gross---

[boomerang]

It all makes sense....when formatting in the computer is it the same process as say my external HDs or is there a card progam to do so? Formatting a flash card is new to me and I was unaware that it could be done through the computer prior to shooting with it.

Also I did put the corrupt card back in my camera to try and view pphotos- will that have a negative effect on my rebel?

thank you

[felix21685]

without a card reader the canon software just does the same sort of format as the on camera does correct?

[C.S.I.]

I had a corrupt PCY card that I was using in my 300D, was fine one second, the next 70 files were lost.....I had the card for a while and probably ran 3000 pics through it.

I now have a fistfull of Sandisk Extreme cards (512). I only use the 512 in case one of the cards craps out on me, Im only out 120 or so shots on a shoot- not 500 (call me paranoid). The Extreme card also comes with its own recovery disc :lol: .


-

[Az2Africa]

I was told by a Sandisk rep that they did not recommend deleting all files at once from a full card. He said it could corrupt the card FAT files. He recommended deleting a few pictures first and the deleting the rest. I haven't hear this anywhere esle and don't know if he knew what he was talking about. I have 2 Sandisk ultra 1gig cards and 2 Lexar 2gigs and have never had a problem with mt 20D I always wait for my computer to say it is safe to remove the CF and always reformat when putting the card in for a new shoot.

[the7ferret]

you go through the x-ray?

[boomerang]

Yes would that really effect a card?

[robertwgross]

without a card reader the canon software just does the same sort of format as the on camera does correct?

The on-camera format is a quick format, plus it creates a directory named DCIM, which is where the image files are written. A quick format is not the same as a complete format from the computer.

What Canon software do you refer to? DPP?

---Bob Gross---

[the7ferret]

one of my instructors went to vegas with her flash based usb memory thingy through the x-ray and when she got back half the files were corrupted so everyone had to turnin thier assigment again.

[robertwgross]

one of my instructors went to vegas with her flash based usb memory thingy through the x-ray and when she got back half the files were corrupted so everyone had to turnin thier assigment again.

It might be interesting to know whether the memory went through X-ray in checked baggage, or in carry-on baggage. Supposedly, carry-on gets a much lower dose of radiation as compared to checked.

---Bob Gross---

[the7ferret]

carry on i believe

[robertwgross]

carry on i believe

Then I have serious doubts that it caused the failure.

---Bob Gross---

[Grrry]

most delicate electronics can be handed to the security gate personnel to examine by hand if you're concerned. They typically want to see that it turns on and behaves as expected. I've never had a problem with requests that they examine any electronic device visually without x-raying it. You don't have to take the risk the x-ray machines will damage the camera.

[dgrasser]

I have a Sandisk 512 MB, Kodak CX6445, and an Easyshare Dock.

I have experienced problems transferring files only twice.

Once when I tried to use my computer's built in card reader and just today when using my dock and the Kodak Easyshare software.

Today, when I tried to transfer the photos, the software indicated that there were 21 pictures, but only showed 5 and two were only partially shown (mostly blocked out).

I then tried to put the card in my computer's card reader and it said that the files/card were corrupted.

I then unprotected the 21 files as I had protected them to delete other files but not them.

I then re-booted my computer, turned off all other programs, including Norton Antivirus and Microsoft Anti-Spyware.

I then put the disk back in my camera dock and this time all 21 pictures came up just fine.

So....I am not sure if it was just the rebooting, turning of the anti virus/spyware software, unprotecting them, or a combination of any of these, but I was able to get all of my photos.

I normally don't have problems transferring files from my camera, but it could have something to do with the fact that I had protected the 21 files, then deleted all of the other ones (from my last transfer), then tried to transfer the protected files.

Anyway, I am glad that I got all the files off the disk.

Oh, and lastly, the fact that I could review all of the pictures on my camera, even though my computer said they were corrupted, lead be to believe that they were still there and that there was a solution.

My advice, try doing any or all of the steps I did before deleting the files or re-formatting your card.
:p