finding *lost* pics in my computer? Please help, I'm just SICK. WONDERFUL UPDATE!!!!

[MomToOne]

Now that I think about it, the easiest way to see if the pictures are in the memory of the camera is to just take the SD card out of the camera, then turn on the camera. This would force it to use the memory as the storage. Just see if there are any pictures available to review.

 

[mafibisha]

I've used filehippo before. I would think either would be good.

Ok, thanks. The second time I opened the site, the Piriform automatically opened. Is that due to the laptop configuration? http://www.piriform.com/recuva/download

Can't believe I goofed up, or my laptop failed me, or whatever, but I'm so hopeful now!

 

[wenrob]

If your pics were ever on the memory card and you haven't taken any others the recovery program will find them. Try to breath.

It sounds to me that your pics were never actually transferred to your computer.

Did you see the pics on the camera after they were taken, like scroll through them after they were taken? Not immediately after, we're talking later. Do you know for sure the memory card recorded these pics? Unfortunately some cameras will let you just snap away even if there's an issue with the card or there's no card. BUT if you know FOR SURE they were there at one time the recovery program will find them. Good luck!

 

[mafibisha]

Now that I think about it, the easiest way to see if the pictures are in the memory of the camera is to just take the SD card out of the camera, then turn on the camera. This would force it to use the memory as the storage. Just see if there are any pictures available to review.

Good idea! Ok, gotta pick up DD but will be right back! Please y'all , please come back to this thread, I am very grateful! And now hopeful!!!!

 

[dawson5]

Ok, thanks. The second time I opened the site, the Piriform automatically opened. Is that due to the laptop configuration? http://www.piriform.com/recuva/download

Can't believe I goofed up, or my laptop failed me, or whatever, but I'm so hopeful now!

I just redownloaded it and it said piriform but when the box came up for the download it said file hippo. I thought I had done something wrong. No worries.

When you get back and open it up, you will see how easy it is. And set up is quick, less than a minute.

 

[sam_gordon]

Some sort of window came up that said "Try Again?" (I think?) so kept clicking yes, and then poof, they were gone.

I'm worried about this. You shouldn't have to "Try Again" unless there was some kind of problem. Here's what I would do...

1. Search the computer for ALL jpg

Windows 7,

click on the windows logo on the very bottom left of your screen
in the box that says something like "enter file to search for", put "*.jpg" (no quotes) and hit enter
Look through the results to see if you can find the pictures you're missing.
​

Windows XP

Right Click on "start" and select "search"
Under "All or part of file name" type (no quotes) "*.jpg"
Under "Look In" select 'My Computer
Look through the results
​

2. While the computer is searching, put the card in the camera and use the camera's viewer to see what's on the card. If you can see the missing pictures using the camera, relax, you haven't lost anything.
3. Assuming #1 is unsuccessful and #2 is successful, just put the card in the computer and copy them again
4. Assuming #1 and #2 are BOTH unsuccessful, I'm afraid you might be out of luck.

The following won't help your current problem, but might help you down the road...
Go buy an external hard drive. I'd get at least a 500Gb or a 1TB. USB or Ethernet hookup.
Use the disk that came with the hard drive and set up a backup plan that includes your pictures.
If the hard drive on your computer goes bad, you'll still have the pictures on the external drive.

Good luck

Oh, the "lock" on the SD card shouldn't prevent READING anything off the card, but will prevent WRITING anything new to the card.

 

[wenrob]

4. Assuming #1 and #2 are BOTH unsuccessful, I'm afraid you might be out of luck.

Not true. If she knows for sure the pics were on the card even if she deleted them or reformatted the card a recovery program should be able to find them. When you delete it doesn't wipe the slate clean it just kind of rearranges things. It will "record" over those images as she takes new pics much like recording over a VHS tape would. The images should still be there if she hasn't used the card since this happened, provided they ever were or the card isn't damaged.

 

[mafibisha]

If your pics were ever on the memory card and you haven't taken any others the recovery program will find them. Try to breath.

It sounds to me that your pics were never actually transferred to your computer.

Did you see the pics on the camera after they were taken, like scroll through them after they were taken? Not immediately after, we're talking later. Do you know for sure the memory card recorded these pics? Unfortunately some cameras will let you just snap away even if there's an issue with the card or there's no card. BUT if you know FOR SURE they were there at one time the recovery program will find them. Good luck!

Yes, we most definitely, for sure, saw the pics later, several times.

Not true. If she knows for sure the pics were on the card even if she deleted them or reformatted the card a recovery program should be able to find them. When you delete it doesn't wipe the slate clean it just kind of rearranges things. It will "record" over those images as she takes new pics much like recording over a VHS tape would. The images should still be there if she hasn't used the card since this happened, provided they ever were or the card isn't damaged.

I just ran the recovery program Recuva, and got the message:

The parameter is incorrect

? What does that mean? Did I do something wrong?

And no pics appeared at all, and there were several more on that card from the same events that were downloaded safely, and then deleted, and even those didn't show up?

HELP PLEASE!!!

 

[wenrob]

I'm not sure what that means. It's starting to sound like your memory card might be damaged. What happens when you put it in the camera? Have you tried to read it on another computer?

 

[tinker&belle]

Is it an hp camera? My old hp camera saved pictures in a funny place and I called hp and they helped me pull them all out and get them saved somewhere I could find them.

 

[MomToOne]

I just ran the recovery program Recuva, and got the message:

The parameter is incorrect

? What does that mean? Did I do something wrong?

From what I googled, this seems to be the "Recuva ain't happy" error message. It seems to come up whenever anything is wrong. It could be the card is damaged/corrupted, or it could be something else.

Did you reboot after installing the software? If not, reboot and start fresh.

Try a different SD card, to see if it works. If you still get the error message, that's actually some good news since it would indicate the problem is something other than a corrupted card.

Some people reported the deep scan showed an error while the light-weight scan (can't remember what it was called) worked. Or vice versa. Play with that and see what happens.

And even if the card is damaged/corrupted, don't panic yet. There are other programs that might be able to recover the files. But it may be time to call in the Geek Swad for that

 

[caitty13]

On one of my computers I had 2 My Picture folder. One was my pictures and the other was a shared my pictures. This was with Windows XP though... Not sure if Windows 7 does the same thing.

I just looked on win7 and I have 2 locations, one is c:\users\"name"\pictures and the other was c:\users\public\pictures

 

[wenrob]

Okay I googled "recuva,parameter is incorrect" and found a couple threads. Some suggest it could be a bug in the program with a particular operating system. Some suggest it could be as simple as not having the the asterisk (*) before the search file. Some think your card could be damaged. My first suggestion would be to try on another computer. Whatever you do, don't use the card at all until you are 100% sure there is no help. I popped over to the photography board and this recovery program gets recommended, it's also free.
http://www.z-a-recovery.com/
Also it could take hours for it to work so don't panic if things don't happen right away once you get going.

 

[wenrob]

Aw, good call MomToOne about rebooting first. That's usually the first thing I do whenever something's not working right. I'd make sure to take the memory card out before rebooting to be on the safe side.

 

[mafibisha]

Thank you all VERY much. I greatly appreciate your help and kindness.

I'm actually posting from another computer now, since on my laptop I tried to do the DRIVE scan, and that one IS scanning, unlike the SD card. I started that scan before I read all your latest replies. It has about 30 more minutes to go.

I'll then reboot and try the SD card again, and also here on our desktop.

If worse comes to worse, is the Geek Squad equipped to do *deep* scans on SD cards? (I'm learning so many new words tonight, argh) Or is that something a camera place could do?

Seriously guys, thanks for giving me a little hope!!

 

[dawson5]

I have never seen that error before. I'll look around and see what I can find also.

It worked to find the mp3's on his phone's SD card. I do have one corrupted card that I could never recover. There was the option to send it away (around $200 minimum at that time) but there weren't family photos on there, just house stuff. We debated about sending it in, decided against it. I don't think I would trust BB/Geek Squad to anything like that.

Hopefully restarting will help or like one of the other posters said, possibly a different pc.

 

[mafibisha]

UPDATE -- okay, after I rebooted, the SD card scanned, and lots of areas in which there SHOULD be pics - WILL be ?? pics came up. Most say, *Preview not available.*

So being ever so hopeful, should I click all of them and then click recover? Will they open then? Or just click a few at a time? Oh I just don't want to ruin it...

Oh I'm getting so excited I can't stand it!!!!

ADDED: So will it hurt if I click on Switch to Advanced Scan?

OMG I'm so excited but don't wanna be too hopeful, or ruin it!!!

 

[mafibisha]

Okay I googled "recuva,parameter is incorrect" and found a couple threads. Some suggest it could be a bug in the program with a particular operating system. Some suggest it could be as simple as not having the the asterisk (*) before the search file. Some think your card could be damaged. My first suggestion would be to try on another computer. Whatever you do, don't use the card at all until you are 100% sure there is no help. I popped over to the photography board and this recovery program gets recommended, it's also free.
http://www.z-a-recovery.com/
Also it could take hours for it to work so don't panic if things don't happen right away once you get going.

I FOUND THEM WITH THE recovery SITE above that is BOLDED!! THANK YOU SO VERY VERY MUCH!!

Thank you ALL for ALL of your help!!

I'm so very grateful and appreciate it more than you know!!!

 

[wenrob]

WOOHOOOOO!!!!!!! So HAPPY for you!

Now go burn all your pics to DVDs and get em backed up.

 

[mafibisha]

WOOHOOOOO!!!!!!! So HAPPY for you!

Now go burn all your pics to DVDs and get em backed up.

LOL, thank you again, I am thrilled! I can't begin to tell you what those pics mean to me - to us - and I'm so grateful to you, and to all of you KIND HEARTED people who TAKE THE TIME to post to virtual strangers! In today's cruel world, its amazing how wonderful Dissers are.

So okay, now I'm gushing but have I mentioned how happy I am??!!

Thank you again wenrob, and everyone.

And to anyone reading this thread: Bookmark that site! You never know when you might need it!

(I am usually uber careful and organized! Would never have imagined that would happen to me!!!)