pics accidentally deleted! help!

[paintnolish]

Hi! The lovely folks over at the Chicago thread suggested I come here! My friend called me today from Epcot. She accidentally deleted all the pics on her memory card, while thinking she was reformatting it. She lost all of her Mk and MGM pics! This is her children's first trip and she is crushed. She was crying! She has heard that as long as she does not use it, the pictures might somehow be able to be retrieved? Is that true? Also, can she remove that card and get a new one for the remainder of her trip?
Any help would be appreciated. I feel so bad for her!

 

[mickey2000]

Reformatting a memory card or stick will erase all the pictures. There are suppose to be programs that can get the pics back. I have never heard of a person using one with satisfactory results .... Sorry.........

 

[JR6ooo4]

Yes! Do not use it and you will be able to get all or most of the pics back. there is great photo recovery software available. Even free programs. But I do not know the names. I am sure others will reply so just tell her to not use the card until she can recover the pics.
even if it has been reformatted there is great results getting them back.

Mikeeeee

When erasing photos Windows deletes the address of the file allowing the data to be overwritten. If you do not use the card again the data is still there. 100% recovery is not rare. Sometimes 100% after reformatting.

A story told was someone with a Rebel XT was asked to delete the card in the middle of a concert but point and shoot cams were everywhere. SO he deleted them, showed security the blank screen on the camera and went home to get all of them back.

spend the money on a new card, even if it is at disney prices. Then take time to recover them. Maybe even practice a recovery on the second card before trying the "lost pics" card.

"No offense" to Mickey, I am sure I have given incorrect advice (maybe too often), but always get several opinions before taking any action.

Mikeeee again!

 

[JR6ooo4]

Also, that is what reformatting does. It (somewhat) erases all data. But as I said above it realy just frees up the memory to allow it to be overwritten. It will remove the folders (on my canon memory) that are created with each packet of picks.

Mikeeee

I have to go look for this chicago forum. I missed the cars meet but would like to stay in touch. I am in arlington heights

 

[paintnolish]

Thanks for the help. I am going to call her in the morning. Hopefully this info will help her feel a little better!

 

[JR6ooo4]

If no one replies with software suggestions PM me and I will help find a good recovery software.

Mikeeee

 

[JR6ooo4]

Oh and call now! Regular hours do not apply when at disney, and they will sleep better.
Mikeeee

 

[paintnolish]

I would call, but she has a cranky, teething baby with her!

 

[homerdog]

Try Ontrack.

 

[safetymom]

Lexar has a great recovery program for digital images.

 

[WebmasterAlex]

I've used this:http://www.photosrecovery.com/

And had good luck