Weird memory card issue...

[donaldsgal]

Okay, so can someone explain this to me? I think I had two separate issues occur at the same time, and it's throwing me for a loop!

1) The other night, I put my SanDisk Ultra II SDHC 8GB (class 4) memory card into my SanDisk micromate card reader to upload some pictures to my MacBook Pro. The card had about 20 pictures on it from my Give a Day, Get a Day experience. Well, iPhoto read the card as having about 400 pictures on it - some from our 2006 Disney Christmas trip. Those had never even been on this disk as they were taking with a point-n-shoot camera; I had downloaded the pictures from an online photo storing website where I'd uploaded them to back them. I went ahead and uploaded the photos and took the memory card out. I put the memory card back in the camera and it read "Memory Card Error". Took it out again, put it back into the card reader and into the USB port on my MacBook. The pictures were on it again! I didn't do much of anything to mess around with it, but after a couple of tries, I was able to get the camera to read the memory card, and it's been reading it successfully ever since.

I tried my 4 GB memory card and had none of these issues.

2) Problem #2 came in when I tried to upload pictures I'd taken with both memory cards to see what was going on. This time, I got an error message that reads, "Disk Insertion - The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer." My options are initialize, ignore, or eject. Did some online reading and thought this might be a formatting issue, but I can't figure out how to format on a Mac. Neither disk will read with that card reader.

Today I went to Walmart and bought a Targus SDHC-compatible card reader/writer, and both cards can be read once again on the computer (no error message outlined in #2 above). However, when I put the 8 GB memory card in the computer, it continues to show about 485 pictures on it that are not on it! I know they aren't because I delete all photos off the memory card after I download them, and - as said above - some of the photos showing up were never taken with this memory card or a digital camera at all!

Okay, so did I just happen to experience two freak things at once, or is the problem with the 8GB memory card creating the problem with the card reader? Do I need to replace my 8GB memory card? or can I format it? And if I can format it, does anyone know how to format at it on a Mac? I bought them and formatted them when I was still using PCs.

I'd appreciate some guidance on what to do. I don't want to screw up my computer or buy unnecessary equipment (memory cards, card readers, etc.), but I also want a working camera and memory card for our trip in about a week!

Thanks!

 

[donaldsgal]

I think I may have fixed it. I put the card in my camera (Canon S3 IS) and formatted it. I took a couple of pictures, put it in the Targus card reader/writer, put in in the USB drive to check it out, and now only those two photos appear. Do you think I fixed it? Do you sometimes need to reformat memory cards, or do I need to pitch this one? I have a good 4 GB that I rarely use - bought it more for overflow storage and rarely need it since I empty the 8 GB often - but I'd hate to see irreplaceable photos get lost on a bad memory card. I don't love the idea of investing in a new memory card (money is tight now), but I'd rather that than the alternative (if the alternative is a reality).

I got the Disk Insertion error message once with the 8GB memory card after formatting and inserting it with the Targus, so maybe it is the memory card? It was only once, and it was after trying it with the SanDisk again to see if it was the card or the reader. Any thoughts on all of this?

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

When you delete images from from a card there is residual. With the correct type of software you can actually recover the images. The way to erase permanently the image is to re-format the card. After I have downloaded my images to multiple locations, I re-format my cards so this issue does not arise and I start with fresh cards.

 

[donaldsgal]

When you delete images from from a card there is residual. With the correct type of software you can actually recover the images. The way to erase permanently the image is to re-format the card. After I have downloaded my images to multiple locations, I re-format my cards so this issue does not arise and I start with fresh cards.

Well, I don't know that I have any software that would enable that. I've used this memory card hundred of times since 2008, and I've never had this problem (with it pulling up pictures that were never taken with it and that have been long deleted). Seems like it wouldn't be a software issue causing it since the software has been the same throughout this time period... But yes, I reformatted and it seems to have fixed it. Just wondering if I can expect this to happen again or - worse - to have the memory card fail when it's already captured vacation photos on it.

 

[MICKEY88]

not sure what caused your problem, but from everything I've ever read, you should format your cards in camera rather than with your computer

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

I'm not an expert in SD cards, but I have some computer background and I agree with the pp that you should format your cards in your camera. In layman's terms it resets the card to original specs and wipes everything off the card. That way you are starting with a fresh, clean card. Notwithstanding, anything can go wrong with a card. Since you have re-formatted the card and it seems to be working well, my confidence level would be high that it is okay. Good luck.