Help please, all picture files taken today disappeared from K20D

Hi

I am absolutely stunned. I just spent a good three hours trying some macro with my K20, had almost 400 images. The folder would have been a new one. All pictures were in the card because I saw them while taking the pictures. Changed lens even and took some with my 50mm f1/4.

Then removed my card and slotted into the pc and suddenly I couldn't find today's folder. The whole folder with the images is gone.

There are a few folders with some images in the card but those were taken over a few days before. The ones that disappeared were strictly today's ones. I am absolutely positive I haven't deleted them.

Checked the numbering and its pretty clear there are over 400 files missing. Slotted the card into the camera and took one more to try and slotted into the computer, and there it is, new folder with today's date and the single photo I just took.

What on earth could have happened please? Could someone help me shed some light into this? Has it happened with someone else? I definitely cant see what I could have done wrong.

Am pulling my hair here as I really had put so much into these 3 hours and was so keen in checking the images and my heart just sank when I couldn't see the folder in the card.

Any help please would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Amin

Might have been caused by a fault or quirk with the computer, camera or card.

DO NOT take any more photos using that card until you have attempted to recover the missing files using recovery software.

Search the net and this forum for suggestions of appropriate programs, or I could send you a copy of Sandisk Rescue Pro (by post if too big to email).

ps. It has happened to me, I think caused by the computer. Removing the card from the camera while data is being written to it could also cause the problem, I think.

Anyway, the Sandisk program has recovered lost files for me, so don't panic.

I really hope its something to do with the card. But chances are it is the camera. Doubt very much it's the computer from the way it looks. The pics were definitely in the card because I kept checking every few shots I was taking. All I did in the end was turn off the camera, remove the card and slot it into the pc. I even made sure I had turned off the camera before removing the card.

I really really hope this was a one off if it was the camera. My whole confidence is shaken off now, at least until I am sure that at least its the card. I will be constantly weary everytime I take photos with the fear whether the files will be there or not when I slot the card in the pc.

Thanks very much for your offer Pete, I will start my quest for a recovery tool and if I am unsuccessful I will take you up on that offer please. That's extremely kind of you.

Amin

Glimmer of hope .

thanks

I'm happy to help. I know what the shock feels like!

To try and prevent it in future:

Use only reputable brands of cards bought from reputable sources (beware of fake Sandisk cards, etc); always ensure the camera is switched off before inserting or removing the card from it, and that the orange light is not on when removing the card;

Only remove the card from the computer when you are quite sure that it is safe to do so; use the "Safely remove hadware" facility if in any doubt; don't remove card from computer when it is switched off unless sure it is safe to do so.

I think it's quite likely that you will recover most of the images from the card, though there might be some messing about to do like renaming the file extensions.

Hi Amin,

if you've seen the images on the card, then they'll still almost certainly be there. What can happen, is that the file directory can become corrupted, and as Windows uses that as it's references to identify files, then that will explain why they seem to have dissapeared.

File recovery software, even at a basic level looks for bits of data, rather than just directories, and so can "see" the images as raw data, which it can then reindex (my understaning is a little rusty admittedly).

If it is indeed just the directory that's gone up the spout, and the card itself hasn't been rendered unreadable, then you should be fine in getting most if not all images back.

Without taking any more photos, put the card back in the camera.. if the images are still viewable by the camera, then it is definitely a problem with the computer translating the directory.

And once you've got the images back, don't use the card again..

HTH

Cheers

Liam

YOU said>I couldn't find todays folder::How many folders have you on the card::Why do you leave folders on the card::

You risk losing all photos on the card if it go's ti*s up, the best way is format the card before use, Like todays shots load on PC, remove card from PC put in camera and format ready for the next time

Thanks for all your help. I downloaded one of the recovery softwares and managed to retrieve the files . I am really really thankful for all your help.

Liam

when I put the card back in the camera I couldn't see today's photos. Only the ones I had left of a few days ago. The whole folder had disappeared when I checked in the computer.

Tel,

The few folders along with just some shots I leave in the card are there because I use that card for my photoshop classes I go weekly. But I have already got the images dowloaded into the pc.
Usual procedure is once I take a bunch I straightaway upload into the computer and delete the folder from the card. I then just slot into the camera again and carry on with the shots. I will follow your advice now and format everytime I put it in in the camera.

Some retrieved files were just blank greyed, I am assuming that the software couldn't retrieve the images, but am not too worried, as most of the images are intact. They were all mostly experimental images, but still I wanted to be able to see them and check the results of various settings and trials.

Once again, I am really thankful for all your help.

Am off to SRS now to exchange the RF remote. I have decided not to go for the RF one anyway, besides being faulty it was a bit of disappointment. Got my eye set on the Seculine one as I get the advantage of both, IF wireless and wired and also its reasonably priced.

Also could you please advisee me on the best option for lens cleaning?

thanks

Amin

To avoid problems with cards, it's always best to format the card in the camera. Was the problem caused by the card having all sorts of folders on it, some perhaps created in the computer?

Hi John

No, those files were created by the camera. I am sorry I might not have specified properly earlier , those folders with the images were there but I had already backed them up in my pc.

But the surprising fact is why did the card just delete the folder the camera created today? Well, I guess anything is possible. I just would like to be sure that it wasn't the camera that created a havoc. Although chances are that problem might have been triggered by the card rather than the camera software.

To clean lens front & rear glass:

1. Blow with blower.
2. Brush lightly*.
3. Examine with a bright white LED torch or light.
4. Clean with Lens Pen**.
5. Blow/brush off carbon dust left by the Lens Pen.

Lens Pen does a cleaner job than a microfibre cloth, in my experience. Do not use lens cleaning fluid unless you really have to, and then only with a good clean microfibre cloth.

* With a brush designed for lenses, such as the one on the end of a Lens Pen.

** I will post a link shortly.

Thanks Pete

I will await your link, when you can post it,

You're welcome.

** http://www.bristolcameras.co.uk/p-lenspen-mini-pro-2-lens-pen.htm

** http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280305116809

This model works better than any other I've tried, despite the small size. 7dayshop had it cheaper, but I can't see it there at all now. Some from China/HK sellers are no good and too smeary. You could get a larger one as well, but I'd recommend this small one too anyway.

These pens aren't good if the lens has a LOT of grease all over it (then a cloth & fluid would be better), but for normal dirt and small finger marks, they're great.

Get yourself a 2 or 4GB USB stick for your Photoshop Classes