Help! I stepped on my CF Card!

awooawoo Registered Users Posts: 37 Big grins
edited July 29, 2010 in Accessories
I have an 8GB San Disk Extreme IV CF Card that I gingerly stepped on yesterday. It's used in my Nikon D300. My camera and my computer are both unable to read it anymore. Over 700 pics on it.... Any hope to retrieve them? Wasn't sure if there were professionals out there to be able to salvage data when accidents happen........ :(

Comments

  • RichardRichard Administrators, Vanilla Admin Posts: 19,962 moderator
    edited July 26, 2010
    awoo wrote: »
    I have an 8GB San Disk Extreme IV CF Card that I gingerly stepped on yesterday. It's used in my Nikon D300. My camera and my computer are both unable to read it anymore. Over 700 pics on it.... Any hope to retrieve them? Wasn't sure if there were professionals out there to be able to salvage data when accidents happen........ :(
    Well, there might be but they would probably charge a bloody fortune. How much do you think the pics are worth? There is probably physical damage to the card--disconnected leads to the pins or worse. This is not your typical data recovery case, so I suspect they are probably lost. You might try a different card reader, but I wouldn't be very hopeful. Sorry.
    My Pics
  • pathfinderpathfinder Super Moderators Posts: 14,708 moderator
    edited July 26, 2010
    Are the pins bent is the first question? If the pins are bent, you might be able to straighten them so they fit properly in a card reader.

    Is the body of the card fractured?

    If the body is not fractured, and you can get the pins to mount properly in a card reader, then there are software programs that might help. CardRescue, PhotoRescue, ImageRescue, or RescuePro are all found online.
    Pathfinder - www.pathfinder.smugmug.com

    Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
  • gecko0gecko0 Registered Users Posts: 383 Major grins
    edited July 26, 2010
    Richard wrote: »
    Well, there might be but they would probably charge a bloody fortune. How much do you think the pics are worth? There is probably physical damage to the card--disconnected leads to the pins or worse. This is not your typical data recovery case, so I suspect they are probably lost. You might try a different card reader, but I wouldn't be very hopeful. Sorry.

    +1...if the card flexed enough, it probably broke one or more solder points on the board. someone that really knows what they're doing could probably open the card and inspect the board, then re-solder if that is the issue. unfortunately, it will all depend on what it's worth to you in the end. :cry
    Canon 7D and some stuff that sticks on the end of it.
  • ChatKatChatKat Registered Users Posts: 1,357 Major grins
    edited July 26, 2010
    www.drivesavers.com will quote you for no charge
    Kathy Rappaport
    Flash Frozen Photography, Inc.
    http://flashfrozenphotography.com
  • OverfocusedOverfocused Registered Users Posts: 1,068 Major grins
    edited July 26, 2010
    awoo wrote: »
    I have an 8GB San Disk Extreme IV CF Card that I gingerly stepped on yesterday. It's used in my Nikon D300. My camera and my computer are both unable to read it anymore. Over 700 pics on it.... Any hope to retrieve them? Wasn't sure if there were professionals out there to be able to salvage data when accidents happen........ :(


    If the flash chip itself isn't cracked some CF manufacturers offer a recovery service involving taking the memory chip out and retrieving the data with their own devices. However, if the chip is cracked then count it as dead and gone. Lexar for example takes this scenario into mind and they manufacture their cards so the chips can be easily removed, read, and recovered in case any other part of the CF card goes bad. I.E. cracked circuit boards, solder points, and pins. I have no idea what kind of price tag that service has though.
    www.overfocused.com
  • awooawoo Registered Users Posts: 37 Big grins
    edited July 28, 2010
    Thank you guys so much for your responses. I actually stepped on the card as it was in it's Lexar Compact Flash Card reader. The card was essentially "guillotined" by the device. It seems the card body is fractured (or so I assume - there's a subtle indention.) I think I will take it by my local mom & pop camera shop, and if he can't pull the pics for a reasonable amount, just have to cut my losses. :(
  • ImageX PhotographyImageX Photography Registered Users Posts: 528 Major grins
    edited July 28, 2010
    awoo wrote: »
    Thank you guys so much for your responses. I actually stepped on the card as it was in it's Lexar Compact Flash Card reader. The card was essentially "guillotined" by the device. It seems the card body is fractured (or so I assume - there's a subtle indention.) I think I will take it by my local mom & pop camera shop, and if he can't pull the pics for a reasonable amount, just have to cut my losses. :(

    Sorry to hear that. It sucks to lose pics and it sucks to lose a nice memory card. Maybe they will be able to retrieve your images for you. Good luck!

    PS I lost a 16gb SDHC card a week ago and thought it was gone forever.... until I found it last night. :D I know... not the same thing but still.
  • WillCADWillCAD Registered Users Posts: 722 Major grins
    edited July 29, 2010
    And accidents like this are the #1 reason why I always hammer it into people to use multiple cards and not put all your eggs in one basket.

    Stuff like this happens all the time; people wind up with damaged or corrupted or lost memory cards, and all the pics on the card are lost. The more pics on the card, the more you lose.

    I personally still use 1gb CF cards, though it's pretty impossible to get 1gb cards any more, so next time I need to buy new cards and retire the 1gb's I will probably have to get 4gb cards. I got a max of about 300 pics on a 1gb card with my Canon 300D, and my 50D gets about 170 pics on a 1gb, before I have to change cards.
    What I said when I saw the Grand Canyon for the first time: "The wide ain't wide enough and the zoom don't zoom enough!"
  • gecko0gecko0 Registered Users Posts: 383 Major grins
    edited July 29, 2010
    WillCAD wrote: »
    And accidents like this are the #1 reason why I always hammer it into people to use multiple cards and not put all your eggs in one basket.

    Stuff like this happens all the time; people wind up with damaged or corrupted or lost memory cards, and all the pics on the card are lost. The more pics on the card, the more you lose.

    I personally still use 1gb CF cards, though it's pretty impossible to get 1gb cards any more, so next time I need to buy new cards and retire the 1gb's I will probably have to get 4gb cards. I got a max of about 300 pics on a 1gb card with my Canon 300D, and my 50D gets about 170 pics on a 1gb, before I have to change cards.

    Agreed...I have a 4GB and 2 x 8GB cards, but still try to limit how much is on each at any one time. I don't do paid shoots, so it's less of a financial/professional issue, but I always try to get images off of the cards ASAP once done for the day. I'd rather not leave images in only one place, especially a CF card.

    OP----good luck with the recovery!
    Canon 7D and some stuff that sticks on the end of it.
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