Photos disappeared on camera card

I have a strange problem with my Sony Memory Stick Duo, I used it in my camera with a duo to regular adaptor and I was happily taking lots of pictures. I took it home and I cut and pasted the files across onto my PC but when I went to look at them there is almost half missing. I have around 50 which were taken first, then there is about 160 missing and then there is about 100 I took later on in the day.

When I go into the card in explorer the empty folders that the camera creates are there but that is it. If I go into properties of the card it is showing as over half full but when I look in the card there is nothing there, Treesize reports the few folders but they are 0mb. I have tried three pieces of recovery software Recuva, Pandora Recovery 2.1.1 and Recover Files 2.1. All of these pieces of software find the pictures I have moved to the PC but none of the ones which are missing. I have tried looking at the card with Total Commander but it too was only showing the empty folders.

I have tried everything I can think of, does anyone else have any bright ideas as I am very keen to get the photos back.

Thanks

Try Chkdsk,

Vista: Start, Type cmd, Right click - Run as Admin. Type chkdsk /f "E:" (Replace "" with your drive)

Should say it is already in use. Type Yes or Y

If there are any problems it should ask about creatings files from folders etc. Type No or N.

It is possible some folders can error, corrupt etc as this has happend to me before. If this is the case I would backup what you can (or what you want) and format the disk. (Dont use quickformat)

To start with, where did you get the card from? I know there are some on ebay which are made to look like 2GB for example but they only have a 512MB flash chip for example - anything past 512MB gets corrupted as obviously there's nowhere to store it. If CHKDSK reports any bad sectors get the card replaced if possible. Also post here what is returned by chkdsk (BTW the quotes in chkdsk aren't needed and the flags should come last eg: chkdsk E: /f ). I'd advise against creating files from folders for the time being, too.

As for getting your photos back, before doing anything else set the switch to read-only if there is one to prevent anything being overwritten. Can you see the photos on the camera at all?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by M O N S 7 A R

Try Chkdsk,

Vista: Start, Type cmd, Right click - Run as Admin. Type chkdsk /f "E:" (Replace "" with your drive)

Should say it is already in use. Type Yes or Y

If there are any problems it should ask about creatings files from folders etc. Type No or N.

It is possible some folders can error, corrupt etc as this has happend to me before. If this is the case I would backup what you can (or what you want) and format the disk. (Dont use quickformat)

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I read this and thought "why didn't I think about that?" tried it an all is sorted!

Thanks for your help :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by M O N S 7 A R

Try Chkdsk,

Vista: Start, Type cmd, Right click - Run as Admin. Type chkdsk /f "E:" (Replace "" with your drive)

Should say it is already in use. Type Yes or Y

If there are any problems it should ask about creatings files from folders etc. Type No or N.

It is possible some folders can error, corrupt etc as this has happend to me before. If this is the case I would backup what you can (or what you want) and format the disk. (Dont use quickformat)

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Very useful :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by M O N S 7 A R

Try Chkdsk,

Vista: Start, Type cmd, Right click - Run as Admin. Type chkdsk /f "E:" (Replace "" with your drive)

Should say it is already in use. Type Yes or Y

If there are any problems it should ask about creatings files from folders etc. Type No or N.

It is possible some folders can error, corrupt etc as this has happend to me before. If this is the case I would backup what you can (or what you want) and format the disk. (Dont use quickformat)

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Err was I not the one who told you how to do that? And I thought I was helping you ;)
What is it with people taking credit for my work lately :angst:

Edit: I've just realised how much of a troll a sounded there - sorry mate. Like you said you were just helping someone!

You did... but i passed on the wisdom.

Shhh k

Nah just kidding mate - it's good you pass it on :)
But people do seem to be taking credit for stuff I do lately, not just in the forum.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by watercooled

Nah just kidding mate - it's good you pass it on :)
But people do seem to be taking credit for stuff I do lately, not just in the forum.

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Think MONS7AR beat you to it! Good to see the thanks button in use though - too many ignore it! :) (But have one from me!)

Yeah, again I'm sorry for being a troll lately. :embarrassed: