Unplugged CF Card without ejecting - lost data! Any ideas for recovery?

I've done it a hundred times with no problem. Usually I eject media before unplugging, but this time I just yanked out the card (I'll call that Card-A). When I did, the icon ford card-A still sat on my desktop. I put in card-B, which contained about 60 images. I opened the flashdrive from the desktop (which still displayed the card-A info) and dragged the DCIM folder from inside to my desktop. I then ejected the flashcard and removed it from the reader.

When I looked in the DCIM folder that I copied to my desktop all of the RAW image files were there, but I could not open them as it said they were 'not valid images'. After searching for an answer on Adobe.com (figuring it was the Photoshop update I just applied that messed up the ability to ipen the CR2 file), I realized that the file-ID's were that from the original card-A.

Somehow, and even though card-B was inserted in the cardreader, I ended up with a DCIM folder full of files that were on card-A.

Card-B lists "no files" inside the DCIM folder.


Any suggestions on how I can, or if I can recover the files from card-B? I've had many photoshoots (I'm a photographer) and never lost images in this manner. This time I was shooting for my sister and her newborn baby's first time on the beach. To lose these photos would be devastating to my sister - especially since she asked me to do them for her.

MBP & MP, Mac OS X (10.4.10), Converting coworkers one computer at a time

Posted on Jul 2, 2007 10:52 AM

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3 replies

Jul 3, 2007 4:08 PM in response to 24thoughts

I use a program called Photorescue. It has saved me quite a few times when cards have failed. When you format your compact flash cards most cameras do not actually erase the files, they just write over them. As long as you have not shot any more imagses on this card you should be able to recover them.

It is available as a download for $29.00. They will let you try it to see if will recover the files but I don't think you will be able to save them unless you buy it but I have found it to be well worth the money.

http://www.datarescue.com/photorescue/v3/index.htm

G5 Mac OS X (10.4.10)

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Unplugged CF Card without ejecting - lost data! Any ideas for recovery?

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