Compact flash cards suddenly get error: "The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer."

I use my Mac Pro for photo and video editing and I'm dealing with compact flash cards in my Canon EOS 5D. I've had the Mac (and no problems) since Oct. 2010, but this week, when I insert my compact flash cards, I get an error saying "The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer" with the options to initialize, eject, or ignore. When I tried to "initialize", the "Repair disk" option was not available. After I tried formatting one of my cards, it was rendered unusable by the camera until I formatted it in the camera. The cards still work fine in my PCs. Any ideas or suggestions?

Posted on Dec 26, 2011 8:38 AM

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6 replies

Sep 5, 2017 2:09 PM in response to conormichael

Interesting that for you it was the card reader, as I tried uploading photos from my Canon EOS directly via USB connector AND card reader, as well as trying on a PC at the library, to no avail. The pix are still there on the card but I have no way to take them off. I thought it was my Mac, as I updated the OS last week; I was able to transfer pix from my camera to this computer just two weeks ago, prior to the OS update. Also my Mac is full...very full...of photos I cannot deleted yet. I may be able to use a PC if I can download driver I suppose. Not all is lost. I'm happy things worked out for you though!

Dec 26, 2011 9:33 AM in response to Lexiepex

The card is plugged in via a USB 2.0 card reader.

Nothing to my knowledge has changed in my computer during the time period in question. I've only got the one card reader, so I can't really compare the results with another device, but it's starting to look like a card reader problem. But now my PC is telling me I need to format the card in order to use it. Just another indicator of a faulty card reader?

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Compact flash cards suddenly get error: "The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer."

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