Digital cameras forum: Card not initialized!!!!!!

I've been having the same problems with my xd cards with my new Fuji E-900 camera. Once it happened with a few test pix on it so I simply reformatted it. I returned the card back to the store after erasing those pix & thought the card was defective. Now I have a new xd card that is saying the same problem "card not initialized" and I have a bunch of pix on it. Does this happen to anyone using the M Type xd cards? I only have the newer H Type xd cards and was wondering if that was the problem? How can I retrieve these photos off of my card before reformatting it? There's no pattern in this card problem and sometimes reads in my computer or camera with no problem but then a few days later if I try to open the card I will get the error. The only way that I have been able to make sure I don't lose my photos is to immediately transfer the photos from my camera plugged into the computer via USB cord and backup all photos onto my backup harddrive. I forgot to do this for this other card though and need to retrieve my pix. Please help anyone! All my cards are 1 GB H Type xd cards.

Thanks "snapshot2" for the tips. I have a multi card reader in my computer but that didn't seem to work either with retrieving the photos. I honestly didn't even think to format the card when I got it cause my old Sony 5 mp camera never needed to format the memory sticks and I never had this problem with that one. I will try that software you mentioned, thanks!

Can anyone recommend any good digital cameras for fast action and low lighting?? My Fuji E-900 9 megapixel is pretty good but doesn't give as much lighting or snapshot speed especially taking photos at a concert. The video feature is excellent on it though, just have a large memory card. I'm looking for another backup camera that might be able to do that maybe around the 10 megapixel range. Thanks!

Hi

I very recently experienced that same problem with my fuji S3100 and an olympus 1GB xD card with approxi 250 high res pics. I connected the camers to my pc via usb and had to pull the pics off 2 at a time. Try that and see if it works.

If you are unable to read the card with the computer card reader using "My Computer" or "Windows Explorer";

Then you need some "photo recovery" software.
There are hundreds of such programs on the Internet.
Go a Google search for:

photo recovery software

Here are some recovery programs that were recommended by another of our Moderators:

GETDATABACK
ZERO ASSUMPTION RECOVERY
PC FILE INSPECTOR
RECUVA

Search for them with Google.com

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After you have recovered your photos and have them safely on your computer.
I suggest you immediately write a copy of them to a CD or DVD blank.

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Then if you want to be able to use that memory card again in your camera:
Using the card reader and computer; delete all files and folders from the memory card.
Then insert the card in your camera and "format" the memory card with your camera.
Your camera has a "format" command in the menu.

"Always format a NEW card with your camera before you capture any photos on the card."

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