"picture error" message

I was able to review all photos taken with Olympus 3040zoom on the

camera monitor screen without any problem. Used Dazzle card reader

for Smartmedia cards to upload to computer with only 3 out of about

40 photos able to produce a thumbnail. Remainder of photos,although

they looked as if they downloaded fully could not be opened in

thumbnail form. I put the smartmedia card back in the camera and

received "picture error" message for all but the 3 photos that were

able to produce a thumbnail view. Trying to figure out what went

wrong and how to avoid this from happening again. Is there any way

I can save these photos?? I have used the Dazzle reader for almost

two years and this is the first time I have had this problem.

Thanks for any help.

I've never experienced this problem with my 3040 but if I did the first thing I'd do is leave that Smart Media card alone until I checked into some media recovery utilities.

 

After recovering the photos, if possible, I'd reformat the media card.

 

Not much help, I know... :/

Lex, thanks for your response. Google search for media recovery utilities lead me to Digital Media Restore from Business Intelligence Associates. I purchased the download after trial version showed recovery of all but 6 of 85 photos. These were photos from a recent Mexico vacation with friends and I hated to lose them. Should I now reformat card as you suggested? Many thanks, Kathy Winters

Hey, Kathy, glad the suggestion worked.

 

Yeh, I'd reformat the card now. I'd use the in-camera reformat utility. The only disadvantage I can think of is that it'll reset the frame counter to zero. No biggie unless you're zealous about maintaining records of each and every photo based on the ID number assigned by the camera in the exif data stamp.

Kathy, I don't know if this applies in your case, but there has to be enough room left

on the memory card to create all the thumbnails-previews. I would always copy the

folder of memory card images to your desktop or wherever you prefer-and always work

with them on the hard disk. The memory card goes back to the camera. It's probably

not necessary but I always reformat first thing before taking new images. GOOD

LUCK..