Memory Card Problems & Digital Cameras

Digital cameras use memory cards to store images and video.

Digital cameras make use of memory cards in a variety of different formats to store images and video. Problems relating to a memory card can be caused by a malfunction in the camera or by the card itself.

Corrupted Card

If a digital camera can't read from or save to a memory card, the card may have become corrupted -- the possible result of a break in power or connection during a read/write operation. Some software tools are able to recover files from a corrupted card, though it's unlikely that you'll be able to use the card again.

Unformatted Card

Before you can use a memory card, you must format it -- a process you can sometimes perform via a digital camera or a card reader attached to a computer. Formatting a card again will wipe any data stored on it.

Other Issues

Other problems with a memory card may indicate a file format that is incompatible with the computer's software, a malfunctioning camera that isn't saving images and video correctly, or an incompatible card type that isn't supported by the camera in question.

References

• CardRecovery: Solutions for Memory Card Error and Problems
• PhotoNaturalist: 11 Tips for Avoiding Memory Card Problems

Resources

• SanDisk: Help and Support