BetterPhoto Q&A
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Robyn Gwilt		Broken CD HELP Hi All - I d/l images to a CD, as I needed space on my CF card - all was well and good, but on my return home from my holiday, I'd broken the CD!!!! Its totally cracked on the one side, so obviously can't be read? Any suggestions? I also re-formatted the CF card, and have since shot another 500+ images on it!!! It was a Sandisk 2GB Extreme III. Someone has said I might be able to still find these original images? Is this possible? Thanks To love this question, log in above June 19, 2006

Sharon Day		Oh gosh, Robyn! Sorry to hear this happened. I don't think you can recover images on a card after it's been formatted. I don't know about the CD. I know you can't put it in the computer and expect to see anything. I've tried it :o)! Good luck! To love this comment, log in above June 19, 2006

Irene Troy		Robyn - YIKES! What a major pain!! With your SanDisk you should have received a small mini size cd with their recovery utility. You might be able to use this to retrieve your images; however, I am not sure if it will work once the CF card has been reformatted. If you reformatted in the camera I doubt it, but...If you do not have the cd from SanDisk try their website. Perhaps they can help. So sorry that this happened to you! To love this comment, log in above June 19, 2006

Anita Ott		My heart breaks for you. This is a big concern with me as well. I can't help you other than for you to check with SanDisk. But I can tell you what I did for all of my pictures. I went out & bought an external hard drive that I keep in a fire proof box. I back up ALL of my photos on the external drive a couple of times a month. No CD's to break! I wish you a lot of luck! To love this comment, log in above June 19, 2006

Robyn Gwilt		Thanks to you all - I've got the little disk that came with it, and am taking it in tomorrow, to see if something can be done. I've even tried sticky tape but no go!! Fortunately the main part of the holiday was not on the disc, but the MOST amazing sunset/cruise on a catamaran was!!!! I just know Marc Adamus would have eaten his heart out!! :) LOL - Anita, I reckon I'll have to look at investing in one of those back up hard drives. Lesson is - if you've no option, make sure the disc is at least in a jewel case, and not just the envelope! Will let you know if I get lucky. Thanks again. To love this comment, log in above June 19, 2006

Bob Chance		Robyn: Someone specializing in the 'Recovery' field might be able to retrieve some or even most of the images on your CD. But at a steep price. And if memory cards are the same as hard drives, then I'm afraid that whatever images were on there before you formatted it are gone for good. Unlike deleting, format actually rewrites all the tracks, sectors on a hard disk. While not really a disk in shape, I'm sure that the principal remains the same for a memory card in whatever format it's fashioned in. On a hardisk, using a delete command simply marks that datas spot as available. So long as that physical address isn't written over with new data, it can easily be retrieved. But formating actaully erases all data on the device you're formatting. To love this comment, log in above June 19, 2006

anonymous		I have DEFINITELY recovered images from a Card after it has been formatted, not once but many times! Check, is the crack all the way through the "etched or burnt" section of the CD, or is it only on the outer edge, you may still be able to put it in the computer and use it, if it is only a section of the outer edge. Fingers CROSSED!!!! To love this comment, log in above June 19, 2006

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