is there such a thing as checking software for cf cards?

[gale]

I have a 512mb Lexar 12x card that I've never had a problem with-it is less than a year old. I had it in my 350D taking pics of my tree (just for practice) and when I downloaded the pictures, one had no thumbnail and would not open. When I put it back in the camera, that file said 'corrupt file'. I formatted the card and put another in just in case the 512 is bad but is there a way to tell? I just did about 57 test photos (half full) on the card to test it and all files are ok. I don't know how far into the cf card I was when I took the other ones-my numbering got all messed up somehow (I was avoiding putting cards from my other cameras in but I must have missed somewhere). But I'm paranoid to use this card when it might have bad spots on it. I know that I can use Nero CD/DVD speed to find errors on disks-is there a similar program for compact flash cards?

[sageone]

Not that I'm aware of. One suggestion I have is that when you are finished downloading files, format the card using the camera and don't just delete all the files and folders from your workstation or laptop. I find that formatting the card after a download via my camera works like a charm. I have four cards, two 1 gigs, a 512 and a 256 and I haven't had any problems with any of them handling it this way.

[gale]

Thanks. I do always format in the camera (have never formatted on my computer). I *think* that maybe it was an error during the write to the card-maybe I clicked something although I don't think I did. I'm usually pretty careful about that. Luckily it was just a practice picture. I'm going to staples tomorrow to get at least one, maybe two, of the sandisk ultra II 512 cards that are on sale so I might just stick to those and see if I can sell or return the lexar card. When I first started buying digital cameras and cards, lexar was king and sandisk was full of problems. Now it's the other way around I guess-very confusing.

[sageone]

You should get a gig card...you can get one for 70-90 bucks these days. I bought a 1 gig Kodak brand card from walmart a couple weeks ago and it works like a charm. Write speed is dead on, just as fast as my other "professional" cards.

[gale]

ok just looked at exif for the pic before and after. The one before used my 50mm lens and the one after used the kit lens. I don't have exif for the bad file so maybe I turned off the camera too soon (to change lenses) while it was writing. Again, though, I'm usually pretty careful and not ashamed to say, pretty slow, so I can't imagine that I would have been moving fast enough to turn anything while the pic was writing. I'm going to take another 57 pics of nothing and see if any of them are corrupt. If not then I'll keep using this card for non-critical stuff (like around home) and the better cards for the critical stuff (which is rare, actually).

I do always download right away so I would see right away if I had a bad file again.

[gale]

You should get a gig card...you can get one for 70-90 bucks these days. I bought a 1 gig Kodak brand card from walmart a couple weeks ago and it works like a charm. Write speed is dead on, just as fast as my other "professional" cards.
I think I'm more comfortable with smaller cards-I don't want to take a chance on losing a whole gig worth of pics vs just half a gig. I'm really paranoid about my pictures-I have them burned to 2 cds (one at the bank) and one dvd and am going to buy one, maybe two external drives to keep them on.

[CoolToolGuy]

I format with both - I format in the computer to make sure the card is cleared, then I format in the camera when I insert it. I haven't had a card failure yet.

An idea to check the card - put it in the computer and write some files to it until it fills up. They can be pictures, text files, spreadsheets, whatever. Then try to read (and maybe write to) it. When you're done, format it.

Have Fun,

[rcanzano]

Yesterday I purchased some SanDisk 1GB Extreme III CF Cards. They came with one of those tiny mini CDs and on it is a program called RescuePro 3. It appears to work on Mac or PC. I haven't had a chance or a need to use it yet, but though I'd toss it out there for you. Here's a link, maybe you can download it there if you still need it. http://www.recover98.com/software/Demo/downloads.html

[johnnybfan]

Check out this thread: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=119919
Sounds like a great deal. I have several Kingston CF cards and have never had a problem.

[gale]

An idea to check the card - put it in the computer and write some files to it until it fills up. They can be pictures, text files, spreadsheets, whatever. Then try to read (and maybe write to) it. When you're done, format it.
that's a good idea. thanks

rcanzano-thanks for the software link. I've bookmarked it.

jim-that looks like a great deal but I vowed long ago to never give buy.com another penny. I'll just get the ones at staples-they're a good enough deal for me. :)

[Ronald S. Jr.]

One thing that might be...just from what I've read. You said it's only a 12x card. If you were taking pics with an XT, maybe you turned the camera off before it was done writing the shot or something like that. that can ruin a shot.

[gale]

That's a good possibility. I'm actually slower than a 12x card (meaning that I don't think I could turn it off that fast) but you never know. Maybe I was in a hurry to change lenses. I got a new card today at staples-a sandisk ultra II-so I'll use it until I make sure my other is ok. I still have a 256mb that works fine but it's also a lexar and I'm suddenly leary of them.