HPX170 and P2 E-series Error

[Aeroplane]

Hi all. I’m new here and I have a P2 card problem and was wondering if any of you could help; I haven't seen any solutions so far.

I’m shooting on an HPX-170. Prior to this incident, the card had been working fine, as had my other cards (I have three total; the 16g that came with camera and 2 Panny 32 gig E-series cards). The problem occurred when I powered the camera on out in the field. A few minutes before, I shot some footage (had been shooting fine all day) and turned the camera off. When I turned on the camera again, I had the “RUN DOWN CARD 2” message on one of the 32 gig E-series.

Basically, my situation is as follows. When I put the 32 gig P2 card that errored in one slot (doesn’t matter which) while a card is in the other slot, I get the “RUN DOWN CARD” message and it displays the “E” as opposed to the “1” or “2” normally displayed. When I put in the 32 gig P2 card by itself, I get the “FORMAT ERR!” message; the “E” is there again. I tried to grab data by plugging the HPX into my PC (running XP) with USB and simply copying files over, the card did not register as a drive in either slot.

It seems I should reformat the card but I want to get the footage I have off the card before I do that. First, is there a way to do this? And second, why does a brand new card display the “RUN DOWN CARD” message? Is it a bad card? My other 32 gig card is one serial number away from the problem card; should I worry about that one as well?

I would really love to find a fix but can’t seem to on my own.

Thanks.

[Gary Senda]

Have you updated the camera's firmware? There are some issues with the old firmware and P2 E series card.

[Aeroplane]

I have not, I'm running 1.06-00-0.00 currently. :( I checked on the site and the symptoms of not updating did not have this one listed (I realize that's no guarantee however).

I guess my question then is, if I update my firmware on my hpx, will I be able to retroactively access the footage on the P2 card that had the error? Or should I assume it's lost?

Thanks!

[Barry_Green]

Interesting question. I can't see how upgrading the firmware would hurt anything. Easiest way to find out might be to find someone with an upgraded camera and try putting your card in that camera?

You can also send the card in to Panasonic, if anyone can recover it, they can.

[Aeroplane]

Thanks so much for all the help. I'll try to find an upgraded camera and see if that works and if not, I'll send it off.

You don't know how much I appreciate the help. It makes me feel a lot better to have so much more capable minds addressing the problem. :)

Thanks again.

[Pellefotograf]

You know that you can upgrade the software in your camera yourself ? (you dont have to sendt it off to Panasonic, or a dealer or something)

[Aeroplane]

Yeah, I guess my last post wasn't the clearest. I'm only going to send the P2 card off, and that's if it doesn't work with an updated HPX.

Thanks!:Drogar-Happy(DBG):