Did I Just Ruin My New CompactFlash Card?

MikeQuill

MikeQuill

Well-known member
Hi All,

I've run into a frustrating situation with my new 16GB SanDisk Extreme III CompactFlash card. When it's in my 7D in camera mode, I get the message: "Cannot Create Folder." When I try to format the card through the menu, I get the message: "Cannot format. Change card." When I click on the "Select folder" option in the menu, I get the message: "Card cannot be accessed."

Now when the card is in my card reader and connected to my computer via USB, the computer doesn't even recognize the reader or card. I know it's this card in particular because I try the reader with my other cards and it works fine.

I'm pretty sure I messed the card up when I deleted video files on the card when it was in my card reader connected to my mac computer. I put the card in my new Lexar Multi-Card Reader, it popped up on my desktop, then I dragged video files from the "DCIM" folder in the card reader to the trash (I'm almost positive I did not delete the actual folders on the card). Then, when I put the card back into my 7D, I got the above messages.

I know now that you should always delete your files through the camera, but it seems a little ridiculus that what I did would destroy the card. I looked through the 7D and Lexar card reader manuals, and there is no discussion or warning against deleting files through the reader. Does anyone have any suggestions? Do you think SanDisk will give me a new card/repair my card?
 
^ It doesn't recognize it.

I would try another computer and, if that fails, take advantage of the warranty. I believe it's a limited lifetime warranty. And, yes, it is ridiculous that sending files to the computer's trash would damage it.
 
Yeah, the computer won't even recognize the card when it's connected to the computer through the card reader and camera. I've tried other computers but it's the same deal.

Looks like I'll have to call SanDisk on Monday...

Thanks for the feedback.
 
MikeQuill said:
Looks like I'll have to call SanDisk on Monday...
Click to expand...

Mike, Please keep us updated.

I've just gotten my 7D & sandisk CF card and I expect I would have deleted the card contents in exactly the same manner.

I cannot see how it should matter and if it does then it basically sucks.

Good luck
 
Correlation does not necessitate causation. The card failed; it happened to have occurred after deleting files while connected to the computer via a reader. That's all we know.
 
I prefer to reserve my moments of panic for the interim between giving blood for a routine test and receiving the results.
 
MikeQuill said:
Hi All,

I've run into a frustrating situation with my new 16GB SanDisk Extreme III CompactFlash card. When it's in my 7D in camera mode, I get the message: "Cannot Create Folder." When I try to format the card through the menu, I get the message: "Cannot format. Change card." When I click on the "Select folder" option in the menu, I get the message: "Card cannot be accessed."

Now when the card is in my card reader and connected to my computer via USB, the computer doesn't even recognize the reader or card. I know it's this card in particular because I try the reader with my other cards and it works fine.

I'm pretty sure I messed the card up when I deleted video files on the card when it was in my card reader connected to my mac computer. I put the card in my new Lexar Multi-Card Reader, it popped up on my desktop, then I dragged video files from the "DCIM" folder in the card reader to the trash (I'm almost positive I did not delete the actual folders on the card). Then, when I put the card back into my 7D, I got the above messages.

I know now that you should always delete your files through the camera, but it seems a little ridiculus that what I did would destroy the card. I looked through the 7D and Lexar card reader manuals, and there is no discussion or warning against deleting files through the reader. Does anyone have any suggestions? Do you think SanDisk will give me a new card/repair my card?
Click to expand...


Hi mike, i just encountered the same situation as you had. care to share what happened after which? are the data able to be recovered?
 
I'll agree with others on that this is almost certainly a defective card and has nothing to do with anything you did with it. On another note, where did you purchase this card? I know that there are a TON of counterfeit Sandisk CF cards out there, and some copies can be really hard to spot. Sometimes I suspect even the retailers have no idea they are not selling authentic versions.

Here is an excellent article on how to spot some fakes, but I suspect the counterfeit manufacturers have only got better at copying the cards in the last few years.
 
Does it show up in "Disk Utility"? Some times drives the computer does not mount will still show up there. If it does format it there then put back in camera a format in camera. Otherwise it looks like you need to check on the warranty.
 
Just because it's not recognized, it doesn't mean the card is dead. It could be a soft problem like file system corruption.

-try formatting the card from within the camera
-put it your card reader and launch Disk Utility under Mac and see if it's there
-on windows, plug it in and go into disk administrator
 
Phil1076 said:
Just because it's not recognized, it doesn't mean the card is dead. It could be a soft problem like file system corruption.

-try formatting the card from within the camera
-put it your card reader and launch Disk Utility under Mac and see if it's there
-on windows, plug it in and go into disk administrator
Click to expand...

This is good advice. Having done those things .... if your computer still can't see the card and/or report it's correct partition size, then the problem is likely that its hardware controller has failed. (Mine did recently). If so, no software solution can help and you'll need to return it.
 
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