How can i retrieve all my pictures. whenever I turn on camera i only have 2 options format or off. I don't want to lose my pictures. what can i do?

I'm assuming you are trying to use an SD card in your camera and not the internal memory. I suggest you format the memory card if you are sure there is nothing on the card. Formatting the memory card deletes everything on the card and sets it up with a file system that your camera recognizes. Follow these steps to format your memory card using your camera. 1. Turn camera off 2. Insert memory card 3. Turn camera on 4. When the memory card is inserted in the camera, the [Format card] option appears in the setup menu 5. Choose Format to format the entire card. Don't choose Quick Format 6. Wait until your card is formatted
After formatting your memory card, try turning your camera off and on and you should now be able to take pictures to your memory card.
P.S. If you remove your memory card you can choose Format Memory from the setup menu to format the camera's built-in internal memory

First try to recover any images you want to keep with a program like the one you can download here, which is free:-

http://www.easy-flash-recovery.com/

Then try to format the card or memory, either by:-

1.) Format the internal memory or memory card by using the menus in the camera, such as:- Review menu, Setup> Format

or if if that fails and you are using a card:-

2.) Format by inserting the card into the PC or using a card reader.
Then right click on the memory card's icon in the 'My Computer' window to bring up the format option, then format the card again in the camera itself to ensure compatibility.

Hi,
Format error means memory card in camera is unstable and need to be formatted. You will lose all data/ files on memory card after format.
Format option is available in camera Menu.
This will solve your format error problem in camera.

Memory cards are not made to hold pictures permanently. Like any stored data, they can be glitched and then you've lost the data. You should always copy them to the computer hard drive AND make a backup or 2. Even CDs can go bad. All my pictures are stored at least 2 but sometimes 3 places. Perhaps there is a way to retrieve the data, but I do not know how. Contact the manufacturer and see it they can help... but I'm afraid you've lost them.

Format memory stick through Format option in camera Menu.
Please note that all data on memory stick will be deleted by formatting it and memory stick will be refreshed.
Now take pictures and check does camera saves/ store.
Thanks.

The problem is with the memory card. It probably just shorted internally and is no longer useful. The amount of memory is not the problem, as I used a 4GB card for a long time and my card finally went bad. You will just have to get another memory card and MAYBE find someone to be able to retrieve your data.

take a look at this guide that helped me last time
How to recover deleted photos from camera
hope this helps.

I think memory card got imbalanced. Format memory card through camera Menu >> Format option and take pictures.

You may try some photo recovery software to rescue the files on your Olympus camera, here are some for your options.

Photo Recovery (for Windows)
Photo Recovery for Mac

Be careful: Before your pictures are recovered, do not attempt to save more files to the memory card in case the original files(your pictures) are overwritten.

Sounds like the images are corrupted on the card. If you have another card then try starting the camera with it. To get the card working again, you will need to format it in a card reader with FAT16 format, or try in another camera. If you want the images, you will have to obtain repair software to try to retrieve the images.