Formating Smart Media cards

I had this happen on a new card, after using the card for over a week. The camera refused to let me see the photos on the card and kept saying to format the card. But Format would not work. I had not formatted the new card with the camera before using the card. I assumed that since it was already formatted, it was good to go. But that is not the case. You MUST format the card with the camera before taking pictures. I was able to fix the card by using a card reader attached to my computer. The card reader could see the files on the card and I could download the photos to the computer, using the card reader. I used the computer/card reader and deleted all files and folders on the card. I did NOT format the card with the computer. Putting the now empty card back into the camera, the camera was able to do a format. The card has worked ever since. Every camera has a format command. Check the user's manual. It may not be called "format". They may say "prepare the card". The command is usually somewhere near the command that lets you erase all photos. Format will also erase all photos.

I would say that the card is starting to wear out. If you want to try to salvage the pictures, try something like "Smart Recovery" from Convar and then get a new card as the problem is likely to get worse: -