Basic Tips for Digital Memory Card Care
Imagine you’ve captured your baby’s first steps with your digital camera, and when you go to print the images to preserve the memory, none of the digital photos can be retrieved.
The loss or corruption of images on a digital memory card is frustrating, if not heartbreaking. The good news is that most memory card failure can be avoided by following a few steps.
- wait for data writing and transfer to stop. Never remove a memory card from your digital camera while data is still being written to the card, or being transferred from the memory card to the computer. Yanking out a card too soon, or too quickly, can result in data corruption or damaged memory areas. Wait for just a few moments to ensure that all the data has been written to the card before you shut off the camera.
- always turn off your camera before inserting or removing a card.
- don’t use force when inserting a memory card. Insert it gently into the digital camera or computer card reader. Damage can be done to contacts if too much force is applied.
- format your memory card in your camera, not on a computer. Reformat the memory card each time you download and save your pictures on your computer. Deleting the images is NOT the same reformatting. A contributing factor to card failure can be the existence of previously deleted photos.
- delete individual digital photos in your camera, not when the memory card is in the computer. The computer and digital camera formats could be incompatible, causing errors.
- keep charged batteries in your digital camera. Battery failure while taking pictures could result in corruption or loss of digital images on the card, or even lead to a damaged memory card.
- avoid static charges and strong magnetic sources. Memory cards are delicate electronic devices.
- avoid hot and cold temperatures, and be extra careful when handling cards in dry, low humidity areas.
- keep memory cards out of the camera, dry and clean. Cover the electrical contacts if possible. Wipe with a dry clean cloth if the contact need cleaning.
- eject your memory card properly from your computer. If using Windows 2000 or XP, right click on the green arrow in the system tray and eject your memory card drive letter.
- edit digital photos on your computer. Always ensure you have moved the digital picture from the memory card to your computer before editing.
- buy high quality memory cards. Cheaper versions may not always be reliable and are more likely to fail.
If you do have a memory card that is not working properly, or that’s damaged, stop using the card immediately. Do not reformat the card or delete pictures. Use a digital image recovery program, or take it into a professional digital photography service, they may be able to recover your digital images.
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