Passing this along, in case it is useful to anyone else in the future. Short story: Working with files on a 32MB SanDisk card when the SD suddenly becomes unusable (message that it must be formatted) on a Windows 7 box. All data recovery tools recognize this 32 GB SanDisk card as a 32 MB (!) size drive. No partitions, no recoverable images (multiple tools used). Transferred card to an XP box where I am logged in as the same user (company network). My goal was to do a QuickFormat on it (and then run the data recovery tools again). QuickFormat won't wipe the data on the card. However when I tried that I got the message that I had insufficient privileges to perform the operation. Say what? Sounds like an ownership problem. Logged out and logged back in as the superuser (Network Administrator) and then the Card is readable (has label) and when I open it all the files are there!
While the suspect card was readable, I copied all the files and burned them to a CD. When it is finished I am going to put the card back in my Windows 7 machine (where *I expect* it will again be unrecognizable) and I'm going to try the same trick (log out as me, and in as the superuser). If it works again, then I need to figure out what is changing on the card to suddenly change ownership. Solving the immediate problem is one thing, but I'd like to figure out what caused it in the first place. If this triggers anything for anyone, feel free to chime in. -- Photographers must learn not to be ashamed to have their photographs look like photographs. ~ Alfred Stieglitz -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.

