Formatting Memory card

[frostyspecs]

I was in the process of transfering photos from my XD camera card to laptop when I got a note saying "card has to be formatted also all photos will be deleted" Does this mean the photos will be deleted after formatting or before.
If it is before how do I save these photos approx 200 and bought the card when I got the camera back ? I leant my camera to GD whilst hers was being repaired when I got the camera back never gave it a thought about formatting card just kept clicking. TIA

[dizmouk2009]

Usually this 'message' comes up because the software/equipment is unable to read the format that the card is using or, if the card is corrupt.

Going on what you have said, the photos will be deleted.

[scotman]

Were you trying to transfer using camera-supplied software or by Win Explorer when this happened?

[Dodger666]

Try using a card reader to view your photos instead of direct from the camera. You should then be able to copy the photos to your PC then use the camera to format the card. This will erase all the photos.

[Old_Geezer]

The act of formatting usually destroys any data on the storage device, in this case your card. So it's neither before nor after, but during.

If you haven't already backed up your photos (and I assume not given that you were copying them to your PC) then you are in for a stressful time. From your description it seems like the camera is saying it can not read your memory card and so wants to start again from scratch.

First refuse to format. Then check to see if all the photos have already downloaded to the PC. If they have you can breath a sigh of relief. If not then you need to find something else that may be able to read the card. Perhaps another camera, perhaps a card reader connected to your PC.

If you can find something that can read the card use it to download the photo files to, say your PC, as a matter of priority. If you have tried everything and nothing reads your card, then you may have to accept the photos have gone. But try friend's cameras or even shops which claim to print your digital photos first. Anything that works.