Smart Media Card Error

[Jodie]

Hi There!
I am Happy that I found this forum

I have a Digital Olympus D-460 zoom camera.
I have been using a Smart Media 32MB card. Never had any problems with this card. I transferred the pictures that were on the card to my computer. Pictures were great.
Having a Empty card now I put it back into camera and all I get is
"Card Error!" message.
I put a different card into camera to make sure it was the card, not something
wrong with the camera. That card worked.
Can anyone give me suggestions on what went wrong. What can change a
card that quick? Is there any way to be able to still use this card.
This is the first problem I have ever had with this camera and memory cards.

Thanks for any suggestions!
Jodie

[Rhys]

Hi There!
I am Happy that I found this forum

I have a Digital Olympus D-460 zoom camera.
I have been using a Smart Media 32MB card. Never had any problems with this card. I transferred the pictures that were on the card to my computer. Pictures were great.
Having a Empty card now I put it back into camera and all I get is
"Card Error!" message.
I put a different card into camera to make sure it was the card, not something
wrong with the camera. That card worked.
Can anyone give me suggestions on what went wrong. What can change a
card that quick? Is there any way to be able to still use this card.
This is the first problem I have ever had with this camera and memory cards.

Thanks for any suggestions!
Jodie

Try formatting the card. Check the contacts to see they're not abraided. They're very thin and can wear out. Also, try cleaning the contacts with some non-abrasive cleaner. If none of that works then the card's probably stuffed and you'll need to buy new SM cards. If you're lucky, your camera will take bigger SM cards as all I see on sale now is 128mb.

I know this camera should take a 64mb card. It might take a 128mb. If not, there might be a firmware upgrade available. Honestly though, it's probably not worth spending a lot of tim eon a 1280 x 960 (1.2mp) camera. It'd be better (unless you have other memory cards) to update to one of the newer, better cameras.

[Jodie]

I have been reading all threads on Smart Media cards.
The card I had would not re-format in my camera. I still got card error!
I did a search on Smart media cards. The best price I found was from
Dell. I purchased a 128MB card for $19.00. I was surprised about the low price.
The card came and worked.
My neighbor was taking a picture outside and I asked what type of card he used.
Smart Media! I gave him the card that read error to see if His camera could format it.
It did and now I have 2 cards. Thats OK because now I know where to buy them at such a great price.
I just wanted to update anyone with this problem and say Thank You for your answers.
Also this group is great. I enjoy learning form other peoples questions.

Jodie

[kippdavis]

I had the same trouble with my Olympus Smart Media... The trouble seems to be that the camera wants you to delete the pictures via the camera. I was putting the card into a card reader slot in my PC, copying the pictures into a new directory and then deleting the pictures from the card while it was in the PC. I ruined 2 cards this way. There is a website that advertises fixing SM cards for $10 ea. but I determined that mine were too far gone to fix.