cp995 Card problem/firmware

2 of my friends own the Nikon coolpix 995.

Friend A bought a brand new Sandisk cf 256MB. When he tried it, got a message: THIS CARD CANNOT BE USED. Friend B put it in his camera and took a shot - no problem.

Then friend B gave one of his own used cards to friend A, again the camera of friend A says: THIS CARD CANNOT BE USED. Friend B took back his card, inserted it in his cp995 and the camera said: CARD NOT PRESENT

Now, with any other card (we tried 3 different ones), the camera of friend A says: CARD NOT PRESENT. It looks like camera A destroyed something on the firmware of camera B through a CF card.
Does anyone have any idea how to fix that? Any similar experience?
Thanks in advance for any response

Shutzman said:

It looks like camera A destroyed
something on the firmware of camera B through a CF card.

Click to expand...

I'd doubt that was the case. More likely there is a formatting problem involved. Have your friend with the problem insert a blank cf card in his camera, and go to [menu] - [set-up 1] - [format]. I'm guessing that once the card is re-formatted, he won't have any problems.

--
Warm regards,
Uncle Frank, FCAS Charter Member
http://www.pbase.com/unclefrank/cp995&page=all

The scope of the problem is deeper. The camera does not recognize that there is a card in (as if there was no card inserted at all) and therefore you cannot even get the Format option on the menu. Thanks for trying anyway.

Shutzman said:

2 of my friends own the Nikon coolpix 995.
Friend A bought a brand new Sandisk cf 256MB. When he tried it, got
a message: THIS CARD CANNOT BE USED. Friend B put it in his camera
and took a shot - no problem.
Then friend B gave one of his own used cards to friend A, again the
camera of friend A says: THIS CARD CANNOT BE USED. Friend B took
back his card, inserted it in his cp995 and the camera said: CARD
NOT PRESENT

Now, with any other card (we tried 3 different ones), the camera of
friend A says: CARD NOT PRESENT. It looks like camera A destroyed
something on the firmware of camera B through a CF card.
Does anyone have any idea how to fix that? Any similar experience?
Thanks in advance for any response

Click to expand...

Shutzman said:

The scope of the problem is deeper. The camera does not recognize
that there is a card in (as if there was no card inserted at all)
and therefore you cannot even get the Format option on the menu.

Click to expand...

Have you tried removing the battery from the camera, and resetting to factory defaults? And are you sure the card is fully inserted?

--
Warm regards,
Uncle Frank, FCAS Charter Member
http://www.pbase.com/unclefrank/cp995&page=all

Did all you have suggested Uncle Frank, but the result is just the same: NO CARD PRESENT.
Is it possible to re-initialize the firmware thru a download?
Thanks.

Uncle Frank (aka Frank R.) said:

Shutzman said:

The scope of the problem is deeper. The camera does not recognize
that there is a card in (as if there was no card inserted at all)
and therefore you cannot even get the Format option on the menu.

Click to expand...

Have you tried removing the battery from the camera, and resetting
to factory defaults? And are you sure the card is fully inserted?

--
Warm regards,
Uncle Frank, FCAS Charter Member
http://www.pbase.com/unclefrank/cp995&page=all

Click to expand...

Shutzman said:

Is it possible to re-initialize the firmware thru a download?

Click to expand...

I would think it would be identical to doing an update of a firmware revision, but I have no experience with it.

Still think that's not the problem, though.
--
Warm regards,
Uncle Frank, FCAS Charter Member
http://www.pbase.com/unclefrank/cp995&page=all

It does not seem like there is any physical damage to the camera or contacts of the card. The card slides in and 'sits' firmly in its compartment. Also the cards we used work perfectly on my Nikon D100. We'll try to reload the firmware. If this doesn't help, I guess Nikon Tech support would be the next step. This CP995 has been working perfectly until yesterday (when we first tried swapping cards).

Uncle Frank (aka Frank R.) said:

Shutzman said:

Is it possible to re-initialize the firmware thru a download?

Click to expand...

I would think it would be identical to doing an update of a
firmware revision, but I have no experience with it.

Still think that's not the problem, though.
--
Warm regards,
Uncle Frank, FCAS Charter Member
http://www.pbase.com/unclefrank/cp995&page=all

Click to expand...

Refering to Nikon Tech-support the same question here is the response:

HI

the 256MB card is not tested or certified to work with our cameras turn to page 163 of your manual it will explain

Hope you get things up and running! If you need any further assistance don't hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,

Marc B.
Digital Imaging
Nikon, Inc.

I think the 256MB CF may have not even existed when the Nikon cp995 came out. Of course the manual doesn't mention anything like that and besides, even if it wasn't compatible, why would it disable the camera? It's not like we put an IBM MD that burnt the plastic.

NIKON Tech-support - Give me a break !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shutzman said:

2 of my friends own the Nikon coolpix 995.
Friend A bought a brand new Sandisk cf 256MB. When he tried it, got
a message: THIS CARD CANNOT BE USED. Friend B put it in his camera
and took a shot - no problem.
Then friend B gave one of his own used cards to friend A, again the
camera of friend A says: THIS CARD CANNOT BE USED. Friend B took
back his card, inserted it in his cp995 and the camera said: CARD
NOT PRESENT

Now, with any other card (we tried 3 different ones), the camera of
friend A says: CARD NOT PRESENT. It looks like camera A destroyed
something on the firmware of camera B through a CF card.
Does anyone have any idea how to fix that? Any similar experience?
Thanks in advance for any response

Click to expand...

That's a pretty lousy response from Nikon. I don't think the card size is the issue. If you look at Phil's review of the 995, you'll see he did memory testing with a 360MB cf card and a 1GB microdrive.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikoncp995/page17.asp

--
Warm regards,
Uncle Frank, FCAS Charter Member
http://www.pbase.com/unclefrank/cp995&page=all

Yes, the answer is pretty much a disgrace for Nikon. I hope our replied is picked up by a more capable technician. The next step would be taking it to the repair shop here in NYC.

Uncle Frank (aka Frank R.) said:

That's a pretty lousy response from Nikon. I don't think the card
size is the issue. If you look at Phil's review of the 995, you'll
see he did memory testing with a 360MB cf card and a 1GB microdrive.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikoncp995/page17.asp

--
Warm regards,
Uncle Frank, FCAS Charter Member
http://www.pbase.com/unclefrank/cp995&page=all

Click to expand...

Was there a directory called "Firmware" on the card with a "firmware.bin" file in it? That may be a cause of your problem.

Have you tried formatting the card directly from a PC and a card reader or from a camera that is functionning with the card?

Good luck.

AB.

I tried all the conventional means. I formatted a card on another Nikon (D100), same result. I formated a card on the PC through the card reader (with windows explorer). It is strange that Nikon View 4.0 had an option of fomatting , but it was not accessible, but Nikon View 5 does not have that option at all. The camera still said: "NO CARD PRESENT".

I couldn't even find the firmware for download on the Nikon website. All they say there is that there is no firm upgrade for Coolpix 995.

I appreciate the help, but so far I get no results. I think on Monday I'll go to the repair shop.

AirBete said:

Was there a directory called "Firmware" on the card with a
"firmware.bin" file in it? That may be a cause of your problem.

Have you tried formatting the card directly from a PC and a card
reader or from a camera that is functionning with the card?

Good luck.

AB.

Click to expand...

Shutzman said:

I couldn't even find the firmware for download on the Nikon
website. All they say there is that there is no firm upgrade for
Coolpix 995.

Click to expand...

There is a firmware update to Version 1.7 on the European site:

http://www.nikon-euro.com/nikoneuro2/download/Download_121.htm

They don't state that the update is compatible with Win98 but I didn't have any trouble installing it. Follow the instructions EXACTLY! The camera wouldn't shut off after the firmware was installed but I just popped the battery out and reinstalled it and the camera has worked fine ever since.

Don't know if the firmware update will solve your problem though...

I have used my 995 for 1 1/2 years, in the last few weeks, I have problem that the camera would not recognize my cards suddenly, or flash out 'system error,' Nikon techs are of absolutely no help at all. Now I realize I am not the only one. I'll try to upgrade the firmware and see whether it will work.
David

Tom Ketcham said:

Shutzman said:

I couldn't even find the firmware for download on the Nikon
website. All they say there is that there is no firm upgrade for
Coolpix 995.

Click to expand...

There is a firmware update to Version 1.7 on the European site:

http://www.nikon-euro.com/nikoneuro2/download/Download_121.htm

They don't state that the update is compatible with Win98 but I
didn't have any trouble installing it. Follow the instructions
EXACTLY! The camera wouldn't shut off after the firmware was
installed but I just popped the battery out and reinstalled it and
the camera has worked fine ever since.

Don't know if the firmware update will solve your problem though...

Click to expand...

Shutzman said:

HI
the 256MB card is not tested or certified to work with our cameras
turn to page 163 of your manual it will explain

Hope you get things up and running! If you need any further
assistance don't hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,

Marc B.
Digital Imaging
Nikon, Inc.

I think the 256MB CF may have not even existed when the Nikon cp995
came out. Of course the manual doesn't mention anything like that
and besides, even if it wasn't compatible, why would it disable the
camera? It's not like we put an IBM MD that burnt the plastic.

NIKON Tech-support - Give me a break !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shutzman said:

2 of my friends own the Nikon coolpix 995.
Friend A bought a brand new Sandisk cf 256MB. When he tried it, got
a message: THIS CARD CANNOT BE USED. Friend B put it in his camera
and took a shot - no problem.
Then friend B gave one of his own used cards to friend A, again the
camera of friend A says: THIS CARD CANNOT BE USED. Friend B took
back his card, inserted it in his cp995 and the camera said: CARD
NOT PRESENT

Now, with any other card (we tried 3 different ones), the camera of
friend A says: CARD NOT PRESENT. It looks like camera A destroyed
something on the firmware of camera B through a CF card.
Does anyone have any idea how to fix that? Any similar experience?
Thanks in advance for any response

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
Pixelated Electronics Engineer (HW/SW/FW)

DT Wong said:

I have used my 995 for 1 1/2 years, in the last few weeks, I have
problem that the camera would not recognize my cards suddenly, or
flash out 'system error,' Nikon techs are of absolutely no help at
all. Now I realize I am not the only one. I'll try to upgrade the
firmware and see whether it will work.
David

Click to expand...

I did successfully upgraded the firmware to v 1.7, but the camera still would not function, would not read the cards. The camera is totally dead. Anyone has the same experience? I am desperate. Is this the end of my 995?

David

This is very similar to a problem with my coolpix 990 (well, not the same model but pretty close). I asked a friend of my friend who works in Niks Thailand (Nikon distributor in Thailand). He said that coolpix 9xx is a little picky on flash card; it cannot work (or cannot wok well) with some brands of flash card .. (Nikon suggests 2-3 brands of CF card in its manual).

The capacity of a flash card is absolutely not the issue. I use my friend's 512 MB card for several weeks with no problem (it's SanDisk). However, I face the same problem as yours when I got a cheaper Kingston card. The problem occurs occationally. Sometimes I solved it by removing a battery or try to reformat it in coolpix. But the more I use it the more often the problem occurs.

So, I sold this card to my friend who uses Canon S30 and he has no problem using this card at all !!

Fortunately, my dad bought a new camera and he gave his 4x Lexar card to me. I never have any problem regarding a CF card since then.

I may be wrong with this assumption, but you may go to a camera store in your area, then either (1) test your card with other brand of digital camera, e.g. Canon, or (2) test your camera with some other brand of Compact Flash card. Then you will know where your problem really is.

--Gwyn.

Shutzman said:

2 of my friends own the Nikon coolpix 995.
Friend A bought a brand new Sandisk cf 256MB. When he tried it, got
a message: THIS CARD CANNOT BE USED. Friend B put it in his camera
and took a shot - no problem.
Then friend B gave one of his own used cards to friend A, again the
camera of friend A says: THIS CARD CANNOT BE USED. Friend B took
back his card, inserted it in his cp995 and the camera said: CARD
NOT PRESENT

Now, with any other card (we tried 3 different ones), the camera of
friend A says: CARD NOT PRESENT. It looks like camera A destroyed
something on the firmware of camera B through a CF card.
Does anyone have any idea how to fix that? Any similar experience?
Thanks in advance for any response

Click to expand...

I had the same problem. Tried all the proposed fixes without success. It was still under warranty so I sent it to Nikon in California. They fixed it and returned it without fuss and in good time. They even kept my 1.7 upgrade. --
alakopp, 995

I have tried all possible steps but nothing worked. Finally I took my camera to the store to be sent back to Nikon for repair. It has passed warranty, just hope that it won't cost too much to repair, otherwise it may not be worth it any more. I have many excellent pictures out of this camera, it is just a shame.

Shutzman said:

Refering to Nikon Tech-support the same question here is the response:

HI
the 256MB card is not tested or certified to work with our cameras
turn to page 163 of your manual it will explain

Hope you get things up and running! If you need any further
assistance don't hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,

Marc B.
Digital Imaging
Nikon, Inc.

I think the 256MB CF may have not even existed when the Nikon cp995
came out. Of course the manual doesn't mention anything like that
and besides, even if it wasn't compatible, why would it disable the
camera? It's not like we put an IBM MD that burnt the plastic.

NIKON Tech-support - Give me a break !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Click to expand...

And they wonder why some Nikonians are considering the 10d.

It all comes down to spending a LOT of cash and being able to get HELPFUL support not someone who quotes the book.....
hell, I bet you could read.

Shutzman said:

Shutzman said:

2 of my friends own the Nikon coolpix 995.
Friend A bought a brand new Sandisk cf 256MB. When he tried it, got
a message: THIS CARD CANNOT BE USED. Friend B put it in his camera
and took a shot - no problem.
Then friend B gave one of his own used cards to friend A, again the
camera of friend A says: THIS CARD CANNOT BE USED. Friend B took
back his card, inserted it in his cp995 and the camera said: CARD
NOT PRESENT

Now, with any other card (we tried 3 different ones), the camera of
friend A says: CARD NOT PRESENT. It looks like camera A destroyed
something on the firmware of camera B through a CF card.
Does anyone have any idea how to fix that? Any similar experience?
Thanks in advance for any response

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
Johnny
Austin, Republic of Texas
http://pbase.com/johnnycb

Who is Johnny?
http://geocities.com/johnnycb