Smartmedia card error in camera but not in PC

[thedragon]

I had problem in using a smartmedia card in my Fuji camera after doing the following actions:
(1) connected a 6-in-1 card reader to a PC with Windows XP via USB2.0
connection
(2) put in a 64MB Smart Media card into the card reader
(3) CUT and pasted all the photo files from Smart Media to PC hard disk

After that I found my Smart Media could not be used by the camera (a FUJI MX-1500) again - with message 'card error'.
The error persisted even if I formatted it again in the camera.

Strangely enough, the smart media card can still be read by the PC thru the card reader. Of course there are no more files there (for there were all
'cut'), but I can copy back all PC photo files onto the smart media without
problem. Though it still cannot be used by the camera.

Still more strange, I tried the same for another smart media card (4 MB),
but there is no such problem.

Why are there problems for the first smart media card? Any way to fix it

for use by the camera again? Is it not a good way to erase files in a Smartmedia card by a card reader ?

 

[Neil A. Viglione]

Fuji instructions are not to write to or format the media using a PC, I believe that would include deleteing or cutting. Some people may get away with it but there is always a chance that this will cause a problem as you have found out.

Make sure the contacts on the card are clean and try to format in the camera again. If after a few more attempts the card still fails to format properly, you may want to try the card in another camera, say one on the shelf in your local Photo Shop. Try formatting the media there and see if it can be written too by another Fuji camera.

Try fresh batteries also and if all fails the card may just be on the verge of failure itself and in need of replacement.

NeilV

I had problem in using a smartmedia card in my Fuji camera after
doing the following actions:
(1) connected a 6-in-1 card reader to a PC with Windows XP via USB2.0
connection
(2) put in a 64MB Smart Media card into the card reader
(3) CUT and pasted all the photo files from Smart Media to PC hard
disk

After that I found my Smart Media could not be used by the camera
(a FUJI MX-1500) again - with message 'card error'.
The error persisted even if I formatted it again in the camera.

Strangely enough, the smart media card can still be read by the PC
thru the card reader. Of course there are no more files there (for
there were all
'cut'), but I can copy back all PC photo files onto the smart media
without
problem. Though it still cannot be used by the camera.

Still more strange, I tried the same for another smart media card
(4 MB),
but there is no such problem.

Why are there problems for the first smart media card? Any way to
fix it
for use by the camera again? Is it not a good way to erase files in
a Smartmedia card by a card reader ?

 

[Sailor36]

I had problem in using a smartmedia card in my Fuji camera after
doing the following actions:
(1) connected a 6-in-1 card reader to a PC with Windows XP via USB2.0
connection
(2) put in a 64MB Smart Media card into the card reader
(3) CUT and pasted all the photo files from Smart Media to PC hard
disk

Try this:

(This protocol has worked for me using SM from an Olympus D340, CF from a Nikon Coolpix 995, and both SM and 1G microdrive from a Fuji S602Z).

Put the media in the reader. Open the folder (Click on "My Computer" on the desktop, left click on "D" or whatever), (DCIM) and click to 100 Fuji. Open "My Documents" in a new window (Start, My documents,), (or wherever the destination folder resides), and open the folder. Left click on 100 Fuji and drag it to the destination folder(s). This copies the files on the media to the folders in your computer. You can copy to more than one folder in your computer. Right click on "100 Fuji" (in the new folder, of course,and not on the media), click on "rename" and apply an appropriate name to the folder. Double click to establish the name.

Wait fifteen seconds. (Don't screw this up. It's not hard, but, in my experience, it's important.)

Then, if you want to delete the files on the media, right click on the folder in the media ("D" drive, or "E" drive, or whatever), and click on delete. Then, click on "back", and delete "DCIM". The media now works every time, or at least it has for me, with three different cameras, with three different media of multiple brands, and with a Lexar reader. Do not, unless you want trouble, edit the files on the media.

I don't worry about the numbering issue with the Fuji 602 because I always copy the files to a date or subject-relevant folder, so large native file numbers just clutter the folder. Most of my photographs are for documentation for construction projects, so they need to be organized by date and project.