Picture data on hard drive disappears after burning and erasing CD

[Guest]

Hi all. I have some digital pictures that I first save to my hard drive from
my Canon digital camera, then copy to a CD-RW using Windows Explorer to drop
off at the local photo store to print them for family members. After I have
the paper copies, I erase the CD-RW in Windows Explorer so I can reuse it
later.

I was looking for a picture on the hard drive through Windows Explorer and
found the appropriate folder and file, but the data in all of the pictures in
the folder is missing; that is, the file is there, but there is no picture.
When I check the properties, Windows XP does recognize the .jpeg file format,
but it shows the file size is 0 bytes. I attempted to open the files in photo
viewing software (Windows Picture Viewer, Canon Photo – came with the
camera), photo editing software (Adobe PhotoShop Elements 2.0), and Internet
Explorer, but the results are the same. I think it has something to do with
the CD-RW because the pictures that are missing were all copied and treated
this way, but other pictures not handled this way remain intact.

I do back up my hard drive to an external hard drive using Retrospect, but
it copies the data that currently exists on the primary drive. So if the data
disappears from the computer’s drive, it makes an image of it on the external
drive (after this, I’m considering just copying files over and no longer
using Retrospect). Needless to say, the photos are missing from the external
drive as well. Fortunately, I have access to the paper copies, so I can scan
those in and have digital copies again.

So here are my questions: first, is there any way to recover that data?
Second, is this behavior known to occur in Windows XP Home? Third, should I
start taking pictures in another format (such as RAW) and then converting
them to JPEG for printing and publishing on my web site? Fourth, should I use
another method of copying photos to a CD-RW? Finally, should I stick to film?
Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[Paul Ballou]

first, is there any way to recover that data?
==============================
You can try a Search and Recovery software such as Iolo Search and Recover
or Executive Software Undelete to see if you can recover the images.

Second, is this behavior known to occur in Windows XP Home?
============================================
I don't believe this is a behavior with XP Home

Third, should I

start taking pictures in another format (such as RAW) and then converting
them to JPEG for printing and publishing on my web site?

====================================================
This is a personal choice you will need to make.

Fourth, should I use

another method of copying photos to a CD-RW?

===================================
If you are using XP's built in Copy features I recommend trying to use
software such as Roxio's CD Creator programs like this offer more control.
You should use CDR media to save photos or if you need a method just to
transport files from your computer to another location and don't want the
photos to remain permanent on the media try using some other form of
removable such as compact flash or zip disk.

Finally, should I stick to film?
======================
This is a personal choice. I use both film and digital camera's. I have all
my film placed on CD as well as getting print copies by doing this I always
have a copy of the photo and don't need to scan prints to get a digital copy
--
Paul Ballou
MVP Office
http://office.microsoft.com/clipart/default.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/templates
http://office.microsoft.com/home

Control the things you can and Don't Worry about the things you can't
control.

 

[Guest]

Thanks very much for the advice Paul. I tried both of the software
suggestions that you mentioned as well as a third one, and all came up empty.
I will have to scan all of the pictures in from paper copies. Also in the
future, I will have to develop a system of copying redundant files to a CD
instead of taking them from a source. The reason why I use CDs is because
that is the format accepted at the photo store; they won't print photos from
compact flash (unless that's changed in the last couple of months). Although
I am concerned about things like data degradation with CDs and dealing with a
physical storage method, I will also consider saving the files to permanent
CDs in the future in case something like this happens again. Thanks again
for your insight.

 

[Barry L. Wallis]

Thanks very much for the advice Paul. I tried both of the software
suggestions that you mentioned as well as a third one, and all came up empty.
I will have to scan all of the pictures in from paper copies. Also in the
future, I will have to develop a system of copying redundant files to a CD
instead of taking them from a source. The reason why I use CDs is because
that is the format accepted at the photo store; they won't print photos from
compact flash (unless that's changed in the last couple of months). Although
I am concerned about things like data degradation with CDs and dealing with a
physical storage method, I will also consider saving the files to permanent
CDs in the future in case something like this happens again. Thanks again
for your insight.

CDs have a very long life with little data degradation if you don't put
a label on them. The adhesive used by some labels can dramatically
shorten the life of a CD.

- Barry