How to Look After Your Memory Cards.
This document has been brought to you by the ImageRecall team to help the consumer and retailer clear the fog surrounding the issues with card failure. If you are about to buy a card or currently own one, the scope of this document will provide the best known techniques acquired over 7 years to help you prevent data loss and dramatically increase the life expectancy of your card.
1) Always reformat the card in your camera each time after downloading and saving the pictures on your computer.
2) Always create a backup by saving your files from the memory card to your computer.
3) Always charge your batteries as failure during a shoot will result in the corruption of data on the card and can even lead to a damaged card.
4) Do not remove the card from the camera or card reader too quickly as this can result in the corruption of data on the card and lead to damaged memory areas.
5) Wait a few seconds before shutting off the camera while the camera is still saving data to the card, wait for a few moments to ensure that all the data has been written to the card.
6) Avoid large static charges, and be extra careful when handling cards in dry, low humidity areas.
7) Keep cards away from strong magnetic sources, and extreme heat and cold. Walk through airport x-rays and scanners are safe but be careful of the stronger x-ray equipment used to examine checked baggage.
8) When editing pictures in your graphics application always ensure you have moved the picture from the card to your computer first, you will dramatically increase the life of your card by doing this.
9) If a memory card problem occurs, stop using the card immediately, do not reformat the card or delete pictures - use ImageRecall's "Dont Panic" software or send it to the ImageRecall lab. Tel. 01489 798393, or www.imagerecall.com
10) Be careful with the "delete all" and "Format" functions on cameras using Smartmedia or XD card as they are irreversible formats that cannot be recovered by anybody.