Recovering deleted images from a CF card

[Mike Arst]

During a dumber-than-usual moment, I erased some shots from a CF card that I should have kept. It was done inside the camera -- a D3 -- not in a card reader or in any other way that involved a computer's operating system to handle the deletions. At the time that I erased the images, the card had space remaining for somewhere between 5 or 10 shots (can't remember the exact number now). I did then fill it up -- and haven't touched it since.

Might there be a reliable tool giving me a shot at getting back any of those deleted images? With the card being full, a tool that can restore previously deleted files only to the card itself wouldn't do the trick. I'd need to be able to transfer them to an internal or external drive.

If it matters, the D3 is set at the moment to record both RAW and JPEG files for each shot. If it were only possible to recover the JPEGs, I'd take whatever I could get and be glad to have it.

Thanks in advance for any advice about this.

[feppe]

This is widely considered one of the best.

If it fails, take it to an expert.

[Ken Bennett]

Photorescue is good (linked above) as is Data Rescue III.

However, if you over-wrote the deleted files with new photos, I'm at a loss to think of any application that can rebuild them short of something the NSA might use.

[Mike Arst]

This is widely considered one of the best.

I've been looking over their offerings on the web site. There are three, with the expert version appearing to be the most comprehensive. The other two...unclear how they differ (same price). I'll ask 'em. Thanks for your reply.

[Mike Arst]

Photorescue is good (linked above) as is Data Rescue III.

However, if you over-wrote the deleted files with new photos, I'm at a loss to think of any application that can rebuild them short of something the NSA might use.

Yes, if they've been overwritten even within the 'trash' folder of the card, then it's all over.

Thanks for the further info.

[walter.sk]

Might there be a reliable tool giving me a shot at getting back any of those deleted images? With the card being full, a tool that can restore previously deleted files only to the card itself wouldn't do the trick. I'd need to be able to transfer them to an internal or external drive.

Lexar and Sandisk each include free rescue software on their faster CF cards.  If you don't have them any more, go to their websites.  They sell the latest versions for a reasonable price.

When I needed to use the rescue program I not only was able to save the files I had deleted, but also a number of files shot several shoots earlier.

[Mike Arst]

When I needed to use the rescue program I not only was able to save the files I had deleted, but also a number of files shot several shoots earlier.

That is certainly encouraging to hear. Thanks.

[Jim Pascoe]

We accidentally formatted a 4GB Sandisc card that was full, before downloading the pictures, and then shot another 2GB of pictures on the same card.  Using the supplied Sandisc recovery software we managed to get 6GB of pictures from the card!  Impressive.