Memory Card Deleted after flight

[GaryC 7]

Very odd. I have flown overseas more than 15 times and never had this problem. I had no idea X-Rays could do this. Is it possible that you accidentally erased the disk from your camera?

[Niels Bohr 72]

International Imaging Industry Association (I3A) - Integrity in Transportation of Imaging Products

Press Release:

Digital Camera Media Safe In Both Carry-On And Checked Baggage, According To Tests By Imaging Industry And Transportation Security Administration

Travelers Still Strongly Advised to Request Hand Inspection of High-Speed Film

White Plains, N.Y Dec. 15, 2004 — Recent tests found no evidence of X-ray scanner damage to digital camera media cards or to the images they hold. The tests of scanner models currently in use in the U.S. transportation industry were jointly conducted by the International Imaging Industry Association (I3A), the leading global association for the imaging industry; SanDisk Corporation, a manufacturer of digital media cards; and the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

These findings mean that digital cameras and their image storage media can travel safely in either checked or carry-on bags, which will be reassuring to holiday travelers. And though they were not explicitly tested, it is likely that images on camera-phones will be safe in either situation as well. More care is needed for cameras with film, however, as the X-ray scanners for both checked and carry-on luggage can fog both developed and undeveloped film.

"Our tests should put travelers' fears to rest, that their digitally captured holiday memories won't be damaged in transit," said Lisa Walker, I3A President. "Digital cameras and media can safely go in carry-ons without the need for hand-inspection, which will simplify security checks and make those long lines move a little faster."

The tests of digital media took place at the TSA Security Laboratory in Atlantic City, N.J. A broad selection of media and devices from a range of manufacturers, loaded with detailed images, was subjected to repeated passes through X-ray scanners matching those now in use at transportation facilities. At the end of the tests, the images were unaltered and the devices showed no sign of damage. Complete details on the tested media cards, test protocols and results can be downloaded from http://www.i3a.org/itip.html.

Separate tests were conducted at the same facility to determine whether the walk-through metal detectors or hand-held metal detector wands have any effect on digital image storage media. As with the X-ray scanners, no damage to media or images was perceived from either of these devices.

The technical support center at SanDisk, a prominent manufacturer of digital media, has been closely monitoring the X-ray issue for several years. As SanDisk ships over a million flash memory cards per week, any issues from security devices would quickly become apparent, but the company has received fewer than a dozen reports per year of problems with airport security systems.

"The Atlantic City lab tests confirm our own observations about the durability of digital media. SanDisk tests have shown that images can be stored indefinitely on flash media cards, without deterioration," said Wes Brewer, SanDisk vice president of consumer products marketing. "In fact, we advise travelers that leaving their images on flash memory cards provides the most durable and dependable method of storing and transporting them. Although the various forms and brands of flash memory cards have different manufacturing processes, consumers who buy recognized brands from reliable sources should have no concerns about traveling with their cards through airport check-points."

The digital media test program is an ongoing initiative of I3A's Integrity in Transportation of Imaging Products (ITIP) Committee, which is composed of representatives from Agfa Corporation, Eastman Kodak Company, Ferrania Imaging Technologies, Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Hewlett Packard Company, Ilford Imaging Group, Konica Minolta, Photo Marketing Association International, Photo-Sensitized Materials Manufacturers Association and Sony Electronics.

ITIP has conducted extensive tests over a period of years to assess the effects of security scanning on film products. Test results to date indicate that the X-ray scanners used for screening carry-on bags will damage high-speed film (ISO 800 or greater). For lower-speed film, the problem appears to be cumulative: the majority of damage has been reported when film has undergone more than five passes through X-ray machines.

Accordingly, I3A advises travelers to request hand inspection of their high-speed (ISO 800 or greater) film products, which is explicitly permitted by law. Hand inspection of lower speed film is recommended only when the film has already been subjected to five trips through X-ray scanners. The screening machines used to screen checked baggage and some cargo will damage all film, regardless of speed. Therefore, I3A and the TSA both advise travelers to carry their film with them and never put it in checked bags.

To help make sure the hand inspection service is consistently available, ITIP has enlisted I3A members in an ongoing effort to gather information on implementation of airport film warnings and advisory signage in U.S. airports; the collected reports are summarized and forwarded to TSA.

"Helping passengers understand how to safely and properly carry their film through security screening is certainly a key element of our customer service efforts at TSA," said Ron Sokolov, Executive Director for Customer Service at the Transportation Security Administration. "Our partnership with I3A has been instrumental in evaluating the impact of our screening technologies on different film media and then getting this information to a wide audience that includes amateur and professional photographers."

When the TSA was established in 2001, I3A formed the ITIP Committee to work with TSA to address the issues arising from the effects on imaging products in transit of increased security measures in transportation. In December 2002, I3A and TSA jointly issued guidelines to help travelers protect their film and cameras from security scanning equipment. ITIP's charter also includes advising authorities specifying and implementing new postal sanitization equipment about its effects on imaging materials and how to protect those materials from damage. I3A's research, reports and guidelines are available to the public at no charge on its Web site, http://www.i3a.org.

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LAS VEGAS (Reuters)—Digital dream gadgets are being irreparably zapped by an irradiation process the U.S. Postal Service has used since October to sanitize mail against anthrax threats, an electronics trade group said on Tuesday.

Compact flash memory cards used to store data on many name-brand digital cameras and handheld computers face not just data loss but become entirely inoperable when subjected to electron beam irradiation, the CompactFlash Association said.

The trade group–comprised of scores of Asian, American and European electronics makers–made the announcement from the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) underway here this week.

CES is the largest annual U.S. trade show devoted to showcasing electronic gadgets.

"Testing has confirmed that these systems, which operate in the range of 55 kGy, damage not only semiconductors, but other goods as well, including pharmaceuticals, contact lenses, biological samples, and photographic film,' the group said.

KGy is a measure of gamma radiation levels.

Since October, the U.S. Postal Service has subjected mail to irradiation scans to guard against the danger of anthrax and other possible biological agents passing through the delivery system.

Five persons in the United States are known to have died from inhaled anthrax, including two postal employees, a tabloid photo editor and two women with no known connection to anthrax-tainted mail.

The Postal Service's own Web site states that: "The Postal Service is working with the mailing industry to develop procedures to ensure that sanitization of the mail will not damage sensitive items in the mail.

"Sanitization technology is currently being tested on a wide range of film products, digital and magnetic storage devices, laboratory samples, food and plant products, and 'smart' credit cards with embedded chips to ensure that all business mail can be safely processed through the postal system.'

The question of the outcome of such tests on these products remains unanswered on the postal organization's site.

The Compact Flash Association said it is possible that the Postal Service is no longer passing targeted mail though these e-beam systems. It said it is working with the post office to find safe ways to deliver semiconductor memories via the mail.

However, the group said it is alerting all users of CompactFlash cards of the inherent risk of damage to CompactFlash cards should they pass through an e-beam irradiation system.

The CompactFlash Association said that other delivery services have no plans to use irradiation systems, but users should remain alert for any changes in the future. And while e-beam irradiation systems for the mail will damage CompactFlash cards, the X-ray scanners at airports will not.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Its probably a bad memory card tbh

[Nikita2Charles 31]

Got 6 pics back with Cardrecovery software

Zar assumption software can pick up 166 pictures but I am unable to open them.

haven't had time to try the scan disk software yet.

It's really a bummy,

Nessa hmmmm nothing to hide from the trip or unless i shot some undercover stuff I didn't know about.

[Dakine 26]

HINT!

Anytime you go see your mate backup pictures daily and also use throwaway cameras for backup!! If you lose pictures that need to be used for evidence of a bona fide relationship you can end up in DEEP sh!t.

[Imua 0]

Wow, that's sad...

The last 2 trips I went to see Govi we took the memory card to a photo place and had the files copied onto CDs - this was more so Govi would also have a copy of the photos when we were apart since he didn't have a computer at home before, but I'm glad now that we did it and will probably do the same this time even though we won't have to be apart anymore... If this happened to us 2 years ago it would have been horrible, we would have lost our wedding photos.

[NickD 202]

My camera stays inside of my shirt pocket in a closed zip lock bag, so has to go through X-ray along with my pennies, never had problems with X-ray. But one drop of water or sweat would kill these way overpriced cameras, the reason for the zip lock bag. And there is plenty of sweat hauling five bags of luggage all over the damned airport. Invest in a zip lock bag.

Another factor is that the older compact flash cards were of far more intelligent design with concealed female contacts, these new memory cards have exposed contacts. You never want to touch them, electrostatic energy stored in your body can wipe out whatever you have in them, and if your fingers are moist or sweaty, will cause corrosion. Yep, still overpriced, granted, much smaller, but do present hazards to your data.

But in our society, we love to blame something or someone else.

[Ladylethal 12]

I had a similar problem a few years back, no airport x-ray scan, we took the memory to get pictures developed and the software kept saying the memory was blank. We tried taking new pictures to test it out but then it said it was full. We lost the pictures and the memory card and we never understood what had passed. That was before Luis traveled back to US so the camera hadn't gone through any X-ray. The memory card was most likely defective, which is what might have happened to you.

[NickD 202]

Also good to use your camera to reformat your memory card after removing your photos. Using any version of Windows to reformat the card, or just deleting photos without reforming can screw things up.

Suppose to be all the same, but it ain't.

[Niels Bohr 72]

I had a similar problem a few years back, no airport x-ray scan, we took the memory to get pictures developed and the software kept saying the memory was blank. We tried taking new pictures to test it out but then it said it was full. We lost the pictures and the memory card and we never understood what had passed. That was before Luis traveled back to US so the camera hadn't gone through any X-ray. The memory card was most likely defective, which is what might have happened to you.

This is not the memory card. It's actually the Windows driver. The windows explorer does it to many flash memory including flash drive, and flash memory cards.

You need to do is don't double click the icon in my computer that represents the drive. If you do it says, Drive Not Recognized or something to that extent. Instead, right click on it and go into explore. This will open up the media. If this does not work, then it's absolutely defective!

[Ladylethal 12]

It wasn't at our home computer or anything, it was at the photo shop at a special driver just for the cards, it'd automatically open a folder in the computer with the contents of the card. The folder kept coming up empty and then we put it back in the camera to view the photos again and they were gone.

Edited April 27, 2009 by Luis&Laura

[aaron2020 11,651]

Crazy. This is why I backup my pictures by burning them to DVDs at internet cafes and photo shops during my travel and mail them home. Even if my camera and gear gets stolen or ruined, I will have backup of my photos safely sent home.

[Nikita2Charles 31]

WOOOF

I got all the pics back with a little known software called

UndeleteOnclick

All the pix are back without any jibrish, or problems open them up.

Thanks to all for their advice, Moral of the story Please back up your info to a hard disk or some kind of secondary back up.

Cheeeeeeeers!!!

[Scott & Lai 12]

WOOOF

I got all the pics back with a little known software called

UndeleteOnclick

All the pix are back without any jibrish, or problems open them up.

Thanks to all for their advice, Moral of the story Please back up your info to a hard disk or some kind of secondary back up.

Cheeeeeeeers!!!

When we went to Hawaii, I downloaded all the day's photos to my laptop, and then burned DVDs. Eliminated the need to buy more SD cards (we took over 2,000 photos), and provided the security of redundant backups

[Naito 0]

Wow, I did not know that the scans at the airport could erase digital media like SD cards. What about USB flash drives? Can they be erased too?

Me, my wife, and stepdaughter are taking a trip to Siberia at the end of May and we definitely would not want our digital photos to be ruined. In the past with print film I had bought lead lined film bags to protect my film from damage. The bags are large enough to accomodate a digital camera.

I had assumed that only print film could be damaged by airport scans, this is the first that I had heard that it could erase digital flash media.

Luckily, this is only an issue for really high ISO films (800+) so most consumer print films don't become damaged. Lol who still shoots on film though?