No, a bit scattered but my personal memory seems to work for me.

I was shooting a pic experiment and noticed after a couple of shots new images were black, not there.  Then I got a message on the LCD, "This card cannot be used".  That was a first for me.  Glad to have saved the images taken a few days prior!

The contacts cannot be cleaned..CF card, not an SD.   I suspect the card has expired, even with no expiration date.

Has this happened to you?  These little flash memory things seem so reliable..then wham.

I had a Lexar card that wouldn't work reliably in cold temperatures, although it never died. Taking it out of the camera and holding it in my hand for a little while warmed it up enough to continue using it in my 30D for a while longer.

I have known a few friends who's keychain memory sticks have randomly dumped on them, but I haven't heard of any of them completely dying either.

Matt

I have not heard of this happening?? I was wondering, do you take yours out a lot?? I wondered if this wears them out?? by putting them into the reader and the printer and back into the camera??? just curious Tom, not accusing you or anything... LOL!!!  Sorry this happened, and after reading punaguy's disaster with his photos, what next???? I guess everything has a time limit or shelf life, you just don't think these cards will expire??    AKemi

I had an old smart media card die..

Strange happenings here... I take my memory card out every time I wanna download images cause it's SOOOOOO much faster than getting them off the camera and as of yet I haven't had any problems. Ahhh I dont know off this happening to anyone else... maybe you're special? :unsure: what make and size of card was it? got the lifetime warranty by any chance?

Hmm, I had a black frame (only one) in a batch of images last week.

Hope its not a bad omen:(

Bummer Tom!

-Michael

So far i havent had any problems. I take  my card out and download images on pc. Place in its plastic case and when ready put back in camera and format it. Tough wood:) I dont buy cards more then 2GB in case of damage etc. So have a few cards.
Chris

"got the lifetime warranty by any chance?"

Sorry to dissilusion you kai but I found out on the news that according to our Australian ACCC Lifetime warranties are just that...for the life of the product. 5 years, 5 minutes or 5 seconds. That is the life of the product. I assume that it is similar elsewhere. Better to get a set time frame or product limit eg: 5 years/500 photos/ 200klm etc. Buyer beware!!  Jenny

yeah I kinda thought they'd work it like that :cursing:

The card is a Delkin Pro, 512 mb.  Yes...my cards go in an out of the camera and to card reader quite often.   I don't believe this is "brand" related since these have proven quite reliable to me. Perehaps this particular card just got tired. 

Does it work in a card reader? It might just be corrupt.

yes it happened to me as well.....it was a Lexar card.....some black shots or corrupt files with an error question sign in the screen........I brought it back to my local dealer.....Lexar has life warranty so my dealer gave me a brand new one.....If I am honest, better pay a bit more for a flashcard with life warranty, because now I have probs with my 1GB Microdrive from Hitachi.....it made strange noises, does nothing anymore....so I went back to my other dealer where I bought it but it has just 1 year guarantee.......

* *

I always download the files via a cardreader...and I you should really re format each time if you use your card again, you must do that as well if you use different camera's so as in my case.....

I use the CANON 30D, AND THE CANON 350D....and a Minolta 7Hi

There are kits that can clean the memory slot ...
Compact Flash Slot Cleaning Kit (p/n XAX-Cleaner) =================================================

http://store.yahoo.com/memx/20102.html
Secure Digital & Multimedia Card Slot Cleaning Kit (p/n Cleaner-MMC/SD) =======================================================================

http://store.yahoo.com/memx/20101.html

The manufacturer might be able to provide software that recovers data from
a "failed" memory card -- that software might also be able to either reformat
the card or even mark unusable areas. 

--
MGD

MGD, thanks a bunch for the links. I did not know cleaning devices were available for cards with pin holes.  I will check that out...now to trust the card again?  Sort of like driving a car with a bad radiator..who knows when!  : )     Tom.

I didn't see it asked here, but did you try to reformat the card in the camera?

Yes, I tried reformat 3 times...that did not help. Thanks for the thought.       Tom.

I had a CF card die on me (Sandisk 1GB). Luckily I had already emtied it and popped it into my camera to shoot a friends wedding when my nikon complained. Went out to buy 2 512MB cards and sent the defective one off to the store I got it from, got a free replacement under warrenty. It just died for some reason.

You might try to at least recover the files off the card.  I have used PC inspector and have been able to recover many old cd's that were not readable by the computer.  I haven't really tried it on a bad cf card yet but was able to recover some files that I ereased by accident.  If I remember right the program is freeware.  If ya want I'll send you the link.