When downloading raw files off of my D90 my computer shuts down loading them after 85 files. Would an SD card reader solve this problem?
Downloading RAW Files
(34 posts) (10 voices)-
Posted 2 years ago #
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Do you get any kind of error message when it stops, Bland? You could try changing the USB mode to what it's not on currently (so it shows up as a mass storage device a.k.a. card reader instead of a camera or vice versa). That's in the setup (wrench) menu if memory serves.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Do you mean your computer literally shuts off?
I'm not sure where the following setting is in all versions of Windows, as I only have an XP VMWare image here, (Can check 7 and Vista later if need be) but IF your computer literally shuts off (or restarts) and you're running Windows, check the following setting:Right-click "My Computer" (Brings up the "System Properties" dialog)
"Advanced" tab
Under "Startup and Recovery" click on "Settings"
I'll go out on a limb and bet that under the "System Failure" half of the dialog box you have "Automatically restart" checked?
IF yes to all my questions you are experiencing a serious problem with Windows, simply triggered by your D90. As johnnyapple said, it is worth ensuring your camera is in USB MSC (USM) mode and not MTP mode. IF your camera is already presenting itself as a mass storage device the underlying problem is surely not related to the camera (unless you have a really odd hardware defect) as the drivers are generic. If you're mounting the camera in MTP mode while it is possible the issue is Nikon / D90 specific it is very unlikely, but still worth a shot.
The following questions are OS agnostic:
Is the 85 number a solid reproduceable number, or more of a guesstimate?
Are you plugging the D90 directly into the computer's own USB port or through a hub?
If through a hub is it a powered hub?
If through the computer are you using a front port? If so is the problem reproduceable when using a back port?Posted 2 years ago # -
Huge thanks for the info jonnyapple and Drab. I'll check this all out today and give you my findings. The 85 was just a ball park number, it was somewhere around 85. I found it interesting as well that I couldn't even copy out the remaining raw files in my D90 but fortunately I was able to copy out the jpegs and save the shoot.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Hi Bland,
While you should be able to use the camera as a device, have you give any consideration to a card reader? Mine are cheap and reliable, plug into any USB port that has the speed to read and download the data, and take little time.
You might check with one of your local stores.
My best,
Mike
Posted 2 years ago # -
As USB 3.0 is widely available then it might be reasonable to get one of those readers. I have a dedicated reader that was bundled with the card but you could also get a x+1 in one card reader which will be a bit more expensive but might come in handy also.
With a card reader you don't have to worry about the camera battery status either, especially if you can't recharge but need to empty the card.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Mike Gunter said:
While you should be able to use the camera as a device, have you give any consideration to a card reader?He considered it so much it was the actual question! (-_-)
Fact is he has an issue that, card reader or camera, should not be present. Buying a new hat to hide the wound in your head is rarely the best solution.
Most important question, Bland, and one you should be able to answer w/o checking your computer is my request for clarification on your original line "When downloading raw files off of my D90 my computer shuts down loading them"
Is your computer actually rebooting or powering off w/o your intervention?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Hi Drab,
"Buying a new hat to hide the wound in your head is rarely the best solution."
But you look so much better.
If the card reader would work, it would take out all the other possibilities such as bad protocols with the camera. Granted, I'm suggesting a workaround that leaves troubleshooting out of the loop.
A prettier solution.
Do you have a hat, Drab? ;-)
My best,
Mike
Posted 2 years ago # -
Only a prettier solution until the actual underlying problem bites you in the ass.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Drab, sorry for the confusion. The computer didn't shut down it just stopped the download. I was using the Nikon Transfer for the downloading. I went through my computer and checked everything as you said and it was all set correctly.
I went through all of the D90 menu but couldn't find anything for a MSC (USM) mode or MTP mode. I'm not sure what that is. I'll do some more checking on these modes once I get back this afternoon.
It may just be my entry level emachine doesn't have the horsepower to download a large batch of raw files.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Bland said:
Drab, sorry for the confusion. The computer didn't shut down it just stopped the download.Good
Bland said:
It may just be my entry level emachine doesn't have the horsepower to download a large batch of raw files.I can assure you this is not the case.
Bland said:I was using the Nikon Transfer for the downloading.
Let's take the third part (software) out of the equation. Can you copy them using Windows Explorer?
I'm now suspecting filesystem corruption on your memory card. Do you know how to check a drive for errors in Windows?
Posted 2 years ago # -
I can copy the raw files that are on my computer but I can't from my camera. I reformat my sd card everytime I use it, it's an 8GB PNY SDHC.
I have Windows XP Home Edition and I know nothing on how to check for drive errors.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I tend to agree with Drab that you have a corrupt card. Though you might have a bad USB cable or port. Have you tried a different cable or port?
Formatting a card from the camera does a quick format TTBOMK, and won't catch errors.
On Windows 7 right click the drive in Explorer->Properties->Tools->Error Checking->Check Now. I bet it is the same in XP.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Testing123...thanks for the info, I just ran it like you told me and it had a ton of corrupt attributes and etc it fixed. I'll also try another cable and port on Monday as I have an event to shoot and I'll shoot it in raw to see if this fixed it.
Thanks everyone for your help. I'm going to get another SD card on Monday and I'm also going to get a card reader just in case this problem happens again. I'll post the results here on Monday.
Merry Christmas everyone and thank you for all the help you have given me and others this year!
Posted 2 years ago # -
*Bland,...Do you reformat you card after you download your fles? Instead of deleating them,...you should reformat. If you dleete,..it still leave "little fragments" of information scattered on the card,..formating truly wipes the entire card.
Merry Christmas to all,...
Posted 2 years ago # -
Wow,..look at me,...I just noticed I am a senoir member,...
Posted 2 years ago # -
Bland said:I'm going to get another SD card on Monday and I'm also going to get a card reader just in case this problem happens again.
The odds of it being physical block corruption (needing a new card) and not simply filesystem corruption are very small.
A card reader will not prevent this, or aid in fixing it. If anything a card reader, because none that I have seen mount in MTP mode, increases the odds of filesystem corruption as opposed to the no-caching-of-writes defaults of MTP mode under Windows. A card reader is simply a convenience in that one does not need to use their camera (and camera battery) to download. Also many card readers are faster than many cameras.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Drab, where do I check to see if it's in the MCS or MTP mode? Thanks!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Bland
I will add my thoughs and I hope they are helpful. Whenever strange things start to happen the only way in my experience to figure it out is to look at each individual part of the puzzle first:
*Do you have a firewall/antivirus program like Norton Internet Security 2010? Is it up to date?
*Have you installed all the monthly updates that Microsoft publishes for XP and Office?
*Do you know how full is your hard drive? If its pretty full, have you run the disk defragmentation program under accessories/systems tools?
I am asking this stuff to see what is the health of your system overall, as the problem could be coming from somewhere else.
To see if it is the card, I would spend $15 and get a new SDHC card from B&H or similar. Dont by junk, but it doesnt have to be fancy for now. Put it in the camera and let the D90 format it. Take pictures then try to download. If it works, you know it was the old card.
However, you mentioned you were using a card reader. Most cards sold today are SDHC cards, and older card readers do not accurately read SDHC cards. So its possible that is your problem - an out of date card reader. I do know that your old computer needs an up-to-date SDHC reader to work. I have a Transcend external reader for my XP machine that works great.
One last thought: when I transfer raw files and/or jpegs instead of doing a traditional download I do a copy/paste. Of course it "is" a download from the card, but perhaps it might get around your problem. Worth an experiment! I have never an issue doing this way and the files are just fine.
I hope something here helps!
P
Posted 2 years ago # -
Pewo, those are nice ideas, but they don't address the issue of filesystem corruption which we have already verified Bland has.
Your card test, also, doesn't answer why the card is to blame. There is a very important distinction, as filesystem corruption is to be expected in non-journaling filesystems on removeable media, and one needs to be prepared to fix it. If one were to replace their flash media everytime FAT32 misplaced clusters even Bill Gates would be poor.
Because of this, and because the probability of FS corruption is much higher than the probability of actual flash corruption, one should always bet the odds and swing for quick, easy, free, and likely choice, which is chkdsk.
Bland, I don't know where it is in the D90 manual, jonnyapple mentioed where he thought it was, but I don't know. If your D90 shows up in Windows Explorer as a camera it is in MTP mode. If it shows up as a drive letter it is in UMS / MSC mode.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Thanks Drab and everyone else on your advice. I bought a new Promaster 8gb SD card today and I just downloaded 190 raw files at ease. Not sure what the specific problem was before but I think it may of been a combination of a bad SD card and needing the corrupt attributes off of my computer.
I did not change ports or cord because I wanted to see first if the problem was something else. Also, my computer was in MTP mode because it should my device as my D90.
Posted 2 years ago # -
MTP mode is not immune from filesystem corruption, but it is a good prophylactic, as (IIRC) Windows refuses to cache writes to MTP devices (meaning if you unplug the camera w/o doing a "Safely Remove Device" beforehand Windows hasn't delayed any writes to the card in the name of performance.) and unsafe removal of storage devices is the most common cause of FAT32 file corruption.
If you are happy with your workflow with the camera in MTP mode, I'd suggest leaving it there for that reason. Glad the problem appears to be fixed.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Hey guys,
I have been following this thread with interest but have still not found where the MTP mode is located in the menus. I am using the 'dumb' search in acrobat reader in a downloaded manual while I wait for my camera to arrive and it does not find it in the manual so a prod in the right direction would be appreciated.
Thanks, Andrew.
Posted 2 years ago # -
spraynpray said:
Hey guys,I have been following this thread with interest but have still not found where the MTP mode is located in the menus. I am using the 'dumb' search in acrobat reader in a downloaded manual while I wait for my camera to arrive and it does not find it in the manual so a prod in the right direction would be appreciated.
Thanks, Andrew.
I never could find it either but someone said when you're downloading and it shows it's being downloaded from your camera it's in the MTP mode. Mine is showing D90 as the source when I download, so I'm assuming I am in the MTP mode.
Posted 2 years ago # -
spraynpray, I think I may have led you astray in my post above. It turns out the D90 doesn't have MTP as a USB mode, either. I think the D5000 does, but both the D90 and D7000 only show up as a camera (PTP mode). This is why I don't usually trust my memory and I'm sorry if I wasted your time looking for it.
You can tell it's in MTP mode if you can "safely remove USB mass storage device X:" in Windows. It would show up as a mass storage device (like a flash drive) instead of a camera.
Posted 2 years ago #
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