Has anyone encountered a problem with there memory card download. I have an sandisk ultra II 4gb card and I'm trying to download my photos to my Computer, When I put it in the card reader is says "initialize or eject" meaning it can't read the card. I can still see the photos in my camera though. I'm trying to figure out how to download the photos straight from my camera to the computer but it won't work or recognize the camera, my D300 does but can't figure out the D700. Any ideas? Please help! Thanks.

What's the OS you're running?

Mac 10.5.8

Silly question, but did you format the card in the D700?

Even a card formatted in the D700 ought to be readable in the computer / card reader. There could be a corruption on the card, in which case you'll need some recovery software such as that provided by Sandisk with their more up-market cards.

If the computer also cannot communicate with the D700 while that card is installed in the D700 then I'd be thinking it was the card problem again. Just as an exercise to help prove the point you could put your D300 card into the D700 (after backing up the photos that are on it) and see if the computer can see the D700 then. If that works then try the reverse - put the D700 card into the D300 to see if the computer will find the photos when you connect the D300 to it.

Do not take any more photos using the defective card as they could overwrite the photos that are presently not accessible. Only after exhausting all options for data recovery should you do a reformat of the card and try it again. If it ever dies again then scrap the card.

- Alan

Interestingly, after I got my D700, I forgot to reformat it before its initial use from its time with my old D300. My files were fine, just put in a different folder.

Thanks Alan and James, I was able to download the photos on a PC it read the card. I think for formatting I swap my cards between the D300 to the D700 all the time. I wonder if that's messing up my cards. Also I just did the 1.01 update on the D700 today too. It may have caused a problem. Is it bad to swap cards from the D300 to the D700 all the time without formatting them?

I definitely wouldn't do that.

Generally, you should reformat frequently.

When your refomatting your cards, do you do it through the menu in camera or the outside two buttons? I did with the two buttons and it didn't format for me it just acted like it did.

Jay Parco wrote:
When your refomatting your cards, do you do it through the menu in camera or the outside two buttons? I did with the two buttons and it didn't format for me it just acted like it did.

I'm assuming you pressed the two format buttons again, after holding them both down and getting the "FOR" prompt?

Believe so but I'll try it again

It doesn't take long for the format to happen, it is really quick when it does it.

I've swap cards between D300/700/D2x many times with out formatting with no problems- so far

have u tried other card?

spentomuch wrote:
I've swap cards between D300/700/D2x many times with out formatting with no problems- so far

+1 Throw in a D3 and D200. Just do the 2 button dance (twice) and you'll be good to go.