Memory Card Problem: Learn from my mistake.

[gkowen]

I thought I'd share a problem I just had with my stealthcam that had me scratching my head.  I put in a 2 GB memory card and put it out to take pics. I went back 5 days later and it said FULL, so I thought I had 900+ pics. When I looked at the memory card in my laptop, it was empty.  The Stealthcam had filled its internal memory. It didn't know the memory card was there.  This happened a second time. Has this happened to anyone else?

Anyway, to make a long troubleshooting experience quicker, here was the problem. I had formatted the memory card in my XP computer after looking at the last set of pics on it.  XP defaulted to an NTFS filesystem format.  This NTFS format was not seeable by my trailcam. It was so not seeable that the trailcam wouldn't format it, it would only format the internal memory. After going back and reformatting using a FAT filesystem, it works fine. I know there is alot of computer jargon here but I wanted to share a problem that might help others solve their problem. So, if you format your memory card in your computer, and it quits working, this is something to check.

[tmike]

I just had the same problem. I put a 4 GB card in my Moultrie and checked it after a month. All I had were 16 pictures taken on the day I left it. That was the same number of pics in the internal memory, but those pictures are also on the card. I just can't view them now on my Mac. It's a bummer because there was a real nice buck on it taken on May 30. I put a different card in and checked it the next day. 18 pictures with a 6 point bull. This card seems to be working ok. I just thought it was an issue with the card since it was a different brand than the ones I've normally use.

[ACCUBOND]

My steath cam with a 2 gig card took 233 pics in 3 days then no pics for 4 days. Last pic the ground looks like it did when I was there, when I went back to retreive the SD card the ground was all tore up but no pics

[gkowen]

Did your cam say it was full? or did it say 233?

[ACCUBOND]

It said 233. With a 2 gig card the manual says I should be able to take about 1900 pics, when I put the new SD card in it took my pic so well se when I go in friday

[BK Dave]

I thought I'd share a problem I just had with my stealthcam that had me scratching my head.  I put in a 2 GB memory card and put it out to take pics. I went back 5 days later and it said FULL, so I thought I had 900+ pics. When I looked at the memory card in my laptop, it was empty.  The Stealthcam had filled its internal memory. It didn't know the memory card was there.  This happened a second time. Has this happened to anyone else?

Anyway, to make a long troubleshooting experience quicker, here was the problem. I had formatted the memory card in my XP computer after looking at the last set of pics on it.  XP defaulted to an NTFS filesystem format.  This NTFS format was not seeable by my trailcam. It was so not seeable that the trailcam wouldn't format it, it would only format the internal memory. After going back and reformatting using a FAT filesystem, it works fine. I know there is alot of computer jargon here but I wanted to share a problem that might help others solve their problem. So, if you format your memory card in your computer, and it quits working, this is something to check.

Well I'm glad you shared this, as I thought I was alone with a couple of my cams!!!
#1 scoutgaurd 550v
#2 Bushnell 5.0 ( the new pocket one)

both have advertised "fast trigger speed" and video and incredible battery life!! and a whole plethora of programing options!!!
However they will NOT function with out the SD card being in place....and all your programing is via the memory card as well!! this being said, "like you mention once you put the SD card in your PC or even another camera(i use a Nikon as my SD card viewer) it totally changes the format of the card!!!!! and it will not work as it should, if at all???frustrating as hell

[Antlershed]

No problems with my Cuddeback or my StealthCam with putting the card in my computer and then back in the cam. The camera always reformats it.

[gkowen]

It will as long as you don't format it NTFS in the computer.  I was just showing that if  your memory card doesn't work after being formatted in the computer check to make sure it didn't get formatted as NTFS.

[Perrymedic]

I have had the same problem with my Stealth cam. It takes a bunch of pictures and then stops. I have tried the reformatting of the memory card in the camera but it still does the same thing. Batteries are new. 

[Cylvertip]

Having the same problem with both my stealth cams - they just stop.   I'll call customer service tomorrow and see what they say...

[Typical8]

Antlershed,
 What name brand card do you use in your cuddeback? I cant get  my Sandisk ultra 4 gb to work.
Tried reformating it with the camera and with the computor. It takes one picture then says its full. when i check for that one pic, nothing is there.

[gkowen]

I just went to Cuddebacks website and didn't see a camera that would accept a 4gig card. It looked like their models that use SD cards accepted 2Gigs and the Compact flash models accepted 1Gig.  Maybe the memory card is too big?

[Typical8]

I just went to Cuddebacks website and didn't see a camera that would accept a 4gig card. It looked like their models that use SD cards accepted 2Gigs and the Compact flash models accepted 1Gig.  Maybe the memory card is too big?

Gkowen... That could very well could be the problem, I will get a smaller card and try her again. Thanks much!

[Typical8]

Smaller Card worked! Thanks Man.

[Cylvertip]

Called Stealth Cam.  They said the Polaroid cards I have been using are not on their recommended list.   I just bought two San Disk cards which they recommended.  I'll swap them out tonight or tomorrow night and see what happens....