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swintime
28 days ago
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Pictures saved on old disks... Why won't they open?
I started having my pictures saved on disks around the time my daughter was born in 2001 (maybe even earlier). Back then I had whatever photo processing center I went to do it for me but these days I burn my own on my laptop. So, the other night I decided to get out some old disks that had Christmas pictures on them so I could make a slideshow. I put a disk in my computer (which is running Vista) and it wouldn't open. It acted like it couldn't read the picture files or there was something missing to read them. What is the deal?? Are picture files going to become what slides are today? I mean where do you find a slide projector these days that doesn't cost a TON of money? I am starting to wonder what the point of saving my pictures on disk is... What guarantee do I have that pictures I burn now will open on a computer that I have in 10 years? What are your thoughts on this? I even save my favorite picture online too but how do I know the company who is saving them is going to be around forever? I have probably 3 years worth of photos online too. I just bought Photoshop Elements 7.0 over the summer and now 8.0 is out. I try hard to keep up with the latest technology but it's seriously making me tired and taking up too much of my time. As soon as I learn one thing the next thing comes out. Guess I just needed to vent and get some opinions from all of you on this subject.
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scenes
27 days ago
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Oh, yikes.  Have you tried using Pandora Recovery (free software) to try to read those old CDs?
There may be other free software that is specialized for CDs. I tried some old software for old floppy disks and was able to recover a few files (even though they'd been reformatted). I hope you have copies of those old files, or that you can access these. Do you have copies of them anywhere else? Are the file names visible on the CDs... what is the error message?
The shelf life of a standard CD is 5-10 years
I've had files on them become unreadable in fewer years than that. Professional archive CDs or DVDs may tout 50-100 years, but even so, how many of us will have compatible readers/software in 50 years? Never, ever trust your photos *only* to some online site, no matter how popular. Photo sharing services come and go. Don't rely only on CD/DVD, external hard drive, flash drive, etc. only, either. Over the years, I've lost files in many ways: online photo storage sites went under, hard drives failed, external hard drives failed, CD unreadable, and even files simply stop opening (various errors, including invalid jpeg marker). I really know how much it sucks, especially when it involves important memories.
The flaws of digital (changing file formats, file errors, changing software standards, potential for hardware and file failure) is one of the reasons I'm photo-printing happy. People make fun of the shoebox photo collections of the past, but.... that's because those photos are still here to be made fun of. I print my digital and put them in shoeboxes (ok, photo boxes). I've scanned over 1k of old film photos to digital-- I keep both film and digital copies of them.
My backup method: digital copies on hard drive, multiple external drivers, several online sites, relatives PCs, and favorite ones on CD (not a long-term strategy for the CD, but just in case something fries my PC.. at least I'll have CDs). Photo prints (usually 4 x 6), photobooks, and 8 x 10s of favorites. Stored in photo boxes, and some given to relatives (50 years ago, giving copies to family was the "backup" system, so I've heard).
I don't really worry about the latest tech-- I just find a system and software that works for me and keep it. I rarely upgrade software anymore. I don't use tagging or geotagging or any of that-- I use standard old system folders and file names to organize files.
I've read several people share stories here of failed hard drives or otherwise unreadable digital photos.
(I've also read stories of damaged paper/classic film photos, too.)
Hope those old photos of yours are accessible again!
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scenes
27 days ago
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ISO Buster is one CD recovery software. http://www.smart-projects.net
Haven't used this one, and I don't know the price.
Pandora Recovery (free) can often read external media (external USB drive, flash drive, CD), though I haven't run a CD scan with it.
Here's someone else with the problem.. maybe this will help?
http://photo.net/digital-darkroom-forum/00EhTo or this: http://forums.techguy.org/windows-vista … my-xp.html
Others with Vista have had this problem: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/933486/en-us
Some people there suggested things like trying another CD drive, a PC with a DVD burner (to read, not to write), using XP, cleaning the CD, or data recovery specialists. Open from Start ~> My Computer ... instead of "AutoPlay"/auto-load.
Do you have another PC you can try to open the files with, just to see? Maybe an older version OS?
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Degilbo
27 days ago
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The problem may lie with the software the photo store used to add the images to a CD. They most likely gave you a program to view the images with (?). I can recall my photo processor providing a similar service many, many years back. In those times, downloads were just becoming popular, so a program CD was supplied. I can't recall the name, definitely, but it was probably MGI Photo Suite. I have just "hunted down" that manual, and it reminds me that it was for "Windows 3.1 and/or Windows 95" (remember those two <LOL>?). My supplier supplied the images on floppy disks, which I don't have a drive for in this computer. Fortunately, I have the original prints, plus the downloaded files so I have no need to worry about the lack of a reader. Because you are now running Vista, it may not recognize the format, because it does not have an "associated" program. Perhaps you may know someone with a system running XP, or even 98, that may be able to "read" the files, in Windows Explorer, to see just what the extension is. The extension may give us a "clue" as to just "which" program produced them.
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Degilbo
27 days ago
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Finding a slide projector? You may pick up a bargain (?) on e Bay. The only trouble with projectors of a good age would be getting bulbs to fit them. I keep checking on eBay for a 6 x 6 slide projector. New ones, capable of projecting slides of that size are several hundred dollars, an amount I don't wish to spend :-). Even fifty years ago, a slide projector of that size was priced at an amount equivalent to ten weeks pay that I was receiving at that time. Fortunately, I have a projector for my 110 film slides (I am just hoping it lasts!). Keep looking, Swintime, you are bound to find one somewhere.
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scenes
27 days ago
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Good idea, degibo. I remember Kinkos giving out software with their CDs. Theirs, at least, you could open outside their software by right-clicking. The local photo processing store had some software where you had to open it and export photos one-by-one to see them outside the software of their CD. Can't believe you remembered the name of the software... maybe there's a download available of it online somewhere?
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swintime
27 days ago
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Degilbo-Your right. I am sure there was some sort of software that came with these old disks back then. Scenes- thanks listing so many options of how to open these disks and how you store your pictures! I even have floppy disks with pictures in boxes too. If I had to pick one thing to save first though, I think it would be home video tapes. And I think that is even harder to do than photographs because you can't print them out. I keep looking at these units that transfer video tapes to SD cards. Anyone tried these? Has anyone attempted to sort through their boxes and boxes of pictures stored somewhere in their house? Where would you even begin? What way would be the best way to sort? By person? By event? By year (that's if you even know the year)? I used to make fun of friends who had hundreds of pictures on their cards in their cameras but had not printed any. I always printed mine or my favorites until the last year or two. Some would go into albums but a lot are still in their envelopes they came in. I just want to be more organized so that I can access the pictures I take.
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Degilbo
27 days ago
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Scenes, I am not dead certain about that software - MGI Photo Suite - but I am sure it is the one my lab used. The software is stored away and not on my computer. The manual was in amongst the computer manuals on my book shelves, so it wasn't hard to find :-). The other point is that I am in Australia, and the software processors may have supplied in the US would probably be of a different brand. PhotoSuite was available internationally, and even Tucows have a download available of the last version (dated 2001). MGI were taken over by Roxio, and forums on their site indicate PhotoSuite will not run in Vista. Whether it was PhotoSuite or not, I think the trouble Swintime is having is that the images are saved in a proprietary format not recognized by Vista. They may be readable on an XP, or if one can be found, a Windows 98/95 machine. Technology changes certainly cause headaches don't they :-(?
By the way, I read your mention of the fact that you have not "tagged" your images. You really should have a look at the benefits of doing that. It really makes a difference in managing a vast amount of images. I tag all new images going into my computer now, and I am working on the ones I saved in the past without tags. You can use software such as Picasa3 (free), or on-line sites such as flickr to assist you. Having tags on your images placed on on-line sites means that people searching for a particular image can be directed to your collection so much easier. For example, I have a historical photo (1950's vintage) on my flickr site. It is nothing outstanding as far as a photography goes - just an old b&w. But by reason of its tags, it has had 129 views since I placed it on flickr a week ago. No one would have "found" it without the tags, that's for sure. So, do think about tagging - it can be only be to your benefit even if you never put a photo on-line.
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belleariel
paris
26 days ago
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Swintime: When I read your first post, it reminded me of the photos (pre-digital) that I have on CDs. I used a company called Photoworks to develop the film and got the works...prints, negatives, and a contact sheet. They're all sitting in those shoebox style photo boxes. It was pretty expensive, plus the cost of the film, sometimes for photos that were not worth it!
I pulled out a couple of the CDs from a trip to China & Tibet in 2000 to see if I'd have problems opening them with Vista on my laptop. The Photoworks CD comes with their program right on every CD, so I downloaded the program once. I just right click the CD drive, click open, and there are the photos. I can also go to Picasa3 (free edit program I use), click Import and it will import all the photos from the CD Drive into Picasa, The weird thing is that each photo comes up in 3 sizes, which may be a Photoworks thing. The hi-res size is 1536x1024. JPG Dimensions, date printed, and an ID number are the only properties data on a photo. I sure miss all the helpful stuff you get with a digital photo. The only reason I know the date the photo was taken is because back then I had the date show up on the photo...yuck! I'm not even sure what camera I used.
What if you download Picasa3 (free), put in one of your old CDs and see if the pictures show up if you click Import in the upper lefthand corner; when the import screen comes up, click Source in the upper lefthand corner. It might work even if your CDs don't come with a built-in program. Good luck!
Degilbo: I use a Mitsumi External Floppy Disk Drive SmartDisk FDUSB-TM2 to download from floppy disks. I got it a long time ago, but I don't think it was very expensive. I'm sure there's some company out there who is stilll making External Floppy Disk Drives. I've only used it to open old documents. I think Kodak used to put photos on floppys, and I may have some around somewhere...but my real stuff is just as disorganized as my digital stuff!
Thanks for raising the questions, Swintime. I'm going to print out one of my old 2000 China trip pictures after a little post processing and see if it actually looks better than the one printed by Photoworks.
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Degilbo
26 days ago
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Yes, Belle, an external floppy drive probably would be handy. I had considered that some time back and it was one of those tasks "I must do one day" and I had never got back to <LOL>. Have just browsed eBay and there are a couple around $15 (including postage) so I will probably bid on one of those (no bids yet on either).
Your mention of Photoworks rings a bell with my memory too. I seem to recall using that along the way with a photo service in the dim (?) past :-). I'll have to have to have a look through my file boxes to see if it is there. All my downloads on CD/DVD's are cataloged in Excel, but not purchased software. I found several downloads of MGI PhotoSuite in my catalog when I opened Excel a few minutes ago. Two other "obsolete" formats I have too are Zip disks (from Iomega) and LS-120 Super Disks from Imation. The Iomega drive still works but requires a parallel port. Luckily I have all the contents from those super disks saved elsewhere. The Imation could be installed if I wanted to go to all the bother, but DVD storage now is far superior.
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richard wa
ng
25 days ago
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Swintime
A couple of solutions.
1. Go into Windows Explorer and see if you can actually see the files. Look for the extensions.
2. Download FastStone Image Viewer, which supports all the major graphic formats, and see if the images show up. FastStone is free.
You want frustration? Ask someone who's tried opening a 5D mkII with Photoshop CS3 or older. Surprise no support for CR5 files.
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superdewa
25 days ago
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That must be frustrating, Richard.
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Degilbo
17 days ago
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Belle, I managed to get an excellent buy on an external floppy disk drive on eBay. I got a brand new Acer for AUD10.50. The chap I bought it from lived locally. He kindly offered to drop off the parcel at my work place and refund the postage I had paid. Talk about service! Dealers down here sell new FDD for upwards of AUD60, so ten dollars is remarkable.
I did look at my old photo diskettes supplied from my processor of long ago. The file extension is "SWF", which ACDSee could not open. However, when I opened the diskette in Explorer, I noticed there was an "EXE" file included. I clicked that and it ran a DOS style program to display the images, rather pixilated I might add. From memory, I recall their scanning was not all that brilliant, even on their website where I could download recently processed films (before the prints arrived). Will play around with my $10 drive in the next week or so, and see what else I have on those old diskettes :-).
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belleariel
paris
17 days ago
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Degilbo...have fun checking out the photos using your new floppy drive. To your door delivery...now that's really service!
Can you click properties and see the resolution on the photos on the diskette? I'm not a techie, but maybe the pixilation has something to do with the download program, rather than the original scanning.
I found a couple of Kodak Picture Disks dated October 1999. I haven't a clue what's on them, but the label gives instructions on running it with Windows 3.1 or Windows 95/98. Talk about ancient history. I hope I can get them to open on a laptop with Windows Vista.
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Degilbo
17 days ago
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Yes, Belle, the FD I have are from the era of Win 3.1/95 too. Fortunately, I have all the prints still, that were processed at that time, and many have been scanned long ago. The floppy drive was something I had been meaning to do something about and when your suggestion came up, I started to look. It was probably the high price of new ones that put me off initially, but good old eBay came through :-). I might download Irfanview once again (I thought I had it installed) as it is pretty good at handling odd image files.
I think the pixillation was due to the program not so much the image. It started from a DOS type screen and then immediately brought up the image - full screen.
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belleariel
paris
17 days ago
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I was able to open the Kodak diskettes with no problem, BUT the max resolution on the disk is only 600x400, so anything beyond a 4x6 print would be very grainy. I don't remember what camera I used in 1999, but the odd thing is the mystery pictures are from a trip to the Frank L. Wright homes, Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob, which I just visited again this September. The first photo is the 1999 film one on the Kodak diskette; the second one is from the 2009 Nikon DSLR D80:
1999:
2009:
I also found a 1999 mystery diskette from Photoworks; scanned resolution also only good for 4x6 prints. I could only open it in Photoworks albums, until I discovered how to change the extension from SFW (Seattle Film Works) to jpeg, and then I was able to edit it in Picasa 3.
I have no clue as to where the prints for these oldies are...some unmarked shoebox or envelope in a "junk closet"?
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superdewa
17 days ago
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that's wild that you have such similar photos 10 years apart.
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pezboy007
17 days ago
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It sure would be ironic if the switch to digital leads to a loss of our ability to view and share our memories in the future.
I'm guessing people are going to give up transferring their media every 5-10 years just to access it. I don't think too many people think about it until they have a hard drive fail or their online service goes belly up. This problem is the same for videos. A lot of people converted their film reels to VHS and pitched the film. What good did that do them.
Not an easy solution.
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