C'mon Back is usually something you hear when somebody is trying to help you back your car out of a tight space. But for this article C'mon Back refers to trying to recover lost files from a data card. To recover lost files or photos you'll need image recovery software. Two good tools are ImageRecall from FlashFixers www.flashfixers.com $39.95 direct or PhotoRescue from DataRescue, www.datarescue.com.

After you've downloaded and installed the software select the location of your card and run either a Standard or a Deep Scan depending on the type of data to your files you've sustained. The scan will list files, or show thumbnails of potentially recoverable files. Pick the ones you want or recover of choose to recover them all and tell the software to where you want the files recovered. Your odds of recover are best with Deleted Files, second-best with Corrupted Disks and your chances are worst with an image that was being written when the card was removed or power lost. In that case you can possibly save part of the image.

As a last resort you can bring or send the card to a recovery facility. Lexar's free service for its Pro series cards extends to disassembling a physically damaged card when warranted.

If you are able to recover your images, reformat the card in the camera, take some test shots, transfer them to your PC and reformat the card again. After that, just keep on clicking!!!

If you have any suggestions or questions for me please drop me a note at garyandlaury@santabarbaraproperties.com or see my column on the Internet at http://www.santabarbaraproperties.com or call me at (805) 729-0910

Gary Woods is the Computer Trainer for the Santa Barbara Association of Realtors. You can hear Gary on the Radio at 1290 AM Monday and Wednesday at 8-9AM and he is a Broker/Associate at Home Realty & Investments, Inc.