Mrs Technophobe here. I took the memory card out of my phone so I could put the pics into my PC using MC holder. However all I get is a message reading,
"The following error occurred while finding/photos videos to import. The filename, directory name or volume label syntax is incorrect. Please explain in simple terms. Would a new memory card work or do I need a new camera. Never had trouble before in all the years I've had it and nothing at all in camera has been changed as far as I am aware. TIA

maclad - 2021-04-30 16:48:00

What's an MC holder?

nice_lady - 2021-04-30 17:28:00

MC memory card holder?

Are you able to browse the folders? Normally the files are imported from the DCIM folder. If that doesn't work, does it allow you to plug the phone to the computer via USB cable with the memory card in the phone?

You may need to tap on the top menu from charging to MTP or something so you can view the folders. Assuming it's an Android.

Edited by rayonline_tm at 5:34 pm, Fri 30 Apr

rayonline_tm - 2021-04-30 17:29:00

Memory Card perhaps?

muppet_slayer - 2021-04-30 17:30:00

A Memory card holder, allows you to put MC into it and it will fit into PC and hopefully allow one to download pics from camera.

maclad - 2021-04-30 17:31:00

I transferred some photos from a phone just the other night and I noticed the phone had to be unlocked to get it to export the photos. I plugged the phone into the pc, there was nothing in the dcim folder but it asked me if I wanted to export photos and video and had me select what I wanted to export.

muppet_slayer - 2021-04-30 17:36:00

Yeah try to browse the card
go into 'my computer' and see if it's listed there as a drive and click into it if it is and you can then drag the pictures into a folder on the computer.

Or plug the phone into the computer with the card in the phone, (there is no need to remove the card from the phone to transfer pics or other files). You may need to check the phone for a popup when you do that - choose 'transfer files' then you'll be able to browse the files on the phone, and the card.

nice_lady - 2021-04-30 17:44:00

muppet_slayer wrote:

I transferred some photos from a phone just the other night and I noticed the phone had to be unlocked to get it to export the photos. I plugged the phone into the pc, there was nothing in the dcim folder but it asked me if I wanted to export photos and video and had me select what I wanted to export.

Pictures folder...............

nice_lady - 2021-04-30 17:44:00

Like Lady Nice has said, leave the card in the phone and plug the usb cable into yr PC. Follow the prompts and you'll be able to move the piccies direct. Absolutely no need to pull the phone to bits!

Edited by tegretol at 5:49 pm, Fri 30 Apr

tegretol - 2021-04-30 17:48:00

nice_lady wrote:

Pictures folder...............

After it loaded the driver etc I tried all the folders and couldn't find the pics but it wanted to do it automatically after asking me which ones it wanted to export, I had to tick them, so I just did it that way. They are usually in the dcim folder as stated above but they weren't there.

muppet_slayer - 2021-04-30 17:50:00

It is not a phone, it is a camera and the only way it connects with PC is by Memory card in a memory card holder. Sorry my original post says phone but it is actually a camera.

maclad - 2021-04-30 17:55:00

You could most likely just plug the camera into the PC the same way.

nice_lady - 2021-04-30 18:15:00

You can also use Windows Explorer and search for JPEG or JPG, select the phone or card before hand so it won't be searching all over your computer hard drive.

Edited by rayonline_tm at 6:34 pm, Fri 30 Apr

rayonline_tm - 2021-04-30 18:34:00

maclad wrote:

It is not a phone, it is a camera and the only way it connects with PC is by Memory card in a memory card holder. Sorry my original post says phone but it is actually a camera.

So if it's that old that it doesn't have a cable-connect then time to visit Jason at Narvey Horman for a new one.

tegretol - 2021-04-30 19:18:00

Ok what size memory card does it have ? If it's that old it'll most likely be an SD card. Pretty much any modem PC/laptop has a slot in it for these cards to be placed in. You don't need some external reader thing.. Just clip the memory card into that slot.

Edited by nice_lady at 7:51 pm, Fri 30 Apr

nice_lady - 2021-04-30 19:50:00

It would be great to know exactly what camera...make, model, etc?
Don't say it's a black one!

gettinggrey - 2021-04-30 20:06:00

My crystal ball says it's a red one.

nice_lady - 2021-04-30 20:23:00

maclad wrote:

...The filename, directory name or volume label syntax is incorrect...

I think the clue is in the error message. If you can use File Explorer to view the card, look at the volume label name, the directory names on the card, and the filenames in those directories. Picture & video filenames from cameras follow a naming convention, but I think there's something else that is oddly named (eg; a long filename) in the card which is preventing the search from building a list of valid copy commands.

Using the camera to format the card should fix it (but lose the contents) or a new card should work, but looking for the problem might show what has caused it (for example, last time it was in the computer you might have done something that left behind temp files with long names).

Edited by gyrogearloose at 7:21 am, Sat 1 May

gyrogearloose - 2021-05-01 07:20:00

tegretol wrote:

So if it's that old that it doesn't have a cable-connect then time to visit Jason at Narvey Horman for a new one.

It had a cable but it got lost, not so old, shop recommended using MC holder.

maclad - 2021-05-01 07:26:00

gyrogearloose wrote:

I think the clue is in the error message. If you can use File Explorer to view the card, look at the volume label name, the directory names on the card, and the filenames in those directories. Picture & video filenames from cameras follow a naming convention, but I think there's something else that is oddly named (eg; a long filename) in the card which is preventing the search from building a list of valid copy commands.

Using the camera to format the card should fix it (but lose the contents) or a new card should work, but looking for the problem might show what has caused it (for example, last time it was in the computer you might have done something that left behind temp files with long names).

Thank you very much, that is most helpful, appreciated

maclad - 2021-05-01 07:28:00

What sort of cable?
Is it a proprietary one that's not common or just an 'ordinary' usb cable cause they're very cheap and common as.

Edited by nice_lady at 7:30 am, Sat 1 May

nice_lady - 2021-05-01 07:29:00

Last week I gave advice on a different camera error and thought the error was caused by more than 1000 files on the camera card (and as I said, I rolled my eyes because 1000 isn't very many), but, also look how many photos are in each directory. If you have a huge number that could be the problem with the transfer, even though the camera allows you to do it (the camera won't be running Windows).

gyrogearloose - 2021-05-01 07:36:00

And another thought is large video files - if you've shot long videos, the file size might be greater than the filing system in your computer allows (eg; fat32 is 4GB - 1)

gyrogearloose - 2021-05-01 07:40:00

Cameras are pretty much always USB mini B, they are so common that I have dozens lying around the house.

tygertung - 2021-05-01 08:50:00

All better now, replaced memory card, works a treat. Thanks.

maclad - 2021-05-01 13:39:00