OK here it goes. I know all the rules, backup backup backup.

But I was on the phone talking my wife through setting up a new XA-10 and when I told her how to initialize the hard drive I pressed the button on mine. I freaked out and pulled the battery hoping it would stop but now my computer will not read it and the camera wants me to initialize the hard drive.

Is there anything I can do? ANYTHING? Any suggestions. I know what I should have done...I need to know what I can do.

Hopelessly yours.

Is there anything I can do? ANYTHING? Any suggestions. I know what I should have done...I need to know what I can do.

As you may know, initializing the hard drive (flash in this case) doesn't erase the data. Instead it erases the index files that allow you to access the data. While this sort of thing happens regularly, I have not heard of any software that specifically uses the structured data in MTS files to recover video from corrupted AVCHD disk images.

Step one is to make a raw copy of the built-in flash memory to a 64GB flash image on your computer. This creates a single 64GB file. The next step is to determine which sectors in that huge file correspond to AVCHD video. The final step is to sequence the sectors to create complete MTS files.

I've done this sort of thing to recover photographs from a corrupted flash card, but not video. Even if you are knowledgeable about computers, filesystems and AVCHD video, file recovery may take a couple months. If the lost video is of substantial value, consider hiring a consultant. The good news is that once a raw copy of the built-in flash memory has been made, you can initialize the camera and start using it.

See also the following thread:

http://www.hv20.com/showthread.php?44977-Corrupted-SD-Card-HELP

There are services that offer to recover lost video files from SDHC cards, and they might do camcorders as well

Some SanDisc brand SD cards come with a one year subscription to RescuePro recovery software that might work. (My experience is that results with different file recovery products are mixed at best.)

SanDisk RescuePRO® and RescuePRO® Deluxe | LC Technology International, Inc. (http://www.lc-tech.com/pc/sandisk-rescuepro-and-rescuepro-deluxe/)

Whew!

Well I downloaded a program called Data Recovery by Wondershare. Even though the drive was not showing up on my computer, the program was able to read the drive and recover all of the lost files. It was able to reconstruct the file structure so I was able to import with Final Cut. Best $89.99 I ever spent. Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

Wow, I'm glad you were able to retrieve the files. I'm going to copy this info so that I could recommend it to my customers. Good Job!!!

Most importantly. Thanks for posting your last post. That all worked out fine. Lets the rest of us know that all is not lost in this situation.