Can't get all the pictures off the mavica CD

Hi, I found this board through google search, putting in my problem. Actually, it's my daughter's camera, but I now have it trying to figure out what's wrong. I read a thread about error messages in the Mavica, but nothing really the same as this. She bought the camera 2 1/2 years ago, it was working good. Recently, she was taking pictures, and only the first 19 or so came out. She'd take them, see them in Playback on the camera, but they weren't there when she went to take them off (using the USB cord on her WIN XP computer) Same with finalizing the CD and using it in the CD-ROM. She had always been able to do this before. This started a few times, last summer when she was on a trip (and wanted the pictures) and now it seems to be doing it all the time. She has a box of Memorex Pocket CD-R (in colors) which I'm thinking might be making it worse now, I've ordered SONY CD-RW (quite expensive) but they haven't come yet. After the last time only the first 19 pictures showed for her, she put in a new CD and it said "disk error". She gave it all to me to see what I could find out. I got the same disk error with that disk (and only 19 pictures on the cd- and I tried recovery data programs and isobuster, etc some showed the disk blank, some showed 20 pictures but only 19 would show) I put in another new cd and that one worked. I've been using disks since, to try it out. In varous ways. It seems like only the first pictures taken show up, and if I take say 60 pictures (without finalizing, etc) only 38 came out. If I finalize and put on my CD-ROM and take off the first ones, after that, any I take aren't there. Even though they can be seen (at least once) in Playback on the camera. I've never used this camera before, so getting used to that, too. Last night I took around 60 pictures, with one CD, and didn't finalize it. I looked at them all in Playback, but only 38 came up to be saved. And, now the rest are gone in Playback in the camera. I have WIN 98 and since my daughter has XP and never needed the software CD that came with the camera, now can't find it (the cd) So, I've been finalizing, bringing them up (slowly) on my CD-ROM (or CD burner drive) Last night I used another person's computer that has XP and auto picks up on the Sony camera and pictures. This was how I got 38 of the pictures from the 60 or so I had taken (and seen in Playback). Only the first 38 seem to be there, and the rest are gone. I'm thinking they were in the cameras memory (the first time during Playback) but didn't get saved on the CD, so after it was finalized, and they didn't get on the CD, they were then gone from the camera? (I am learning about the Mavica and saving on CDs as I go along, here) Of course, when I get the CD-RWs maybe I can find out more, like if it's these CDs. My daughter said she has always used CD-R (for the first 2 years, it was fine, even using cheap brands) She said she thinks a Sony CD-RW came with the camera, but either didn't work, or she didn't know how to use it right. I'm thinking a CD-RW would be better, if it can be used over and SONY brand would work better with the camera. I like the camera and how it works, but this problem with the pictures not being on the CD and losing them (which I was reading about here, too) is something serious. People take pictures they can't get again. I've been complaining (to myself) about my camera- an older Epson (750Z) because it doesn't always work good. I think due to the AA batteries, and how many pictures I've missed because of this. I don't miss anything with the Sony Mavica and it's battery pack, but- if the pictures don't get saved and aren't there, it's the same thing. I was thinking it was taking pictures too fast for the camera to save on the CD. But, it's not odd pictures over the CD, it's after the first 19 or so The first one I tried, only the first 19 pictures came out (my daughter's CD she lost pictures on SAID 20, but wouldn't take off the 20th, only the firtst 19) And last night, the one I didn't finalize and took 60 or so pictures, and took off with the USB cord and WIN XP computer, only took off 38. Any suggestions? I am looking for a better (than I have) digital and, at one time wanted a Mavica with the CD (it sounded good) but now am looking for one with a memory/flash card instead. Thanks, Carrie

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