Help me to understand card reader please!!

[David Smith]

When ever I put the card (Extreme 111 2.0 GB) into either of my card readers and plug it into the USB port I get 2 folders as options:-
DC1M
MISC
If I click on Misc I get nothing-if I click on DC1M I get the following folders as options:-

167 canon 168 canon
169 canon 170 canon
171 canon 172 canon
173 canon

ALWAYS the only one that does anything is 172 and that shows all my photos. If I click on any of the others they are simply empty.
Today, after taking over 100 shots only approx 50 could be found on 172. After playing around I found the remainder in the 173 folder-how weird is that?
Can someone tell me what all the numbers refer to and why it has suddenly decided to swith folders?
Thanks

[666taz]

The actual folder is set up like this by the camera you will only even get anything from DC1M the othe numbers ar folder numbers the fist folder your camera usually produces is 100 then it goes up in tens for every 100 shots then makes a new folder which would be 110 if you format your card when its in the reader it will erase all the files reading 167 to 173 then when you [place it in the camera when it shoots again if it hasent taken 100 shots since the 173 folder was made it will remake this folder and when you take the card out it will read 173 if you take over 100 photos when out you will get 173 and 174 it just make a new folder for every 100 shots taken you will also find if you reach 10,000 photos it will then go back to the begining and start at 100.hope this helps but if you dont regulary format your card it will just keep the old folders on their and take room up.

[David Smith]

Thanks for that-being a technophobe I almost understand it. I have never formatted the card so will have to read the instructions (as they say "when all else fails........)

[666taz]

Your welcome Dave i know it very confusing i mean why couldent they just make it start at 1 and keep going but just one of those things,their way of making things complicated.Some people will tell you to format in camera but i have alwayes done mine in the card holder carnt see it make a diffrence myself.Good luck Phill.