Recover Pictures From A "smartmedia" Card

hi, this is the second time that when I try to download my pictures from a "SmartMedia" card the card gets damage or something, i can't tell exactly , but I can't get the pictures and the card is useless after. If I put it back in my Olympus, D-220L camera, it only shows in the screen a big "?" in the middle and I can't use it anymore.
I think I read somewhere but I do not remember where that there are programs that are able to get those pictures and also to format the card if this is the case with mine.
Like I said is the second card with the same problem.
This is what I did before the problem. I tried to get the pictures directly from the camera to my pc with a cable to the game port (I think that is the name) with not luck, then I tried with a card reader that I have to plug to an usb 2.0 port and I think is here where my card gets damage.
Any help to find that program or any ideas to resolve this, please?.
I would like at least to be able to use those cards again.
Thank you

 

caraloca,

Here's one option - free to try I think.

 

Yes, it looks free to me, Idon't see anywhere how to pay for.
Thank you, I'll give it a try.

 

Hi caraloca.

You should be able to reformat that card in the Olympus camera. Check the manual. There should be facilities available on the menus to format a new or changed card back to specs so the camera can use it. I have a 4000 and it does have this capability. I use a card reader and it sometimes does change the structure of the card. It doesn't damage the card just changes the structure or data or deletes the folder where the pictures are stored. Give it a try.

giles