D/loading images from digital camera to PC - problem

I borrowed a digital camera & card browser / reader, to grab a whole load of images I needed. It took hours & unfortunately, they now appear to be stuck there.

All the images are still in tact (they still preview on the camera), the card reader appeared to be working, until I tried to open the folder on my PC. The message I got was ‘cannot open DCIM folder’, or words to that effect. It recognised the folder & the size (approx. 16Mb.), but beyond that, nothing.

The guy who lent it to me has just tried to transfer them via USB lead, but that failed too. Gutted! Any suggestions please?

The camera is a CASIO QV-3000 Ex/Ir
http://support.casio.com/pdf/001/qv3000ex.pdf

Well without exact details it's a bit difficult to say for certain but symptoms are indicative of failed/failing media.

Now you unfortunately know one of the reasons photographers inevitably swear by Sandisk and the increased premium they fetch

There are services/software out there that can attempt to retrieve the data but you might spend as much time doing that as you could just retaking them again if possible

Yeah. My technical knowledge is sadly lacking & have never even used a digital camera before. It's an old(ish) one, but still functional. Between us, we've tried to open with Windows 2000, XP & Windows 7.

It's pretty much got the better of me. I had to unpack 6 or 7 boxes worth of stuff, repackage all the items I'd photograph'd...a proper all day job + spent ages getting the lighting etc. right for each image. As much as I'd like to have them, it's a huge task to undertake again.

There may not be an answer, but if the scenario rings a bell with anyone, who's successfully navigated around it, I'd love to hear. It's annoying, knowing that they're so close & yet so far away. Would be easier to deal with, if I'd screwed it up myself.