Which is better: an external camera or internal camera for laptops?

Laptops wont read my 4GB CF memory card even though the photos still show up on my camera screen. Suggestions?

• I purchased a CF 4GB a few months ago for a university project and used it within a few days. Everything was working fine and I was easily able to upload my photos to my laptop, however, upon using it next a week or two later, my laptop was unable to read the memory card. I tried it on several laptops, using different memory card readers (USB 1.0 and USB 2.0) and different cables to connect my Canon EOS 400D to different laptops, but still no luck. The photos are still present when I put the memory card in the camera and appears to still capture and save photos, but it just refuses to be read! Last month, I was able to obtain about 3 photos out of about 400+, but now absolutely nothing shows up. I bought a new (but the same) 4GB CF memory card just recently and I've had no issues with it at all, so obviously my previous one must be corrupt. Anyway I can fix this or recover my photos for free?

• Answer:

  Probably not free. I have a lap top that stopped reading my card in just a few tries. I've been using card readers for quite a while, in fact I have several and they work very well. They're not expensive and will take the place of that extra software, the cable with no hassle.