How can I get around formatting my digital camera card without deleting all 400 pictures??

I have a digital camera. It had came with a special USB cord to transfer the pictures from the camera onto a computer but i lost that cord and cannot find it anywhere, not even in stores so I can buy a new one!! So I now have a cardreader and it keeps asking me to format my card but then says it'll erase the card. I have like 400 pictures on the card that are irreplacable. WHAT DO I DO!?!?!?

What will quick formatting do as per regular formatting? is there a way it won't delete everything?

Formatting means formatting! So DON'T FORMAT. Instead, you can just insert your memory card in your computer and browse it as when you browse any other folder in your computer. While browsing, just copy (OR cut) the pictures that you need to save and paste them in you computer (You could create a folder for them) and erase the rest. After, you may format the memo card :)
Good Luck

formatting is erasing,
what is the camera called??

Don't format it or you'll lose whatever pictures you have on there. What kind of end was on the camera cord? Sometimes they are generic so that they fit other devices as well. You may find one around the house or be able to buy one from a store that will fit it. Post your camera name & model & you may get more specific help with it. If you can't get it to work, try taking your card to a kiosk at a store & seeing if it will read it & burn them to a CD for you. Good luck with it. I hope you're able to recover your pictures.

look on craigslist.com
i always see tons of camera stuff there..maybe even the cord.

if you format in any way it will erase all your images,,, so dont, if you know of a photo developing place sometimes they have people who do image recovery, also try
www.z-a-recovery.com they have a free downloadable software recovery program. call olympus and tell them the usb cord did not come in the box and they will send you out one 1-888-553-4448