How to Recover Data From Corrupted SD Card

Here’s a situation that many individuals have experienced but none have enjoyed. You are on your way out to an event with some friends and grab a microSD card so you can use your smartphone to take a ton of pictures. Everything seems fine until you get home later that evening and attempt to transfer the photos to your computer.

There seems to be something wrong with the memory card. Not all of the files that you expect to be there are accessible. This causes immediate concern as you had captured some images that cannot be re-created and you intended to share them with the world. It appears you may be the victim of a corrupted SD card which threatens to thwart your plans.

How to Recover Files From a Corrupted SD Card

Luckily, there is a way to recover files from a corrupted SD card using data recovery software. And today we are going to look at software called Disk Drill, a professional-grade data recovery tool that can help you bounce back from many different data loss scenarios. This tool is so powerful that it can scan and pull data even from memory cards that File Explorer can’t access for various reasons, such as because they ask to be formatted or because their file system is RAW.

Steps to recover data from a corrupted SD card using Disk Drill:

1. Download and install Disk Drill.
2. Connect the corrupted SD card to your computer either by attaching the device that contains the card or using a card reader.
3. Launch the application.
4. Select the SD card from the list of disks that the program has discovered.
5. Click the Search for lost data button to initiate the scanning algorithms that search the SD card for recoverable files.
6. Preview the files that the app can retrieve.
7. Choose the files you wish to restore as well as a storage location where the data will be saved. Do not save the files back to the SD card. They should be saved to your computer to avoid further file corruption.
8. Click the Recover button to finalize the actual corrupted SD card recovery.

Disk Drill employs powerful and advanced scanning algorithms which can interrogate the card on a sector-by-sector basis to recover files saved in hundreds of different formats. If the files on your SD card are able to be recovered, Disk Drill will successfully perform the operation.

In addition to SD cards, Disk Drill can recover data from virtually any type of internal or external hard disk storage. You can download the tool for free and use it to preview files that can be recovered before investing in the program. Windows users can restore up to 500 MB of data without upgrading to the Pro version of Disk Drill.

Summarizing the above, Disk Drill is an excellent solution in the event that you experience potential data loss while using an SD card or any other storage media. It can recover your lost images with a few clicks and allow you to save those precious memories to a more secure storage device. It’s a great utility to have on hand to address the data loss that is bound to happen at one time or another. Before you panic and resign yourself to the fact that you have lost a bunch of irreplaceable images, download Disk Drill and see what it can do for you. It has recovered files for thousands of users and can help you deal with your data loss simply and effectively.

Common Signs of Corrupted SD Card

The corrupted SD card may have been showing signs of possible corruption that you might have ignored. Some indications that a card is experiencing problems are:

Common SD Card Issues

An SD card is a popular type of memory card used in a wide range of devices, including digital cameras, smartphones, and tablets. However, despite their popularity and usefulness, SD cards can experience a range of issues, some of which we will discuss below.

Memory Card Is Write-Protected

This is an easy issue to resolve. There is a lock switch on the left side of the SD card. It must be slid up to unlock the card and allow its contents to be modified.

SD Card Cannot Be Used/Read

If you get an error message indicating that the card cannot be read, you can try these solutions:

• Ensure the card is inserted correctly. Remove it and insert it into the device again to try to clear the error.
• Always use a memory card that is approved for your device.
• Clean the memory card contacts by gently wiping them off with a soft, dry cloth.

Invalid Memory Card File System

Invalid file system messages regarding your memory card can be resolved by formatting the memory card.

Don’t Forget to Protect Your SD Card

You can take a number of steps to protect the data on your SD cards. Among them are:

• Label the cards – Meaningful labels can help you avoid accidentally deleting files or formatting the wrong card.
• Keep your card in a safe place – Avoid exposing the cards to extreme heat or humidity. While they are durable, physical damage can occur that will lead to reduced performance and perhaps total corruption.
• Backup important images – Get in the habit of saving important images to another storage medium as soon as possible.
• Be mindful of signs of corruption – If you are experiencing any of the issues previously discussed regarding signs that your card is having difficulties, get the images off it as quickly as possible. You probably should consider using a different card in the future.