Is it possible to recover data from corrupted memory card?

Madhuri Kumari
3 min readAug 11, 2020

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Being small, lightweight and inexpensive memory cards are great for data storage. They are the versatile devices that offer you extended storage capacity for preserving your critical data, including audios, videos, images and other files. Also known as SD cards, memory cards have a limited life expectancy. With continued usage, they become susceptive to device corruption or damage.

Well, this is the situation we all come across. Sometimes our memory cards become inaccessible for no apparent reason. Such situations are fearful as they hinder you from accessing your important files stored on the memory card.

Fortunately, recovering data from corrupted or damaged memory card is possible, but only if you follow some safe practices. Early detection of signs of corrupt memory cards can prevent data against permanent loss. Therefore, to ensure this, you first need to be aware of the common signs and symptoms that indicate memory card damage.

Most Common signs of memory card corruption or damage

  1. Missing Files: This is the most apparent sign of SD card corruption. It makes files and folders stored in your card disappear suddenly without any warning.
  2. Black Screen: Serious damage in your memory can result in device malfunctioning, accompanied by blackening of the screen with an error message.
  3. SD card not recognized: If your device fails to recognize the SD card, then it is prone to damage.
  4. Read/Write failure: Failure to add, save, delete, or copy files from memory card suggests card corruption.
  5. Unknown Files Appear in Card: Apart from files missing suddenly, unknown files appearing in the memory card is also a sign of card damage.
  6. Miscellaneous Error Messages: In addition to the above-mentioned signs, various error messages also occur due to card corruption. These include:
  • “access is denied.”
  • “SD card is not formatted. Do you want to format it now?”
  • “SD card unexpectedly removed.”
  • “SD card is blank.”
  • “unsupported file system.”

So, if you do not want to lose your data, check your memory card for strange signs. Furthermore, before you head to troubleshooting or data recovery, perform the following checks to validate memory card failure.

Check Parameter 1: Identify whether the connected devices are working correctly or not.

It’s not always the fault in your memory card. If your device is unable to access it, it could also be due to driver related or incompatibility issues. To verify this, either change the card reader or connect it to another system.

Check Parameter 2: Determine if your SD card is write-protected.

Inability to open, save, edit or copy files in the memory card can also arise if your card is write-protected. Thus, verify this option before head for any further action.

If you have performed these checks and still if your memory card is inaccessible, then it has a logical issue. For this, you need to consult a trusted data recovery service provider like Techchef. Resolving corruption issues requires experience and expertise; therefore, Techchef is the best choice for salvaging data from memory cards. Techchef professionals can efficiently recover data from corrupt, formatted, inaccessible, and encrypted memory cards irrespective of their brand and model.

Hence, with Techchef, it is possible to recover 100% data from your memory card. But remember not to use any data recovery software or quick fix without expertise. This could elevate the damage and lead to permanent data loss. Plus, to ensure data safety, follow these useful tips:

  • Avoid removing a memory card during file transfer.
  • Avoid removing memory cards while the files are being saved or opened.
  • If you encounter any sign of data corruption, immediately stop using the memory card.
  • Do not use the same memory card in multiple devices.
  • Ensure protection to your memory card against heat, moisture, and dirt.

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Madhuri Kumari
Madhuri Kumari

Written by Madhuri Kumari

Head of Corporate Communications @ Techchef Data Recovery. ( https://www.techchef.in/ ) India’s Leading Data Recovery and Data Sanitization Company.

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