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Wokiller's avatar
Wokiller
Copper Contributor
Aug 05, 2024

Is it possible to recover data from an SD card?

Hello everyone, I hope you're all doing well! I recently encountered an issue with my SD card, which suddenly became unreadable. I had important photos and files stored on it that I desperately need to recover. I've tried plugging it into different devices, but nothing seems to work. I'm seeking guidance on the best methods or tools to recover data from my SD card.

 

I've heard about various data recovery software options available online, but I'm unsure which one would be the most effective or user-friendly to recover data from SD Card. Are there any particular programs or services that you would recommend? Something straightforward is more welcomed, as I'm not very tech-savvy. Additionally, if anyone has tips on what to do or not do during the recovery process, I'd greatly appreciate it!

 

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  • Finneganb's avatar
    Finneganb
    Copper Contributor
    Aug 05, 2024
    Login your OneDrive or Google Drive account and check if there is a backup for SD card. I usually do this on my Windows 10 PC in case of data recovery. If not, then you should try some free or paid SD card data recovery to retrieve deleted data from SD card.
  • Urieloul's avatar
    Urieloul
    Copper Contributor
    Aug 05, 2024

    Wokiller  If you’ve accidentally deleted files from your SD card or experienced data loss, Windows File History can be a lifesaver for recovering your important data. File History is a built-in feature in Windows that automatically backs up files from libraries, desktop, favorites, and contacts to an external drive, including an SD card if configured. To start using File History for recovery, you need to have previously set it up and had your SD card included in the backup process.

     

    To recover data from an SD card using File History, first, ensure your SD card is connected to your Windows PC. Open the Control Panel and navigate to "File History." From there, select "Restore personal files." You’ll see a timeline of backed-up files; browse through to find the versions of the files you wish to restore. Select the files or folders you need and click the green "Restore" button to retrieve them to their original location or an alternative location if you prefer.

    • OliverRamirez's avatar
      OliverRamirez
      Copper Contributor
      Aug 05, 2024

      It's essential to regularly back up your data to avoid potential loss. While File History can be an incredibly useful SD data recovery software on Windows, its effectiveness depends on having it properly configured beforehand.

       

      Plus, if you hadn’t set up File History before the data loss, this method won't help you recover the lost files. In such cases, you may need to resort to third-party SD data recovery software specifically designed to retrieve data from SD cards. Regularly checking and updating your backup settings ensures you have a reliable way to restore important files whenever necessary.

  • MadisonWilson's avatar
    MadisonWilson
    Copper Contributor
    Aug 05, 2024

    Wokiller 

    For technically proficient users, using command line tools for data recovery can provide greater flexibility and power. I personally recommend you try ddrescue (commonly known as GNU ddrescue), it is a command line data recovery tool that can recover data deleted from SD card. It is specially designed to copy data from a physically damaged storage device to another device. It is similar to the dd command, but provides more features, especially not stopping immediately when handling errors.

  • Urieloul's avatar
    Urieloul
    Copper Contributor
    Aug 05, 2024

    Wokiller  For those familiar with basic command line functionalities, you can attempt to recover files using the Command Prompt. Insert the SD card, open Command Prompt, and use the 'chkdsk' command.

     

    It is a system utility in Windows that scans and repairs file system errors and bad sectors on a disk. chkdsk can be working as an effective SD card data recovery software for maintaining the health and integrity of your hard drives, external drives, and other storage devices. The command checks the disk's file system and file system metadata for logical and physical errors and can fix these issues to ensure the drive operates correctly.

     

    This method may not always work, but it's worth a try if you're comfortable using the command line.

  • Nixonss's avatar
    Nixonss
    Copper Contributor
    Aug 05, 2024
    Login your OneDrive or Google Drive account to recover data from an SD card only works for those who have a backup.
    Not everyone backs up their SD card to the cloud, so if you don't remember doing it, you might end up wasting a bunch of time looking for files that just aren't there. I mean, who has the time to upload every random photo or file. If you're using the SD card for more stuff while looking for a backup, you might accidentally overwrite the files you're trying to recover.
  • Jrueui's avatar
    Jrueui
    Copper Contributor
    Aug 05, 2024
    If you're using an external drive for backups, make sure it's got enough space. I once filled up my backup drive with old data before realizing I wasn't backing up anything new. When I went to recover files, I found out I had nothing precious saved since the drive hit its limits, there's no hope of recovering data from an SD Card.
  • Brondam's avatar
    Brondam
    Copper Contributor
    Aug 05, 2024

    Wokiller  

    If you're looking to recover data from an SD card. Speaking from my own experience, I ran into a few bumps along the way. If you're not super comfy with command line tools, ddrescue can be a bit intimidating. I remember staring at the terminal trying to remember all the commands. especially if you're used to user-friendly interfaces. It took me a bit of trial and error to finally get it right.

     

    As i know ddrescue is great for recovering data. But it doesn't have a flashy user interface to help you see what you're doing. So, you're kinda operating in the dark compared to some GUI-based recovery tools that give you a nice visual of what you can recover.

     

    while it does a solid job of recovering data from damaged cards, it's not a magic wand that guarantees you'll retrieve everything. Depending on the extent of the damage, there might still be portions of your data that are unrecoverable. I was lucky with my experience, but I've heard stories of people who just couldn't get everything back, and that's frustrating.

  • Hughhim's avatar
    Hughhim
    Copper Contributor
    Aug 05, 2024
    Before recovering data from an SD Card. You really need to make sure you have a good destination for those recovered files. If you're saving back to the same SD card you're recovering from, you could risk overwriting the very files you're trying to get back. I had to double-check my destination about five times because I was super paranoid about making a mistake.