Quick Answer
It is often possible to fix a corrupted micro SD card and recover data, depending on the cause and severity of the corruption. Some troubleshooting steps that may help fix corruption include using the CHKDSK utility, reformatting the card, trying data recovery software, and examining the SD card for physical damage. However, data recovery from a severely corrupted card is not always successful.
What causes a micro SD card to become corrupted?
There are several potential causes of micro SD card corruption:
- Improperly ejecting the card from a device before all writes are completed
- Power loss or unexpected device powering down during a write operation
- Physical damage to the card such as scratches or bent pins
- Malware, viruses, or other software issues infecting the card
- Exceeding the maximum number of writes to a card (write endurance)
- File system errors or inconsistencies
These issues can lead to data loss, corrupted data, or damage to the file system that prevents proper reading of the card.
How can you check and diagnose SD card corruption?
Some signs of a corrupted SD card include:
- Error messages when trying to access the card
- Inability to open files stored on the card
- Strange characters or text in file names or data
- Missing or seemingly random data
- SD card not recognized by computer or device
To help diagnose, you can try taking these steps:
- Try the card in another device – if it still isn’t recognized properly then the issue is with the card, not the device
- Check for physical damage to the card
- View card properties/info to check for errors
- Use CHKDSK in Windows or fsck in Linux to scan for file system errors
Can you fix corruption using CHKDSK or reformatting?
One of the first steps to attempt repair of a corrupted SD card is to use built-in utilities like CHKDSK in Windows or fsck in Linux. These check the file system structure and can fix basic errors. To use CHKDSK:
- Insert the SD card into your computer’s card reader
- Open a Command Prompt window as Administrator
- Run “chkdsk X: /f” where X is the drive letter of the SD card
Reformatting the SD card can also fix some corruption issues. This erases all data but recreates the file system:
- Use Windows Explorer or Disk Management to reformat the drive
- Choose FAT32 or exFAT file system
- Allow the reformat process to complete
These steps may resolve minor corruption, but cannot recover lost data. For more extreme corruption they may not be effective.
What data recovery software solutions can you try?
If CHKDSK and reformatting fail, data recovery software is another option for fixing corrupted cards and recovering data. Some popular free and paid recovery tools include:
- Recuva – Free Windows utility for recovering deleted files
- EaseUS – Provides affordable paid recovery software with deep scanning features
- Stellar Data Recovery – Powerful paid recovery tool for intense corruption issues
- Ontrack EasyRecovery – Another robust paid software for severe cases of corruption
- Photorec – Advanced free open source utility for recovering photos, media, and documents
These tools scan the SD card sectors and extract recoverable data using various algorithms. The effectiveness depends on the extent of the corruption – severe physical damage likely requires expensive data recovery labs.
Can physically damaged cards be fixed?
If the SD card has visible physical damage, such as scratches on the metal contacts or cracks in the plastic casing, the card may be unfixable. Physical damage can prevent the computer from reading it properly. However, data recovery services may be able to repair the card and rescue data by transplanting the flash memory chips to a new SD card. This microsoldering process is expensive but can work if no chips are damaged.
What if the corruption is caused by malware?
If a virus or other malware infected the SD card and caused corruption, you will need to disinfect before recovery. Malware can damage the file system just through writing data. Scan the card with antivirus software to remove any infections. Then attempt the CHKDSK, reformat, and data recovery steps to restore the card. You may need to mark recovered files as safe after the antivirus scan.
Can file system errors like bad sectors cause permanent corruption?
Damaged parts of the SD card, known as bad sectors, can potentially lead to irreparable corruption. The card may develop bad sectors through normal wear over time or due to physical damage. The operating system marks these sectors as unusable and avoids writing data to them. Severe bad sector problems can make data recovery unsuccessful, since the damaged areas cannot properly store file data anymore.
Is data recovery possible after exceeding the rewrite cycles?
SD cards have a limited lifespan – the maximum number of times data can be erased and re-written before failure occurs. Exceeding this write endurance threshold can make the card unusable and data recovery difficult. However, as cards reach this limit they don’t immediately fail but begin developing bad sectors. Data recovery tools may still be able to rescue data from the usable areas of the card before complete failure occurs. The chance of recovery decreases the more the rewrite limit is exceeded.
Can remapping bad sectors help fix an SD card?
Tools like HD Tune Pro and Victoria allow identifying and remapping bad sectors on a drive. Remapping assigns bad sectors as unusable in the file system and redirects data writes. This can potentially extend the life of a failing SD card. However, remapping doesn’t repair the damaged sectors themselves – it just avoids using them. If too many sectors go bad, the card will still be unusable. Remapping may allow short-term continued usage and data recovery.
Should you try removing the SD card while the device is still on?
No, you should never remove the micro SD card from a device when it is still powered on and writing data. This dramatically increases the chance of corruption, as writes get interrupted mid-process. Always properly eject the card first before removal to avoid corruption issues. However, if corruption already occurred from improper removal, taking the card out without ejecting won’t cause further damage.
Can corruption occur if you overwrite existing files?
Simply overwriting existing files does not directly cause corruption. When a file is deleted or overwritten, the card just marks that area as free space to be reused. The original data is not actually erased right away. However, continuing to use the card normally after deleting files can eventually overwrite the old data areas. At that point, recovery of the original files becomes impossible.
Is data recovery possible after a full format of the card?
A full format, also called overwrite format, actively overwrites the entire SD card with blank data before creating a new file system. This makes data recovery nearly impossible, compared to a quick format which just erases file system pointers. However, there is a very slim chance that recovery tools could extract remnants of old data even after a full format. The probability depends on the number of overwrite passes conducted.
Can you recover data after partitioning or repartitioning the card?
Recovering data after partitioning or repartitioning an SD card is unlikely but depends on the tool used. Some tools like Disk Management in Windows completely reformat when repartitioning, which overwrites data. Utilities that only resize or create partitions without an erase may allow data in original partitions to remain recoverable. However, repartitioning often involves an entire format.
Is data recovery possible from a degaussed SD card?
Degaussing an SD card uses strong magnets to scramble and erase data stored on the chips. This renders recovery essentially impossible, as the complete data pattern is disrupted at low levels. Degaussing is an effective secure erase when disposing of an old card. Even advanced forensic data recovery methods would not realistically recover anything usable from a degaussed card. The only option is a costly chip transplant to new storage.
Can you recover data after initializing the disk?
Initializing or reinitializing an SD card erases all data on the card and recreate the partitioning and file system from scratch. This makes data recovery after initialization very difficult. However, some sectors may avoid being overwritten during initialization. This leaves a very small chance of partial file fragments being recovered by advanced forensic methods. But most data will be unrecoverable after initialization.
Is a low-level format the best option for fixing an SD Card?
A low-level format can repair SD card corruption in some cases by overwriting the entire raw storage. It remaps bad sectors and resets the file system. However, this erases all data on the card. It is considered a last resort before discarding a damaged card. Only use low-level format if CHKDSK, standard formatting, and data recovery cannot salvage the card. Make sure to recover critical files first before attempting a full low-level format.
Can you recover formatted photos or videos?
Specialised recovery tools may be able to restore deleted media files like photos and videos, as long as the areas of the SD card storing them were not overwritten. When deleting photos or videos, the card just marks those areas as free space – the data still resides physically until reused. A recovery tool can scan and reassemble formatted media back into usable files. However, recovery becomes impossible once new data occupies the same storage sectors.
Is there any way to fix an SD card not detected by my computer?
If your computer fails to detect the micro SD card, try these troubleshooting steps:
– Check for loose connections and reseat the card
– Try a different card reader or USB port
– Inspect card for physical damage to contacts
– Clean contacts gently with isopropyl alcohol
– Scan Windows Device Manager for card errors
– Update card reader drivers and USB drivers
– Attempt SD card recovery tools to force a read
– As a last resort, low-level format the card
If none of these allow your computer to detect the card, it likely has failed permanently and needs to be replaced. But first try every option to revive detection before assuming the card is dead.
Can you recover photos after a factory reset?
Recovering photos after a factory reset or master reset is often successful. When resetting a phone or tablet, data is not immediately erased. Device reset simply removes access to user data by unlinking file system pointers. A factory reset repartitions the storage, which queues up the old data clusters to be overwritten. But a data recovery tool can rescue photos before they get overwritten. The sooner you run recovery after a reset, the higher chance of saving photos and files.
Conclusion
While corrupted micro SD cards often appear permanently damaged at first, there are many possible solutions for repairing them and recovering data depending on the specific issue. Software tools like CHKDSK, reformatting, and data recovery programs can all potentially fix certain corruption problems and undelete files. However, there are situations where SD card damage is simply too severe, such as from extreme physical destruction or degaussing. With firmware-level issues, physical maintenance may allow recovery. Overall, an organized approach and specialized tools give you the best chance to revive corrupted cards.
