Having a corrupted SD card can be incredibly frustrating. The data stored on the card suddenly becomes inaccessible, putting precious photos, videos, documents, and other files at risk. Before you resort to formatting the card and losing everything, there may still be hope for recovering your data. This guide will walk you through several methods for attempting to uncorrupt a SD card without losing data.
Quick Answers
Here are quick answers to common questions about uncorrupting a SD card:
- Stop using the SD card immediately if you suspect corruption. Continuing to write data can overwrite your files.
- Try inserting the SD card into a different device like a computer or phone. This may allow you to access the files.
- Use data recovery software to scan the SD card and extract recoverable files. Recuva and TestDisk are good free options.
- Repair corrupted partitions and file systems using tools like MiniTool Partition Wizard.
- As a last resort, send the SD card to a professional data recovery service if DIY methods don’t work.
Identify and Stop the Cause of Corruption
Before you attempt any data recovery methods, it’s important to figure out what caused the SD card corruption and stop that process immediately. Continuing to use a corrupted card can result in more severe damage or permanent data loss. Here are some common causes of SD card corruption:
- Improper ejection: Always use the “Safely Remove Hardware” function before removing an SD card from a computer or device. Improper ejection can lead to file system corruption.
- Bad sectors: If your SD card has physical bad sectors, they can create corruption that spreads. Replace cards that have developed bad sectors.
- File system errors: Issues with the FAT32 or exFAT file systems on the SD card can show up as corruption. Trying a different device may resolve these.
- Malware infection: Viruses or other malware that infect your computer or device could spread to the SD card and corrupt data.
- Power outage or removal: Abruptly cutting power or removing the card during a read/write process leads to corruption.
Once you’ve identified the potential cause, stop all use of the SD card to prevent further damage. For example, if the card was ejected improperly from a phone, don’t attempt to reuse it in the phone. Also scan your computer or device for malware infections if that could be the cause.
Try the Card in a Different Device
One simple fix to potentially access data on a corrupted SD card is to try reading it from a different device like another computer, phone, camera, etc. The card may have become corrupted from issues specific to one device. For example, a formatting mismatch or software bug could prevent the original machine from reading it.
Inserting the SD card into a different device may allow you to access the files inside so you can copy them to another storage device. This technique works best for minor software-related corruption issues. However, it likely won’t help with physical corruption like bad sectors. Still, it’s worth a shot before diving into more complicated data recovery methods.
When trying the SD card in a new device, remember not to save anything new to the card. Only attempt to read data in case the card is still corrupted. Saving more files before uncorrupting the card could permanently overwrite the recoverable data.
Scan for Lost Files with Data Recovery Software
If switching devices doesn’t allow access to the SD card, your next step should be data recovery software. Specialized software can scan the card and recover deleted files or those lost due to corruption. The software searches for file signatures still present on the disk even if they are marked as inaccessible.
There are many data recovery programs out there, but a few good free options include:
- Recuva: Works well for recovering photos, documents, and other common file types from hard drives and external drives like SD cards. Has a deep scan tool for badly corrupted cards.
- TestDisk: Focuses on recovering lost partitions and repairing boot sectors. Also retrieves individual files from within damaged partitions.
- PhotoRec: Made specifically for rescuing photos, videos, and audio files based on their data signatures. Great for SD cards used in cameras.
To use these data recovery tools on your corrupted SD card:
- Download and install the recovery software on your computer.
- Remove the SD card from any devices and connect it to your computer using a card reader.
- Open the recovery program and have it scan the SD card drive letter.
- Browse the files found and copy any important ones over to your computer’s hard drive.
Depending on the severity of corruption, data recovery software may find some or even all of your files. But if the file system or partition tables are damaged, other tools will be necessary.
Repair Corrupted File Systems
If your SD card has file system errors, recovery software likely won’t be able to fully access the data. File systems tell the operating system how to read and access the files on a drive. When they get corrupted, the entire drive essentially becomes unreadable.
SD cards typically use the FAT32 or exFAT file systems. Tools like MiniTool Partition Wizard can scan these drives and repair file system damage. The steps to try this method are:
- Download the MiniTool Partition Wizard software and install it.
- Connect your corrupted SD card to your computer.
- Open MiniTool and select the SD card drive.
- Click “Check File System” to scan for errors. Allow it to try fixing any issues.
- Click “Surface Test” to locate bad sectors and attempt repairs.
This should hopefully fix any file system issues so your SD card is readable again in Windows. Then you can open it normally or use data recovery software to restore lost files.
Recover Deleted Volume Partitions
In severe cases of corruption, the entire partition holding your data could be deleted from your SD card. This is most often caused by corruption in the master boot record which tells the operating system where partitions are located.
To recover deleted partitions and fix master boot record issues, TestDisk is an excellent free option. It outperforms most data recovery software for this purpose. Here are the steps to follow:
- Download and install TestDisk on your computer.
- Open TestDisk and select your SD card’s disk.
- Select “Analyse” to scan for lost partitions.
- Highlight any partitions it finds and select “Write” to restore them.
- After it recovers partitions, select “Check boot sectors” to repair the MBR.
With partitions restored and the MBR fixed, all files on the SD card should once again be accessible. You can open it normally and copy data off, or scan it with file recovery tools for any remaining corrupted data.
Send to a Professional Data Recovery Service
If all DIY recovery methods fail to uncorrupt your SD card, your final option is to contact a professional data recovery service. These experts have specialized tools and cleanroom facilities to physically repair damaged cards and recover data.
They can fix physical issues like bad sectors as well as any software corruption problems. However, their high success rates still can’t guarantee 100% data recovery. The process is also expensive, costing hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on the severity and needed work.
Reputable data recovery firms like DriveSavers, Gillware, and Secure Data Recovery can provide free evaluations of your corrupted SD card to determine recoverability and costs. If the data is valuable enough, this solution may be worth the price.
Prevent Corruption of Future SD Cards
To avoid having to go through SD card data recovery again, be mindful of the following tips for minimizing your risk of corruption:
- Always eject cards properly before removing them from a computer or device.
- Be gentle with cards to avoid physical damage leading to bad sectors.
- Don’t expose cards to moisture, heat, or electromagnetic fields.
- Scan new cards for errors before using them to store important data.
- Keep backups of your SD card files on another device or cloud storage.
Conclusion
While SD card corruption can be scary, there are many steps you can take to recover your data without formatting the card. Try the card in different devices, utilize data recovery software, repair file systems, or contact a professional service. Just be sure to stop using the card immediately at first signs of corruption. Following best practices for safely handling these removable storage devices will also help protect your data going forward.