Recover Data from SD Card: Complete Guide

This guide will explain how to recover deleted data from an SD card, a common problem that can happen to anyone using external storage devices. Data recovery is useful for those who have accidentally deleted important files, such as photos, videos, documents, or other types of information. The procedure is particularly relevant for photographers, videographers, professionals, and common users who use SD cards to store valuable data.

Data recovery is possible thanks to specific software that scans the SD card for deleted but not yet overwritten files. These tools are capable of acting on various types of file systems and media, including microSDs used in smartphones and tablets.

• Photos and videos: Recover images and videos deleted from cameras and smartphones.
• Documents: Restore text files, Microsoft Office documents, and compressed archives.
• Music and other files: Recover music tracks and other types of multimedia files.

Acting promptly is crucial to increase the chances of success, as deleted data can be overwritten by new files, making recovery impossible.

Prerequisites

• Hardware:
  • A computer with Windows, macOS, or Linux operating system
  • An SD or microSD card from which to recover data
  • An SD card reader connected to the computer
• Software:
  • Disk Drill (for Windows and macOS)
  • Recuva (for Windows)

PROCEDURE: Data Recovery from SD with Disk Drill

By the end of this guide, you will be able to recover deleted data from an SD card using the Disk Drill software.

• Go to the official Disk Drill website.
• Click on the "Free Download" button to start the program download.
• If you use Windows, go to the Download folder, open the obtained EXE file, and click on "Install". At the end, click on "Launch" to open Disk Drill.
• If you use macOS, open the downloaded DMG file, drag the Disk Drill icon into the Applications folder, and launch the program from the latter.
• Connect the SD card to the computer.
• Select the SD card from the list of available devices in Disk Drill and click on the "Search for Lost Data" button.
• Choose "Universal Scan" and wait for the analysis to be completed.
• Browse the file tree or narrow down the results based on the type of data.
• To preview a file, click on its name.
• Select the files you are interested in, click on "Recover" and choose a location different from the SD card to save them.
• If some videos are not played correctly, return to the initial screen and try the "Camera Recovery Advanced".

PROCEDURE: Data Recovery from SD with PhotoRec

• If you use Windows, click on the "Windows-64 bit" or "Windows" link depending on your version of Windows.
• Once the download is complete, extract the obtained ZIP archive into a folder of your choice and run the qphotorecwin.exe file inside it.
• In the window that opens, select the drive where you inserted the SD card, indicate the main partition of the device, and check the options FAT/NTFS/HFS+/ReiferFS and Free.
• Click on the "File Formats" button and choose which types of files to recover.
• Click on the "OK" button, press the "Browse" button to select the folder where to save the recovered data, and click on the "Search" button to start the data recovery process.
• If you use macOS, click on the "Mac OS X Intel 64-bit" link, extract the tar.bz2 archive, and run the photorec executable inside it.
• In the Terminal window that appears, select the "Sudo" option and type your macOS user account password.
• Insert the SD card into the Mac's memory card reader, select the drive from which you want to recover the photos, specify the partition of interest, and set the file system with which it is formatted.
• Select the folder where to save the recovered images, confirm the choice by pressing the "C" key, and wait for the procedure to be completed.

VERIFICATION AND TROUBLESHOOTING: How to test if it works and what to do if it fails

After following the steps for recovering data from the SD card, it is important to verify the effectiveness of the process and know how to intervene in case of problems.

Recovery Verification

• Check recovered files: Verify that the recovered files are intact and readable. Open photos, videos, and documents to ensure there are no errors or corruptions.
• File preview: Use the preview function offered by programs like Disk Drill to view files before recovering them permanently.
• Comparison with original files: If you have a backup copy of the files, compare the recovered files with the originals to ensure their completeness.

Troubleshooting

• SD card not recognized: If the SD card is not recognized by the computer, try using PhotoRec, which is specifically designed for data recovery from unrecognized devices.
• Corrupted or unreadable file: If some files are not opened correctly, try using Disk Drill's Advanced Camera Recovery feature to reconstruct fragmented videos.
• Limits of the free version: If the free version of Disk Drill does not allow you to recover all the necessary data, consider purchasing the Pro version to unlock all features.
• Compatibility issues: Make sure the recovery software is compatible with your computer's operating system and the type of SD card you are using.

If problems persist, consult the official software documentation or seek specific technical support for the program used.

Educational Summary and Call to Action

You have discovered that, if you act promptly, you can recover photos, videos, and other types of files, even from damaged cards or with RAW file systems.

Here are the key points to remember:

• Use Disk Drill for advanced scanning and recovery of fragmented videos.
• PhotoRec is ideal for multiple operating systems and recoveries from unrecognized cards.
• Recuva is a simple and intuitive solution for Windows.

Every second counts: don't waste time and start recovering your data right away. Follow the detailed steps provided and increase your chances of success.