How to Recover Lost Data from a Memory Card?
Read time 7 minutes
“Regrettably, my 10-year-old son inadvertently deleted all the photos from my Nikon Coolpix B500. To compound the situation, I neglected to create a backup (major disappointment!). I promptly reached out to Nikon, as my cherished images and videos were at stake. They regretfully informed me that they were unable to assist in recovering the photos and recommended exploring third-party data recovery solutions. I’ve already attempted a few, but without success. What steps should I take next? Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.”
Occurrences like these are quite frequent, and anyone can experience data loss. So, what steps should be taken in such a scenario? In this article, we will explore the causes and dependable methods for recovering your misplaced data. Memory cards serve as a widely used storage solution for numerous individuals. They are integrated into various devices like digital cameras, cellphones, and other compact gadgets. These memory cards vary in form and dimensions, including:
Read Also : Recover Data From Flash Drive
Let’s return to the central topic of this post, which is data recovery from a memory card. In addition to accidental data deletion mentioned in the introduction, there are other instances of data loss, as outlined below:
Now, let’s explore strategies to address this challenging issue. We’ve outlined five approaches for you to attempt data recovery from a memory card. The accompanying infographic illustrates these five methods, comprising four manual techniques and one automated option.
It is advised that users attempt manual methods initially, prior to resorting to the use of an automated tool. The following steps outline these manual procedures:
i. Head to the Start button and hit “Run.”
ii. Next, type “cmd” in the dialog box and press enter (Run as Administrator).
iii. Type “chkdsk x:/f” (replace the letter “x” in the command with the drive letter that you want to format) in the command prompt and press the enter button.
iv.This process will take some time as the CHKDSK process starts to repair your files.
If this process ends without an error, then restart your PC before attempting to read your files of the memory card. If it does not succeed, then proceed to the next method.
Occasionally, the system may recognize the hard drive but still render it inaccessible. To resolve this situation, attempting to rename the drive could be a potential solution. To proceed, simply follow the steps provided below:
i. Hold +R keys to open Run option. Then type diskmgmt.msc in the text box and hit Enter.
ii. Now right click on the drive, then select “Change Drive Letters and Paths.”
iii. Next, click on “Add/Change” option and hit “Ok.”
If by doing this, you somehow gain access to the drive, then quickly copy the contents and save it somewhere safe, either on a new external drive or the same PC.
This is the easiest of all methods. Just connect the affected memory card to another system. Next, restart your system and check if it can read it.
It might be the case that the memory card is infected by malware. Hence try scanning the card for any bugs/viruses. Worth a try!
If you are reading this section, then it means that you are out of options. Therefore, you need a professional recovery tool. Fortunately, one such tool at your disposal is Kernel for Windows data recovery software. It offers plenty of features to be considered as the best tool for Windows data recovery. It comes jam-packed with useful features, and a few are listed below:
i. Recovery of lost & deleted files
ii. Easy recovery from removable drives
iii. Easy configuration of setting before scanning
iv. Preview option before saving the file(s)
v. Find your files (by specific names or extensions) with the “Find” option
vi. Efficient file filters
Now let’s take a firsthand look at Kernel for Windows Data Recovery tool.
i. After the installation, the welcome windows will show you three scan modes to choose from. “Quick Scan” is the fastest of all and is for recovering the recently deleted or lost files only. The “File Trace” mode scans all the sectors like “Deep Scan” mode but is little more advanced than the latter. Before running the scan “File Trace” lets you select the File types (specific extensions) for precise recovery.
ii. Next, choose the drive to scan from the tree view in the left pane and hit “Next.”
iii. Wait for the scan process to finish and hit “Next.”
iv. Next, one can see the original hierarchy of files and folders; and one can click on the files which can also be previewed in the preview pane. Check all the files/folders to save.
Note: One can also find specific files using the “Find Files”.
v. Before saving, one can select from a series of recovery setting options.
vi. Browse for the folder to save your file.
vii. Next, you will be prompted with a message that your files are saved successfully. Select “Ok” to finish the process.
In this blog post, we explore the various factors that can lead to the corruption and inaccessibility of memory cards. We also provide insights into manual techniques for data retrieval. If these methods have not yielded results, you might be intrigued by an automated solution that can effectively restore deleted Windows files. The Kernel for Windows Data Recovery tool proves invaluable in critical situations, offering a range of powerful features, including the capability to retrieve deleted files for free (up to 2GB).
