Recover corrupted micro SD cardq

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Paul_B

Bushcrafter through and through
Jul 14, 2008
6,154
1,546
Cumbria
Anyone know a really easy but effective way of recovering the files on a micro SD card used on a phone? Mostly need to recover photos but may be other file formats there.

I know of a few options but don't know if some free downloads are trustworthy or work. I've also read about stuff you can do from dos style programs that are part of windows but I am not tech savvie enough to trust myself doing that. Also one of the better free options seem to also look like dos program (photorec).

Anything free and easy that works? I have some never to be seen or taken again photos (newborn baby photos, etc.) which is real stupid of me not to back up. It is on old phone and I meant to back up or take the photos off but never got round to it and forgot. I did once back up but wiped the samsung kies software which it was done to when I changed my phone. A whole list of stupidities there but I do need help!!!!
 

nephilim

Settler
Jul 24, 2014
871
0
Bedfordshire
well it is dependant on how you are recovering. Plugging into a PC or laptop with the card in the phone usually gives you an indication if the card is live. Corruption isn't the end of the world as you can still take many viable files from it.

I have found also the external card readers you can buy (52 in 1 type deals) are good to use to pick off the live files. Anything beyond that may need professional help as a lot of the software online is suspect or costs a fortune. And if someone else does it, you have a guarantee of work also.
 

Paul_B

Bushcrafter through and through
Jul 14, 2008
6,154
1,546
Cumbria
It shows as being corrupted when in the phone. I have put it in an adapter and tried the card slot on my laptop and it only says it needs formatting. I haven't tried a separate card reader but would have thought it was the same.

I have tried once to recover photos from a works SD card in the works camera. I got to see a whole list of files that could be recovered but only after paying about $50. Great! Someone at work managed to recover the files as he had a pirate version of some paid for software. Either way no longer got access to that so need to find something to recover it. If that paid for software managed it then there must be something out there to recover corrupted cards.

Anyone tried Photorec? It is a free software that is supposed to be very effective with as range of formats but to me it looks a bit like dos with command lines you have to type in like the old dos days (left that behind decades ago indeed was never really using PCs when dos was around only windows). Not sure if that Photorec is easy to use for a non-programming/non-dos friendly numptie like myself.
 

RE8ELD0G

Settler
Oct 3, 2012
882
12
Kettering
Try putting It in an adaptor for your laptop and then running a programm (free) called recuva.
I use it all the time. It does take a while on large cards but brings up everything on there and tells you if it's either working, corrupted or has been totally recorded over.
Then all the food files can be pulled off onto the harddrive or another storage source.
It is very good for a free programme and it works well.


Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk
 

resnikov

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Photorec is very good, it's not to hard to use just read the help file/manual.


I have used photorec on a formatted card before and recovered data but watch out as you will lose file names so you will have to sort out all the files.
 

BigMonster

Full Member
Sep 6, 2011
1,322
219
Manchester
If plugging in to the PC or scanning with a recovery program does not help you still have a few other, more advanced options using linux or specialised low level tools. I used to do this stuff for a living so if you are willing to post the card to me I would be more than happy to have a go for you for free.
PS. all methods are non invasive so your card will come back to you in the same state.

WORST THING YOU CAN DO IS TO FORMAT IT AND THEN PUT MORE DATA ON IT. It will cover what is on it so far and you will loose it permanently.
 

Paul_B

Bushcrafter through and through
Jul 14, 2008
6,154
1,546
Cumbria
It was an S2, my backup for an LG g2 which was off for a screen repair.

Ended up trying recuva. I discovered it missed a load of photos so I tried it again and got fewer files. Gave up and used photorec which seemed to grab a lot more. Saved the card contents then reformatted it. Now I'm back to my newer phone so not an issue. Rate the LG g2 highly, it's so much intuitive with the skin over the OS.

Thanks for all your help.
 

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