Mario’s note: Following a popular demand from many readers, today Iaio will discover tricks to recover photos from a damaged memory card.
One of the main components that often goes unnoticed in the eyes of many photographers today is camera memory card. It could be said that this, together with the sensor, replaces what was previously the function of the film. Both opened the doors to the era of digital photography.
Memory cards, beyond the fact that they do not have moving components, are not exempt from failures, problems and accidental erasures, which can cause a nervous breakdown. That is why I have prepared this simple guide so that you can recover your photos, or at least, so that you can try. For trying not to stay 😉
How do flash memories work?
This is not the time or the place to delve into the technical operation of memory cards, since the process is difficult to explain and understand and, furthermore, it is not very relevant, but here I leave you a small approximation so that you can get an idea (if you get confused with the technical explanations and you are not very interested, you can skip this part):
Basically, these memories work in a similar way to how the RAM memories of the devices and computers that we use daily do, with the difference that the flash memories, within which are the SD, work by storing information in a non-volatile way. , that is to say, that it is not erased when the power is cut off, the camera is turned off or when it is removed from a device as it happens with RAM. As I said before, these memories do not have moving parts like computer hard drives, the information is stored in small chips that guarantee much more speed, greater durability and a very small size.
That is why this type of memory has become the best option for our cameras to store photographs.
Why can information be lost?
Just as photographers who use roll or film cameras suffer when one of them is veiled, those who use digital cameras suffer when memories are damaged. But not only the damage to the file system is responsible for so much panic, but also the accidents when deleting photos, add more fire to this fire.
The main causes of having to recover data are:
- Photos accidentally deleted from memory.
- Accidental formatting.
- Errors in the card that do not allow to access or view the files.
- infection by a virus
- an energy failure
- Turn off the camera while it works with the files.
- Remove the memory with the camera on.
- Store them in conditions contrary to the manufacturer’s recommendations: humidity, heat, etc.
What to do to recover your accidentally lost photos?
The first thing to do is not to panic, take a deep breath and carefully read the following recommendations that I have for you:
Stop using memory:
If you have accidentally deleted photos or if your camera or computer tells you that the memory is not formatted or that they do not have any files inside, it is important that you do not get carried away by despair and do not try any crazy procedure that could damage the files that, Incredible as it may seem, they are still inside.
When a memory card becomes damaged or files are accidentally deleted from it, the data will still be stored there, at least until you overwrite it. Yes, they are still there, the files remain saved in the storage sectors of your memory card and as long as you don’t “stomp” on them with new files (new photos), it is very likely that you can still recover them, even if you have already formatted it.
Connect the card to the computer:
In order to work more comfortably and safely, I recommend that you use a memory card reader to connect it to your computer. Going through it is mandatory in this instance since there is no way to carry out this procedure directly from the camera.
If you still do not have a memory card reader, I recommend that you get one as it is an accessory, from my point of view, essential. With it you avoid constantly using the camera as a means of connection to the computer, which could cause:
- Damage due to excessive use of the USB connection plug of the camera.
- The need to have drivers for the different operating systems in which you can connect it.
Recover your files:
In order to access the files stored deep in your memory, you need to use a program specifically developed for this task. Just by doing a search on the Internet, you will find many free options and others not so much to be able to recover your photos. Here are some programs that I have used and with which I have obtained very good results:
- Recuva: an easy, simple and fast option when it comes to recovering all kinds of files deleted from both computers and flash drives. By means of a wizard it will guide you through the different recovery options it offers and the types of files you are looking for. A very good option is that it allows you to preview the photos before recovering them and with just a couple of clicks you will have recovered them.
- Czar: is a small but powerful program that performs much deeper analysis than Recuva. Being more powerful it is also slower, an analysis of a small card can take you a few hours. It is extremely useful if the card is so damaged that it is not even recognized by Windows. The free version of this software will only allow you to recover photo files.
- Card Recovery: Of all the image recovery programs that I know of, this is the one that takes the longest, and when I talk about a lot, I mean a lot of time, but it is really effective, and like Czar it also allows you to recover files on memory cards not recognized by the computer. Just rest assured that as it finds files, it lists them on the screen so that at any time during the analysis you can stop it and recover the files listed until then. The free version has a limit of possible full scans.
- File Scavenger: This powerful application has saved me countless times so despite being paid, if you are willing to spend it, I assure you that you will make every euro invested pay off.
- Recover my photos: recovering photos is very simple thanks to this program, which, like File Scavenger, despite being paid for, is an excellent option to take into account for those willing to spend a few euros on it. It has a version for technicians and specialists, although its cost is really high.
Finally, some tips to minimize the risks
Purchase Quality: As far as your budget allows, buy quality memory cards. They are divided into classes, and these classify the memories with respect to the writing speed with which they work, so class 2 memories are much slower, and therefore less reliable, than class 10.
Be patient: When you finish taking your photos, don’t rush to remove the card from the camera to download them to your computer. It may be that, although the flashing light does not indicate it, information is still being processed that we will truncate in a hurry. Be just as careful about turning off the camera suddenly after use to avoid the same problem.
Perform regular backups: One of the quintessential ways to mitigate the risks regarding the loss of photographs due to failures or errors is to make frequent backups of them.
Do not trust: at the first error message from the camera regarding flash memory failure, stop using the flash memory. It may have been just a momentary thing that can be fixed by turning the camera off and on, but it is a more than important indication that something is wrong. He who warns not betray.
Don’t throw away the cases: That little plastic box in which the memories usually come is not just a piece of packaging that the manufacturer included to make the product more beautiful, but they are designed to protect the memories from possible shocks, humidity and all the damage physical condition that your memory may suffer.
Divide and you shall succeed: It is a good strategy to reduce risk and prevent major data loss to use several smaller capacity memory cards instead of one large capacity. If one of them fails, you will still have much of your work safe in the others.
Perform maintenance: As you use your memory, connect it from device to device, fill it up and download it, the file system of it gets “dirty”. A good way to clean it is by formatting it from time to time. I do not recommend that you do it constantly, but yes, if you have been using said card in more than one computer at the same time.
Overall status: You can also pay attention to the wear suffered by their connectors and the plastic cover that protects them, since if they are very worn it is more likely that you may have some problem in the short term.
Be careful: despite being resistant devices, you should not trust them and not take care of them as the place where your photographs will be stored really deserves, at least until you download them to the computer. Keep them away from humidity, heat, and shocks, since any of them in excess can cause damage that you will not be able to repair with any software.
It is not always possible to recover information from a memory when the damage suffered by it is not at the level of its data structure, but is physical. But if you are very careful with it, the card will accompany you through many photographs.