Recovering an SD card

Cyanide · 12 Mar 2016 at 15:09

I've got a bit of an issue I could use some advice on before I break the bad news to a family member.

My Aunt's given me a micro SD card she's having problems with - her phone's stopped reading it. Apparently it's been on and off for a week or so. I'd usually tell her to bit it and get a new one however it's a 32Gb card with every photo she's taken on her phone(s) for the last few years and she doesn't have any sort of backup - I'd consider lecturing her but I think this will be enough of a lesson.

I thought it'd be a simple task of plugging it in to my reader and whipping it through some recovery software however NOTHING will read the card - it's not appearing in My Computer, Disk Management doesn't show, it & neither my camera or tablet will detect it.

I know the card reader is fine and I know the SD adapter it's in is fine (I've tried 2 of each, both with different cards to be sure).

Obviously the card is junk and needs replacing and she needs a better (or rather ANY) backup solution but is there any way of doing anything with the card to get the photos off it short of sending it off for specialist repair?

Thanks!

The Mad Rapper · 12 Mar 2016 at 15:12

Try 'Recuva' https://www.piriform.com/recuva

Cyanide · 12 Mar 2016 at 15:14

The Mad Rapper said:
Try 'Recuva' https://www.piriform.com/recuva

The card won't even mount so recovery software can't find it to do a scan

Rroff · 12 Mar 2016 at 15:20

Sounds like specialist repair job if it isn't recognised by the reader unless it is as simple as dirty contacts.

Cyanide · 12 Mar 2016 at 15:22

Rroff said:
Sounds like specialist repair job if it isn't recognised by the reader unless it is as simple as dirty contacts.

They're absolutely pristine - I don't think it's ever been out of her phone

When will people learn the importance of a decent backup?!

Mynight · 12 Mar 2016 at 15:22

Any sign of damage to it?

Does it appear in disk management? I had one a while ago that didn't show in explorer but did in disk management.

Cyanide · 12 Mar 2016 at 15:23

Mynight said:
Any sign of damage to it?

Does it appear in disk management? I had one a while ago that didn't show in explorer but did in disk management.

No damage at all but nothing showing in disk management

Mynight · 12 Mar 2016 at 15:26

only option is a specialist then. It won't be cheap though

.

Frozennova · 12 Mar 2016 at 15:37

Try it under a Linux live CD?

Destination · 12 Mar 2016 at 17:14

Have you tried recurva, even if disk management isn't showing it?

Soundood · 12 Mar 2016 at 17:20

there are a few tools, that are around that work from boot and will extract raw data for you,

I think they are on Hirens boot CD

Rozzy85 · 12 Mar 2016 at 17:38

For Windows use Bootice to see if it can see the physical device although don't actually try to attempt to manipulate the partition if it is found. It will see filesystems even when windows can't read then due to being damaged or unrecognized.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/bootice.html

Click 'Physical Disk' tab and check Destination Disk drop down list to see if it's listed. After checking just exit the program.

If it can see it then there is some hope as it's just a corrupt filesystem and can possible be recovered using various recovery software. If not then most likely bad news and the memory card is defective. Could be anything from a bad resistor to defective memory controller but that will require paying someone who knows what they're doing to disassemble it and check it which isn't going to be cheap as said.

MissChief · 12 Mar 2016 at 18:29

Sounds like every MicroSD card I've ever had TBH. I've had about half a dozen and they've all died eventually.

MarcLister · 12 Mar 2016 at 18:48

Just wondering if TestDisk might help you at all? I use it sometimes and its pretty powerful software. Sounds like if Windows and Recuva etc won't see it you might get some luck with TestDisk fixing the microSD card enough for Windows to see it.

http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk

The Mad Rapper · 12 Mar 2016 at 19:24

Cyanide said:
The card won't even mount so recovery software can't find it to do a scan

Have you tried? It's been ages since I used the software, but if the file system has been zeroed out then it should still recognise the card as a physical device and trawl through it pulling out whatever file headers you ask it to look for.

Destination · 12 Mar 2016 at 22:31

The Mad Rapper said:
Have you tried? It's been ages since I used the software, but if the file system has been zeroed out then it should still recognise the card as a physical device and trawl through it pulling out whatever file headers you ask it to look for.

That is what i asked him earlier, if he had tried it within recurva, and as yet no direct reply. Just the lack of appearance in disk management reiterated.
I would like to know the answer.

Cyanide · 12 Mar 2016 at 22:42

Recuva wouldn't find it either.

I think it's going to head off for specialist recovery next week, some of the photos are too valuable to lose.

jellybeard999 · 12 Mar 2016 at 23:08

I've had success with Get Data Back in the past

https://www.runtime.org/data-recovery-software.htm

Energize · 13 Mar 2016 at 00:40

I don't understand why people keep suggesting recovery software, the device won't mount, this is clearly not a logical problem eg. partition corruption, it is a physical problem that needs a physical repair.

bledd · 13 Mar 2016 at 08:32

Out of interest, where did she buy it from?

Going forwards, use Google Photos or icloud for automatic backup