How to Back up empty looking MicroSD Before using Testdisk

Using TestDisk to repair the filesystem
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Author
kapon
Posts: 7
Joined: 21 May 2015, 10:30

How to Back up empty looking MicroSD Before using Testdisk

#1 Post by kapon »

Hello everyone,

I have problem with my 32GB microSD card in my galaxy S4 cellular. Phone reads the card as empty and PC says it needs to be formatted. And I can't Access any of the data in the card. So, I will use testdisk to go through the file system and recover pics, PDF files, Word/Excel Files etc.

Before I do anything I need to back up the image of the Card just in case I do somethings wrong. However, How can I do that since I don't see any content? How do I save the backup Copy of the card and do any alterations on the copy, not on the SD Card?
Thank you all for your time and advices!

User avatar
Fiona
Posts: 2835
Joined: 18 Feb 2012, 17:19
Location: Ludwigsburg/Stuttgart - Germany

Re: How to Back up empty looking MicroSD Before using Testdi

#2 Post by Fiona »

You could use testdisk / Advanced / ImageCration to create an Image.
You should work with your created image instead of your card, so your card will never be affectetd.
Example:
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/Media_Image

Fiona

kapon
Posts: 7
Joined: 21 May 2015, 10:30

Re: How to Back up empty looking MicroSD Before using Testdi

#3 Post by kapon »

Thank you Fiona for the reply. but when I try to create an image by selecting the micro sd and then Intel type partition then Advanced menu, I receive this:

Disk /dev/sdb - 32GB / 29 GiB - CHS 3901 255 63
No partition available.

Therefore I don't see any create image option. What can I do?

User avatar
Fiona
Posts: 2835
Joined: 18 Feb 2012, 17:19
Location: Ludwigsburg/Stuttgart - Germany

Re: How to Back up empty looking MicroSD Before using Testdi

#4 Post by Fiona »

TestDisk can't create an image, If your sd card doesn't have any partition in your partition table?
That's why testdisk ImageCreation would be not available.
Does it mean that your sd card is your internally build in card?

Fiona

kapon
Posts: 7
Joined: 21 May 2015, 10:30

Re: How to Back up empty looking MicroSD Before using Testdi

#5 Post by kapon »

No its not an internally built in card. It is a regular 32gb class10 microSD card that i was using in my samsung galaxy s4 phone

User avatar
Fiona
Posts: 2835
Joined: 18 Feb 2012, 17:19
Location: Ludwigsburg/Stuttgart - Germany

Re: How to Back up empty looking MicroSD Before using Testdi

#6 Post by Fiona »

Before you go to create an image, would it be possible to use a cardreader and run a diagnose using testdisk?
Nothing would be changed nor modified.
Easily run Analyse, Quick and if nothing was found, Deeper Search also.
If a partition would be found and lists your data you could copy/backup them immediately to another healthy disk or partition wihout modifying your sd card.
If a partition would be found you can mark it and press p to have a try to list your files.
As long as you don't use the menu Write in testdisk, you'd not change anything.
If you'd like to create an Image, you can have a look at a Linux LiveCD and dd or ddrescue.
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Livecd

kapon
Posts: 7
Joined: 21 May 2015, 10:30

Re: How to Back up empty looking MicroSD Before using Testdi

#7 Post by kapon »

Fiona,
Unfortunately I cant see any partition in my disk.
Here are the screen shots from the processes al the way to the result of "Deeper Search":
Initial Test Disk Screen
Initial Test Disk Screen
Initial Screen testdisk.jpg (70.4 KiB) Viewed 4718 times
Before Analyze
Before Analyze
Before Analyze.jpg (68.84 KiB) Viewed 4718 times
Analyze Result
Analyze Result
Analyze Result.jpg (53.65 KiB) Viewed 4718 times
Picture with the following reply will be Deeper Search result-->

kapon
Posts: 7
Joined: 21 May 2015, 10:30

Re: How to Back up empty looking MicroSD Before using Testdi

#8 Post by kapon »

Here is the Deeper Search Result:
Deeper Search Result
Deeper Search Result
After Deeper Search.jpg (44.83 KiB) Viewed 4718 times
So testdisk cant find partition. What should I do next to access and recover files in my microSD card?

User avatar
Fiona
Posts: 2835
Joined: 18 Feb 2012, 17:19
Location: Ludwigsburg/Stuttgart - Germany

Re: How to Back up empty looking MicroSD Before using Testdi

#9 Post by Fiona »

Before I'd recommend to use datarecovery software like PhotoRec you could repeat your diagnose using testdisk and if you get to the screen where you can choose the partition table type you can change it instead of Intel to None and run Analyse, Quick Seasrch etc.. again.
Might be possible that partition table type None finds more partitions.
Please let me know.

Fiona

kapon
Posts: 7
Joined: 21 May 2015, 10:30

Re: How to Back up empty looking MicroSD Before using Testdi

#10 Post by kapon »

Hi Fiona'

I did select Partition Table type "None" and then did Analyze. Testdisk could not find any partition table after search and Deeper Search. Here are the screenshots of the process:
I chose None and clicked Analyze
"None"Chosen and Clicked Analyze
"None"Chosen and Clicked Analyze
None clicked Analyze.jpg (45.2 KiB) Viewed 4690 times
After Deeper Search
After Deeper Search
None_After deeper search1_1.jpg (41.05 KiB) Viewed 4690 times
After Deeper Search
After Deeper Search
None After Deper search1_2.jpg (42.73 KiB) Viewed 4690 times
So except for the initial screenshot I don't see any data about partition.

What should I do next?

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