Corrupt SD Card - Error Reading Sector

Using PhotoRec to recover lost data
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ChrisB
Posts: 6
Joined: 31 May 2012, 05:19

Corrupt SD Card - Error Reading Sector

#1 Post by ChrisB »

Hello, I was using a 16GB SD Card on a trip when it stopped working the last day and now none of the photos can be accessed. If I load the SD card into the built in card reader in a PC or MAC in won't mount or be recognized. When I use a card reader along with PhotoRec, it will show that there is a 16GB card, but I keep getting "Error reading sector" throughout the scanning process. Any help would be gladly appreciated! I have attached a photo of the screen scanning in progress.
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cgrenier
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Posts: 5437
Joined: 18 Feb 2012, 15:08
Location: Le Perreux Sur Marne, France
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Re: Corrupt SD Card - Error Reading Sector

#2 Post by cgrenier »

Try with various card readers but it doesn't look good.
ChrisB
Posts: 6
Joined: 31 May 2012, 05:19

Re: Corrupt SD Card - Error Reading Sector

#3 Post by ChrisB »

Thanks Grenier. So far only one card reader out of 4 was able to get the sd card to be recognized by the PC. It was very funky, I was shooting one second with my Canon dslr, and the next second I get an error message.

Would formatting the card help the recovery process? Or would that make things worst?

Again I appreciate your help!
ZeroPirate
Posts: 1
Joined: 30 Jul 2012, 18:31

Re: Corrupt SD Card - Error Reading Sector

#4 Post by ZeroPirate »

I had a very similar issue with on of my memory cards. While my wife and I were in Italy for our anniversary we had a memory card completely quit working. This was after 3 days of exploring Rome and the card was nearly full.

When we got home I tried taking the card to both a camera shop and a computer shop and was told they couldn't recover the pictures. I then tried many of the file recovery software programs out there with no luck at all. I have spent nearly two years waiting and hoping to find some way to get these pictures off of the card.

I found a company in Germany called Recoverfab. Their website had perfectly described the problem that I was having, so I figured I would give it a try since at this point I really had nothing to lose. I described the problem I had and sent the card in. They sent an e-mail when the card was received saying they had it and would process it in a few days. The next day I got an e-mail from them saying that they had recovered all of my pictures and videos from the card, along with a preview of them! I seriously had tears in my eyes actually seeing those pictures!

If the free software out there won't work for you, definitely check this place out. Their website is http://recoverfab.com. It is definitely not free, but it is totally worth every penny spent.
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cgrenier
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Joined: 18 Feb 2012, 15:08
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Re: Corrupt SD Card - Error Reading Sector

#5 Post by cgrenier »

I confirm, Recoverfab has a good reputation for physically damaged memory card.
Never try to reformat a memory card/disk/usb key..., data recovery will always be more complex.
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