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Data recovery from memory cards. All older and modern types, hardware and software issues. Our specialists with years of experience in the field will bring your valuable data back to life.
Today, SD and micro SD cards are the most commonly used, but we also encounter other types of cards, such as Compact Flash (CF), Memory Stick, etc. Damage and data loss also affect memory cards intended for professional devices. Data recovery from memory cards is a specific field that we have been specializing in for many years. If the data from your memory card is inaccessible, do not hesitate to contact us.
If the data from the memory card is inaccessible without a known cause and other symptoms, first try inserting the memory card into another device. However, this procedure has its limitations, which you can read about here. Use our free consultation and diagnosis if you are unsure.
Estimated price: from 1,500 CZK
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Data can be deleted intentionally or accidentally. Deleted data from an (SD) card can usually be recovered, but it is important not to continue using the memory card and not to write any more data to it. Use our free consultation, diagnosis, and pick-up. If you want to learn more about the possibilities of recovering deleted data from an (SD) card, continue here.
Estimated price: from 1,500 CZK
More information - recovery of deleted data from (SD) card
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Data recovery from an SD card, as well as other types of cards or even a flash drive, when the medium was intentionally or accidentally formatted, is technologically similar to recovering deleted data. Here too, it is important that you do not continue to work with the memory card and do not write any more data to it. Use our free consultation, diagnosis, and pick-up. If you want to learn more about the possibilities of data recovery from an SD card after formatting, continue here.
Estimated price: from 1,500 CZK
More information - data recovery from (SD) card after formatting
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Failure of the controller or memory chip of the SD card, or any memory card, is a common and sometimes complicated problem. The memory card is completely inaccessible when connected, does not report in the operating system or reports with an incorrect label, the device may prompt to format the card.
Estimated price: from 1,500 CZK
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In many cases, this is a controller error or memory chip error of the SD/memory card, but it can also be a file system error. If the card also reports an incorrect label in the system, it is probably a more serious defect. If the card has the correct label and capacity in the system, then data recovery may not be as complicated.
Estimated price: from 1,500 CZK
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The possibilities of data recovery from a mechanically damaged memory card depend on several factors. The construction (design) of the memory card and whether or not the memory chip is mechanically damaged play a role.
Estimated price: from 1,500 CZK
More information - mechanical damage to the memory card
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If the memory card seems to be completely functional, correctly shows its label and capacity in the device and yet the data is inaccessible, then it is appropriate to first try another device, or another memory card reader.
The card stopped working spontaneously, it does not report in any device. The fault may be a faulty controller, firmware error or memory chip error. Continue to the section No response or incorrect response when the memory card is inserted into the device.
Data encryption, for example in a mobile phone, which is enabled also for the memory card inserted into the phone, means that you cannot access the data from another device. To access such encrypted data, you need the same phone in which the card was originally. In addition, the phone must not be after a hard reset, i.e., after being reset to factory settings. Data in the phone's internal memory and on the memory card in the phone are encrypted, among other things, using a key that is in the phone's processor. After resetting to factory settings, this key changes, thereby ensuring the safe and irreversible deletion (inaccessibility) of all data in the phone's internal memory and on the mentioned memory card.
Removing and inserting the memory card into the computer without previously safely ending work with the card can also cause a problem. We have dealt several times with a case where the user had multiple memory cards with recordings from a camera or drone and when playing content to the computer, they removed one card and inserted another. But they did not find the expected data on it. So they repeated it and removed the second card and inserted the first one. And the data on both cards was damaged. Sometimes this can cause a relatively difficult to repair defect, or the recovery of data from an SD card can be complicated and lengthy.
A formatted card or deleted data may not always be after a conscious user intervention. Sometimes the user "clicks" the device, sometimes there is an unintentional deletion of an important folder, the loss of data can also be caused by the user's offspring and we have also had cases where a cat, which was probably hunting the keyboard in addition to mice, took care of the data loss. Data recovery from a memory card after formatting is usually possible.
Incompatible file system - the card was used in a different device than it is now connected to and the data is not available. If we rule out the possibility that the data on the card is encrypted, it may be an incompatible file system. Try the memory card again in the device from which it was removed. If you no longer have this option, then contact us with a description of the situation. We will try to help you. Data recovery from a memory card with an incompatible file system can be relatively simple.
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Price list for data recovery from (SD) card
Recovery of deleted files from an SD card, as well as from other types of memory cards, is a solvable problem in many cases. In most cases, it involves recovering photos and videos from an SD card that the user uses in a mobile phone or camera. Of course, the memory card can also serve many other purposes and store all kinds of data.
Do not use the memory card any further. Any further data writing reduces the chances that the recovery of deleted data from an (SD) card or formatted card will be successful. For most memory cards, deleted data can be recovered until they are overwritten with new data. This is also the case with hard drives (HDD) with conventional writing, and many users are aware of this way of handling deleted data. However, times are changing, and so are the methods of writing, deleting, and overwriting data.
Data recovery from a memory card can also be influenced by other factors, such as the formatting method or enabled encryption of the SD card content in a mobile phone. Some newer SD cards may already have the TRIM function implemented, which can also limit the possibilities of data recovery from an SD card.
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Price list for data recovery after deletion/formatting of (SD) card
A faulty memory card controller, or the controller's firmware, is among serious problems and the solution is technologically and time-consuming. The controller is an indispensable part of every memory card, which takes care of the communication of the memory card with the device, whether it is a computer, mobile, camera, or others. Firmware, i.e., the internal software of the storage medium ensuring basic functions, is part of the controller. The controller, or firmware, ensures the proper operation of the storage medium, determines the location of data on the memory chip, error corrections, reallocation of faulty memory cells, power management, various communication and security protocols... When the controller or firmware fails, the data becomes inaccessible for the device and solving such a problem requires a series of complicated procedures depending on the specific type of controller and its version. Since there are countless different branded and unbranded memory cards on the market, controller/firmware failure can be a serious problem.
A damaged memory chip can cause data inaccessibility for similar reasons as when bad sectors start to appear on a hard drive. However, the way memory cards record data is completely different compared to hard drives, and so are the causes of errors and methods of how to recover data from an (SD) card. You can read more about how memory cards work here.
Memory chips used especially in cheap cards may not be of good quality. However, cheap and expensive chips have one common feature: their lifespan is predetermined and they essentially leave the factory with a certain error rate. In a memory card, data, or bits (bit = basic unit in the digital world), are stored in memory cells. The oldest and most reliable memory chips are labeled SLC - Single-Level Cell, where one cell = 1 bit. But if you want to cram more information into the miniature body of a memory card, you need to condense the data somehow. And so layered memory chips were born, where in other words, 2, 3, or 4 bits are stored in one cell. The technologies are then called MLC (Multi-Level Cell), TLC (Triple-Level Cell), QLC (Quad-Level Cell). And the expected lifespan decreases with the number of bits per cell. SLC = 100,000 cycles, MLC = 10,000 cycles, TLC = 3,000 cycles, QLC = 1,000 cycles (write and erase cycles).
Error rates are taken into account, and so every memory chip has a certain reserve capacity to which faulty cells can be reallocated. This function is taken care of by the aforementioned controllerand firmware of the memory card. However, after exceeding its lifespan or material failure, the memory chip fails and such a damaged (SD) card may no longer communicate with the device. Data loss may occur.
Memory cards and flash drives often handle data inappropriately in this regard. Random writing, as directed by the device/operating system, shortens their lifespan. Some higher-quality memory cards and advanced media, such as mobile phones or SSDs, can already use the capacity of the memory chip evenly and thus extend its lifespan. The function that takes care of the lifespan of memory cells is Wear Leveling. Memory cards that do not have the Wear Leveling function can be considered unreliable media.
Another function, which is more concerned with writing speed, is Trim (Trimming). It brings advantages to data media where high writing speed is expected. On the other hand, most memory cards do not have this function. If they do, the function must also be supported by the device, or the operating system, that works with the memory card. Recovering deleted data from an (SD) card with an active Trim function is often already impossible. You can read more about the Trim function here.
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Price list for data recovery - memory card is not recognized or reports errors
Diagnosis of the (SD) card usually points to a controller failure in these symptoms, but the card can also behave similarly in some cases of memory chip failure or file system failure. In any case, considering the possible recovery of files from the (SD) card, do NOT format the card and take advantage of our free diagnosis.
If you choose to format the card, you will probably find out the type of fault more accurately, but in a highly undesirable way. If the memory card was fine and the error was, for example, in the damaged file system, formatting the card could further complicate subsequent data recovery. Some devices also use a formatting method that does not allow subsequent data recovery.
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Price list for data recovery - the device wants to format the (SD) card
Nowadays, we most often encounter SD and microSD memory cards. From a processing perspective, these are divided into so-called monolithic cards, where the memory chip and its controller are integrated into one small body, and cards that have a memory chip and controller separately on the card's system board. Other types of memory cards are constructed in the same way, and from the perspective of data recovery, different types usually do not differ significantly.
Monolithic cards are more sensitive to mechanical damage and if it is a more serious damage, a cracked chip, etc., it can be an unsolvable defect.
Cards with a separate memory chip and controller are encapsulated and, for example, a crack does not necessarily go through the memory chip itself. With this type of card, the chances of data recovery in case of mechanical damage are greater.
In both cases, it is advisable not to further manipulate the mechanically damaged card and take advantage of our free diagnosis. Mechanical damage does not necessarily mean an immediate threat/loss of data at the moment, but further manipulation with the memory card can lead to more serious or even fatal damage.
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Price list for data recovery - mechanical damage - repair of damaged (SD) card
The era when there were many different types of memory cards on the market and the user had to choose a card according to the brand of his camera or other device is long gone. The standard has unified and in the common user segment today we practically only find SD and microSD cards. Marginally also Compact Flash used in some DSLRs. Other types of cards available on the market can be classified into the professional sphere and we do not encounter them in common devices.
A memory card is ready to use when a file system is created on it. The file system is the way or method by which the device's operating system works with stored or already saved data. All other data media work similarly. There are many file systems, but with memory cards we usually encounter FAT32 or exFAT.
By its principle, a memory card may not be a very reliable medium. The memory chip can start to malfunction, and although the error rate is still negligible, it can affect the proper function of the file system. It also often happens that the card is removed from the device without proper termination. File system failure can also occur in this way. The device itself, which works with the card, can also cause an error. For example, a defective card reader.
The smallest unit of a NAND memory chip is a memory cell (cell). However, memory cells are not used individually. They are grouped into pages. A page is the smallest unit to/from which data is written and read. Due to the technology of data deletion, individual pages cannot be deleted/reset. Data deletion can be performed at the level of blocks (block, blocks), which are made up of a certain number of pages. Blocks further form planes (plane, planes) and planes are arranged on dies. This is a simplified expression of the NAND chip structure.
Memory cell (cell) is an electronic circuit that holds (in its basic form - SLC - Single Level Cell) 1 bit. The basic value of the cell is 1, if the cell is programmed, then it is assigned the value 0. However, data is not written to and read from NAND memory by bits (individual cells). Data is written and read by pages, with one page size ranging from 512B (0.5 KB - 4096 cells/bits) to 8KB (8192 bytes - 65536 cells/bits). Each page (page) also has an extended addressable space, the so-called spare area, where ECC parity and metadata are stored. The page size is therefore actually 16B (for 512B) to 448B (for 8KB) larger.
Block (block) is a grouping of pages. A block typically contains 32 - 64 pages. Deletion/reset of memory cell values occurs at the level of an entire block. This is due to the physical possibilities given during the deletion cycle. The deletion/reset process cannot be started at the level of individual pages or cells.
Plane (plane) is another link in the hierarchy of the NAND chip, into which blocks (blocks) are organized. One or more planes are then grouped into a die. The configuration of planes and dies depends on the manufacturer of NAND memories. Their significance is rather organizational, given by physical dimensions.
When a device (computer, camera, mobile phone ...) and the operating system give a command to write data, this data is stored in individual cells as determined by the controller of the memory medium. Reading data occurs at the same level. However, changing or deleting data is more complicated. As mentioned, data can only be deleted at the level of an entire block and a block contains 32 - 64 pages. Here the function Garbage Collection comes into the process, which is responsible for freeing up the block and allowing the block to be completely deleted. This process has two negative aspects. It increases the number of write and delete cycles and thus reduces the lifespan of memory cells. It is also time-consuming and thus slows down work with the medium, or rather data. The function Wear Leveling should take care of optimizing page management, but not all memory cards are equipped with it. The function Trim can takecare of speeding up the entire deletion process by running it in the background. However, this function is rarely found in memory cards. And if you need to recover deleted data from a memory card, the Trim function is not desirable.
Hard Disk Drive (HDD) with conventional recording (CMR or PMR) is considerably simpler in comparison to the technology of writing, reading, and deleting. It does not contain any units that would have a limited lifespan given by the number of write and delete cycles. Writing, reading, and deleting occurs by changing polarity at a given time, without complicated supporting processes. From the point of view of data durability, therefore, HDD is a better choice, in fact, a memory card, as a replacement for HDD, could be considered a wrong choice. Memory cards or flash drives are not intended for this purpose.
On the other hand, a hard disk does not have dimensions of 15x11x1mm. It is a mechanical medium and it is bothered by falls or shocks and is slow compared to modern flash data media. So much for the brief comparison of NAND flash media, or rather memory cards with a hard disk.
Wear Leveling ensures the even use of memory cells across the entire capacity of the NAND memory chip. NAND memory chip cells have a limited number of write and erase cycles, so the goal of Wear Leveling is to extend the lifespan of the data storage. Wear Leveling is even more important at a time when manufacturers are trying to cram as much data as possible into the miniature body of a memory card. Memory chips of the MLC, TLC, QLC type are used, which have layered memory cells. One memory cell thus holds 2 - 4 bits, thereby increasing its load and shortening its lifespan. Wear Leveling is supposed to ensure that each memory cell goes through the same number of write and erase cycles and that the lifespan of memory cells is even across the entire medium.
However, the question is whether the firmware of a given memory card is equipped with the Wear Leveling function. Older specifications did not specify whether Wear Leveling should be implemented in SD cards, so you can find cards without the Wear Leveling function. You can read whether your card is equipped with this function or not in the datasheet for the card.
Trim - Trimming is a function important for increasing the performance of flash memories, or speeding up writing. However, in principle, it is no longer possible to recover data from an (SD) card after performing the process (trimming - deletion). Memory cards equipped with TRIM function and working in an operating system (OS) that supports TRIM and has it active, perform deletion of released (from the OS perspective deleted) memory blocks continuously. The controller of the memory medium performs trimming independently in the background, at a time when the controller is not burdened with another task. Thanks to this, it is not necessary to perform this time-consuming task at the moment when it is necessary to write new data and the writing process is thus significantly faster.
Garbage Collection manages the smallest units of NAND flash memory designated for writing and reading - pages, and the smallest units of NAND flash memory designated for deletion/reset - blocks. When writing and reading data, the device (computer, mobile phone...) uses individual pages of the NAND memory chip. However, if data needs to be deleted, the entire block, which is usually made up of 32 to 64 pages, can be deleted as a minimum unit. The function of Garbage Collection is to move pages intended for further use to empty blocks so that the block containing pages intended for deletion can then be completely deleted/reset and completely freed up for further use.
Garbage Collection only takes care of moving pages, it does not delete the data itself. Garbage Collection thus increases the number of writes to individual memory cells, or pages, thereby reducing their lifespan. Manufacturers therefore use complicated algorithms to reduce the number of necessary write/delete cycles to a minimum. Together with Garbage Collection, the functions Wear Leveling and Trim can also take care of optimizing the operation of NAND memory media (if the medium is equipped with these functions). All these functions are serviced by the controller of the memorymedium, or rather the firmware, which is part of the controller.
“SD card recovery” or “SD card repair”, this is a common subject of inquiry from our clients. Although it may not seem so at first glance, a memory card is a very complex data medium containing a memory chip, a controller, and firmware. Problems with the memory card can be software-related (e.g., deleted data or accidentally initiated formatting), but they can also be serious, when the card fails due to the controller or memory chip. There can also be mechanical damage. If your memory card has failed and the data is inaccessible, contact us for a free consultation and diagnosis.
Unfortunately, we hear this question quite often, and not just about memory cards. Manufacturers strive to achieve high capacity and speed of memory media at the lowest possible production costs. Especially with NAND flash memory chips, on which memory cards are based, it is true that miniaturization comes at the expense of quality. Miniaturization in this case can be understood as cramming more bits into one memory cell. This increases its wear rate. Another problem with the memory card may be the absence of the Wear Leveling function, which takes care of the even wear of memory cells. Last but not least, the card may be a kind of "noname product", which can mean low quality of the memory chip, or the memory card as a whole.
The controller is an integral part of every memory card. The controller takes care of the communication of the memory card with the device, whether it is a computer, mobile, camera, or others. Firmware, i.e., the internal software of the storage media ensuring basic functions, is part of the controller. The controller, or rather the firmware, thus ensure the correct operation of the storage media, determine the location of data on the memory chip, error corrections, reallocation of faulty memory cells, power management, various communication and security protocols... When the controller or firmware fails, the data becomes inaccessible for the device and solving such a problem requires a series of complicated procedures depending on the specific type of controller and its version. Since there are countless different branded and unbranded memory cards on the market, the failure of the controller/firmware can be a serious problem. To recover data from an SD card after a controller failure, continue here.
Garbage Collection manages pages, which are the smallest units of the memory card into which data can be written and subsequently read from. Usually, 32 - 64 pages form a block, which is the smallest unit that can be erased on a memory card. A situation could arise where several blocks are occupied by just a few valid pages and cannot be erased. Garbage Collection's task is to arrange valid pages into another block so that the original block/blocks can be erased/reset and thus freed for further use. More information about the function Garbage Collection.
Wear Leveling takes care of the even use of memory cells across the entire capacity of the NAND memory chip. The lifespan of a memory cell is limited, it withstands a certain number of write and erase cycles. This property of memory cells is all the more significant when one cell contains up to 4 bits (QLC), thus having up to 4x greater capacity compared to the original 1-bit (SLC) cells, but also significantly lower lifespan. Wear Leveling was not part of the memory card specifications in the past and if the card is not equipped with it, it significantly limits its lifespan. More information about the function Wear Leveling.
Mostly not. The Trim function is used in (probably) all current SSDs and in the internal memory of mobile phones. The specifications of memory cards, or rather the most common SD cards today, usually do not include the Trim function. You can read more about the trim function here.
This is not always the case. However, if the crack affects the memory chip, the data is most likely unrecoverable. The memory chip is made up of memory cells, with currently one cell representing 1 - 4 bits. If we take as an example a memory card with TCL (Triple Level Cell) technology, which layers 3 bits into one cell, then 1GB of data consists of approximately 3 billion memory cells. SD cards commonly reach capacities of 32GB - 1TB, i.e., 32 x - 1024 x 3 billion. Memory cells are interconnected into pages, pages into blocks, blocks are organized into planes, and planes are grouped into dies. All this in a miniature memory chip. Even a minimal crack will disrupt and damage all these connections. Currently, there is no known technology to repair a cracked memory chip.
The NAND memory chip is based on memory cells (cell, cells) that must be able to retain their value of 1 or 0 (one bit of user data) even without power. The memory cell is technologically based on a transistor with a floating gate. The cell value is stored in the floating gate, which is isolated by an oxide insulating layer. The floating gate is able to retain its value precisely because of the oxide insulating layer. However, with each charge and discharge (write and erase/reset), the oxide insulating layer gradually loses its insulating properties. After a certain number of charge and discharge cycles, the oxide insulating layer ceases to perform its function and the memory cell fails.
The original memory cells - SLC - Single Level Cell contained only 1 bit, i.e., the value 1 or 0. However, for greater capacity, technologies are used that allow up to 4 bits (QLC - Quad Level Cell) to be placed in one cell, which leads to a significant acceleration of the degradation of the oxide insulating layer. The Wear Leveling function takes care of optimizing the use of memory cells and extending the lifespan of the NAND chip. However, the short answer to the question is: Each write and erase cycle wears out the cell until it completely fails.
Confidentiality and treating data as confidential is an absolute given for us. However, if the nature of the order requires it, or you simply want to have confidentiality guaranteed by contract, do not hesitate to ask for a non-disclosure agreement.
Do you have your data insured? Before confirming the order, we will prepare a "fault confirmation", based on which you will have the costs of data recovery approved by your insurance company, and only then confirm the order.
EXALAB Data Recovery
Microshop s.r.o.
Pod Marjánkou 4
169 00 Praha 6
Česká Republika
Opening hours:
Monday to Thursday
9.00 - 18.00
Friday 9.00 - 17.30
other opening hours are possible upon agreement
Hotline: +420 608 177 773
Office: +420 233 357 122
E-mail: info@exalab.cz
Hotline: +420 608 177 773
Kancelář: +420 233 357 122
E-mail: info@exalab.cz
Opening hours:
Monday to Thursday
9.00 - 18.00
Friday 9.00 - 17.30
other opening hours are possible upon agreement
EXALAB Data Recovery
Microshop s.r.o.
Pod Marjánkou 4
169 00 Praha 6
Česká Republika