Recovering data from a memory card can be as simple as using specialty software or as detailed as sending the card to a professional data recovery center. The choice depends on two key factors: the importance of the data on the card and whether the card has any physical damage.
Common Causes
Deleted files, formatted cards and corrupted cards are three of the most common reasons people need data recovered. These recoveries can often be performed by the user through the use of a specialty recovery software such as CBL Pro V or PhotoRecovery 2009.
Card Damage
If the memory card has any physical damage, such as cracks or a lost metal pin, it needs to be sent to a professional data recovery location. In these cases, the cards are opened and the technician will recover the data directly from the internal chip.
Chip Damage
If the internal chip is damaged, the data cannot be recovered. These cases are rare, though their causes are generally the same: physical damage to the internal chip (cracking or breaking) or electrical shorting.
Overwriting
Overwriting occurs when one file is saved in the same physical space on a memory card as another. In these cases, the original can sometimes be recovered, but the recovered file is usually fragmented. The original is rarely recovered in good condition.
Cost
The cost for data recovery depends on how the data is recovered. Software for user-based recoveries usually ranges between $40 and $120. Some professional recovery companies, such as CBL Data Recovery Technologies and LC Technologies, offer a software trial and only require payment if the trial is successful. Shipping a memory card to a professional for data recovery can be expensive, often costing hundreds of dollars.
Prevention/Solution
Most cameras and digital devices offer the option to "lock" selected items on the memory card. This feature aids in avoiding accidental file deletion. Users also must properly eject a memory card before physically removing the card from a device to allow the internal chip to finish writing its information and to prevent card corruption. Also keep a backup copy of any important documents or images, so that in the event one device fails, a copy exists.
Tags: memory card, internal chip, data recovery, physical damage, professional data
