any way to recover deleted files from an SD card?

[pstokely]

This discussion thread was locked by steve2470 (a host of the Computer Help and Support group).

this SD card was used in a Samsung Galaxy S5

[earthshine]

1. Try this program ...

When files are deleted, entries in the drive's index for those files are removed, but the raw file data remains on the drive.

The next time the system writes to the drive, it will use the newly freed space, thus overwriting that raw data.

It is very important that you do not alter the drive (in this case, SD card) before attempting recovery.

Try this program ...

https://www.ccleaner.com/recuva

There are other programs that also "undelete" files. Try Googling that term.

[eppur_se_muova]

2. If Recuva doesn't do it, download the CAINE CD.

CAINE boots into a Linux OS that mounts disks read-only by default and provides a number of recovery tools, including PhotoRec, TestDisk, and Autopsy, which is really thorough. It takes a few minutes to learn how to use, but it's reasonably intuitive and worth knowing.

The latest edition now has a "Windows side" aimed specifically at Windows disks.

https://www.caine-live.net/

CAINE is oriented towards forensics which accounts for the need to input case names and investigators, but those don't affect the recovery process, only recordkeeping. Just name it "a" or whatever and keep going.

[pstokely]

3. can it used on a thumb drive?

Last edited Thu Jan 25, 2018, 06:08 PM - Edit history (1)

?

[eppur_se_muova]

4. I haven't tried it, but supposedly yes.

Here's a manual: http://linuxleo.com/Docs/linuxintro-LEFE-4.31.pdf

Short version, usb devices will show us as sb0, sb1, etc.

Sadly, I cannot locate the CAINE tutorial I originally used.

[LC Mike]

8. SD card recovery

First, do not save anything else to the card.
Anything new saved to it could overwrite what you are hoping to recover.
Second, take the SD card out of the phone and use a card reader...either on a PC/laptop, or a USB one attached to your PC.
Then run a recovery software, like SanDisk RescuePRO, if the software can see the files, you're good.
If it cannot, then consider sending the card to a professional data recovery company.

But, first....stop using the card.