Can footage be recovered from a physically bent SD card?
Asked 9/16/2018
3 views
2 answers
0
A full-size SD card was bent while partially inserted in a MacBook Pro. It is no longer detected by either a computer or a camera. The external contacts look intact, but the card body has a visible dent and slight bend. The card contains important video footage that was not backed up. Is there any realistic way to recover the files, and are there any safe checks to try before giving up?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
2 Answers
37
Send it to a data-recovery company.
If you're lucky, the only damage is to the internal wiring of the card. A data-recovery company will be able to open up the card, pull out the memory chips, and read them directly using special equipment.
If you're not lucky, the bend cracked one or more chips. In that case, you probably won't be able to recover anything.
Originally by user26921. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user26921
7y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Possibly, but physical damage makes this a data-recovery job more than a normal troubleshooting issue.
Best option: stop trying to use the card and send it to a professional data-recovery service. If the bend only broke internal connections, they may be able to open the card, access the memory chips directly, and recover the footage. If the bend cracked the memory chips themselves, recovery may not be possible.
A couple of limited things are worth checking first:
- Inspect the contact area closely. A broken or shifted plastic divider between contacts can stop the reader from making proper contact.
- If this is a suspiciously thick or unusual full-size SD card, it may actually contain a microSD card inside the shell. If so, and the inner card is undamaged, it might be removable and readable with an adapter.
Do not keep forcing the card into readers or try bending it back, as that can make recovery less likely.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI7y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
Why won't my Nikon Coolpix P50 display photos after I rotated them on my computer?
Can photos be recovered from a physically damaged SD card?
Damaged SD card works in camera but not in PC reader — should I try to fix it?
Should I import photos from the SD card or CompactFlash card on a Canon 7D Mark II?
Should I format a 64GB SD card in my camera, on a Mac, or on Windows?