A friend had a problem with the SD card in their Nikon camera. It has 100+ photos from their once in a lifetime vacation. Nothing out of the ordinary was done with the camera.I have tried to read it and use Zero Assumption, Recuva and other programs with no luck. It seems like the card is not even being recognized or read by the computer. I also did the Check Drive function on Win7 and that also shows nothing there.I used a SD card I had and even quick formatted it and Zero was still able to recover all files. This one does nothing.I thought I would run it by the tech geniuses on here and ask for suggestions.Thanx

Does there camera still read the card and can they review the pictures on the card in their camera? If not, card is probably toast. If they can,try connecting the camera to the computer using a cable and see if they can be downloaded that way.

As long as the SD card is not too old, they do have a finite lifespan, it could be that it's not making proper contact with the reader. Make sure the metal contacts are clean. Also, sometimes these cards get slightly warped. Try placing a strip of an envelope or similar on the opposite side of the card when inserting into the reader. This may force the contacts down on the reader.

Sea'scape wrote:Does there camera still read the card and can they review the pictures on the card in their camera? If not, card is probably toast. If they can,try connecting the camera to the computer using a cable and see if they can be downloaded that way.X2 on the cable. I had to start using that awhile ago when my card would no longer read in the laptop.

The card is not readable in any camera or computer at this point.The card was purchased new with the camera about 2 months ago.

The computer recognizes it when inserted but will not allow it to be viewed like the files are corrupted or something.

SD Card Unreadable | Good Sam Community

WDP
Explorer
Jun 08, 2014
I have wonderful results with this recovery program, PC INSPECTOR™ File Recovery 4.x. Download a copy from CNET, just watch all the bundled garbage included in the process. Read before you click.

WDP
Gdetrailer
Explorer III
Jun 07, 2014
ferretgrandpa wrote:
I always keep a puppy-linux distro around. If it can 'see' the card, you can copy the files to something else. I even use it to copy old Mac files (that windows can't see). I also keep a copy of 'TEST DISC', it can find files and recover them even after formatting.

Those "tools" are all well and fine as long as the drive is GOOD and it was simply "formated" or the files were accidentally deleted.

Not so much with a FAILED or FAILING drive as in the case of the OPs situation.

I am not aware of any "tools" which can bring back bad or damaged memory cells in a flash memory drive.

The OPs only hope now is perhaps checking with a PROFESSIONAL "data recovery" Company and see if they have any hopes in recovering a failed FLASH drive.. It will be expensive, thats for sure and basically no guarantees that anything will be recovered.

Folks with SSD drives should take notice, you SHOULD make sure you have a data backup.. SSD drives can fail in same fashion..
8_1_Van
Explorer
Jun 07, 2014
When on vacation I backup my photos and videos to my MacBook Air that has a SDXC slot after every shoot and then backup to a 2TB ext portable USB 3.0 HDD. I use a fast 128GB U3 SDXC card in my Panasonic GH4 for shooting 4K video that I could get 8.3mp still photos off of.
1492
Moderator
Jun 06, 2014
It's not going to work if the OS doesn't recognize the SD card.

Even Recuva can recover files from formatted, and deleted partitions. I once deleted and re-formatted a partition three times, and was still able to recover nearly 80% of test files.
ferretgrandpa
Explorer
Jun 06, 2014
I always keep a puppy-linux distro around. If it can 'see' the card, you can copy the files to something else. I even use it to copy old Mac files (that windows can't see). I also keep a copy of 'TEST DISC', it can find files and recover them even after formatting.
az99
Explorer
Jun 05, 2014
Gave up and tried Quick Format. Windows would not allow it to complete.
Gdetrailer
Explorer III
Jun 05, 2014
az99 wrote:
Undelete 360 and other similar free utilities do not even recognize the SD card in the drive.
I have been working with Testdisk and PhotoRec. I am able to see and start to read the card but something is very wrong with the file system and I can't get any files off.
I was thinking my last resort may be to try a Quick Format in hopes of getting access to the card. I tried it with an old SD card and was able to recover deleted files after the quick format with ZA.

Sounds to me like the card has some bad memory cells.

I guess if nothing else works a Quick Format might massage the cells enough to run a recovery program..

Other than that you might have to send card (and pay) to a professional recovery company to see if they can retrieve any files..
az99
Explorer
Jun 05, 2014
Lexar is the problem disc here.
sue_t
Explorer
Jun 05, 2014
A good reminder to routinely reformat cards in the camera. Don't use a computer to format a card for use in a camera.

When I bought a GoPro camera last year the only card available locally that would work with it was a junk brand name. It literally fell apart after two uses. Meanwhile, SanDisk and Lexar have never failed for me - touch wood.
enblethen
Nomad
Jun 05, 2014
Have you checked for specific software from Nikon for downloading?