Emergency · memory cards and drives
Important rules after data loss!
What should I do immediately after data loss, and what must I avoid?
Short answer
Immediately stop using the affected device: no new recordings, no software installs, no recovered files saved onto it. Decline any format or repair prompt and look for existing backups elsewhere. Heat, repeated disconnects or new noises mean no further attempts and a call to a recovery lab; otherwise a read-only scan comes next.
The situation
Files missing? Preserve what remains first.
Stop using the affected storage device. Do not record anything new, install software there or save recovered files onto it. Decline formatting and repair prompts. Check existing backups on other devices. Only then decide whether a read-only scan of a stable source makes sense or a professional recovery laboratory should take over.
01 / Diagnose
Work out what actually disappeared
Use another device or paper to record what happened just before the loss: deletion, formatting, copying, a power failure or an error message. Note the storage device, recording period and expected files. A media-offline message may simply indicate a changed path. Do not mistake previews and proxy files for backed-up originals.
After deletion, data may remain in areas marked as available. New writes can replace those contents. A repair may change the very file-system traces that could help reconstruct the recordings later. Recovery therefore starts by preserving the source, before attempting repairs.
Check the last known path, trash and backups without writing to the original device.
02 / Protect the source
Preserve the best recovery chance
- 1
Stop using the source: End recording and automatic imports. Turn off the camera or recorder before removing its card. If the system drive is affected, stop working on that computer and download any recovery tools on another machine.
- 2
Change nothing: Decline formatting, initialization and file-system repair. Do not run CHKDSK repair options or Disk Utility First Aid on the original. Avoid test recordings and renaming files on the source as well.
- 3
Check existing copies: Look on separate backup drives, a second camera card, or use another device to check cloud backups and their trash. Save any originals you find to a physically different device, without restoring them onto the affected source.
- 4
Prepare recovery: For stable readable media, preferably have a complete disk image saved onto a healthy drive first. Examine the appropriate source read-only and export separately. Another folder or partition on the same physical device is not a separate destination.
Do not run repeated scans when there are read errors, recurring disconnections, unusual heat or new loud clicking sounds. Turn off the affected device and discuss preservation with a specialist laboratory. Never open a hard drive or try freezing, striking or heating it. Irreplaceable data and an unclear cause can justify professional help even without visible damage.
03 / Choose the method
Match the tool to the source
For stable, readable exFAT, NTFS and FAT16/FAT32 or uncompressed IMG, DD, RAW and BIN images.
Unconfirmed exports are marked .UNVERIFIED.
These precautions also apply when File Recovery Hero does not suit the case. The app examines stable readable exFAT, NTFS and FAT16/FAT32 as well as supported uncompressed IMG, DD, RAW or BIN images. It does not repair physically damaged media, bypass encryption or promise to recover overwritten data. APFS, HFS+ and ext4 require other suitable methods.
04 / Verify
Check the recovered content, not just its name
Check photographs at full resolution, RAW files with a compatible converter, and video and audio throughout their duration. Compare file counts, sizes and recording dates with your notes. Keep unconfirmed results marked .UNVERIFIED separate. Do not erase or reuse the source until you have two independent copies of the fully checked files.
Keep the source until two verified copies exist. One working preview is not enough.
Sources and technical references
FAQ
Questions about this recovery case
Can memory cards and drives be recovered in this situation?+
Stop using the affected storage device. Do not record anything new, install software there or save recovered files onto it. Decline formatting and repair prompts. Check existing backups on other devices. Only then decide whether a read-only scan of a stable source makes sense or a professional recovery laboratory should take over. The result still depends on what remains readable on the source.
What should I avoid before scanning?+
Do not run repeated scans when there are read errors, recurring disconnections, unusual heat or new loud clicking sounds.
Does scanning write to my memory card?+
Your memory card is only read. Nothing is saved to it.
How do I know whether the result is complete?+
Check photographs at full resolution, RAW files with a compatible converter, and video and audio throughout their duration.
Preserve what remains.
Check the source first, then choose the appropriate next step.
Scan for free first, then decide.