Recovering Data in Memory Cards for Digital Cameras

Why is it that you only realize the problems with your PC backup strategy after something bad has happened? Why is it that you only try to desperate recover what's left after realising back up was the only real way of data protection?

I thought I had a pretty good backup system, using a program called Cobian backup to backup my data to an external hard drive. The problem was that I let the drive fill up and I had not run a backup in a few months. Then my PC got zapped by lighting and I lost 5 months of digital photos.

Memory card data recovery to the rescue! Some files I was able to get off of my hard drive using Active File Recovery software, but one of the best ways I recovered data was right from my digital camera memory cards using a program called Photo-Saver. Even though the images had been deleted off the card, I was able to find months worth of photos still on the disk with the card recovery software. Between the two types of data recovery products I used I was able to salvage just about all of my precious family pictures.

How does it work? Data recovery programs work by looking at the files that remain on a drive or card even after they are deleted. Unless you have formatted the drive (which wipes everything clean) or over-written data onto the disk or card, a professional or special piece of software may be able to find the files remaining. Professional data recovery experts salvage important data from damaged computers with sophisticated technology, and charge a high price. Luckily I was able to do this myself when I needed to.

A few tips to keep in mind: if you want to recover files from your computer do not make any changes or use the system. Download the recovery software from another PC. Install any recovery software onto a CD or flash drive. Likewise, if you are trying to recover files from your camera memory card, download the software onto a PC and run it from there. You never want to do anything with the damaged drive except when the recovery software tells you to in order to preserve whatever is there.

Now I have purchased a new larger external hard drive and have my scheduled backups running again. However it is great to know that I have that little software package just in case I need it.