Introduction

At Bracknell Data Recovery, we have over 25 years of expertise in rescuing data from damaged or “broken” memory cards. We specialise in broken memory card data recovery, helping everyone from professional photographers and smartphone users to businesses managing CCTV, drone, or industrial camera systems. Memory cards are small devices combining NAND flash memory and a controller chip, so both the storage and the controller can fail. Our friendly, technical team understands how critical your data is. We offer free diagnostic assessments (with no obligation) to identify the fault and advise on recovery. In urgent cases we provide a 48-hour critical recovery service to get your files back fast. Whether your SD, microSD, CompactFlash, or other card has been physically damaged, corrupted, or simply stopped working, Bracknell Data Recovery has the experience and tools to help.

Services Offered

We provide a comprehensive memory card recovery service, including:

• Free Diagnostic & Evaluation: We examine your card using clean-room procedures and hardware analysers, then explain the issue and the recovery options (no charge or obligation).
• Memory Card Data Recovery: Recovery from all memory card failures – logical (file corruption, deletion, formatting) and physical (damaged controller or chips).
• Physical Repair (Hardware Recovery): For physically broken cards, bent pins, or water-damaged electronics, we perform micro-soldering, circuit repair, or chip-off recovery in a lab.
• Logical Recovery: For software or file system faults, we use specialised tools to rebuild file tables, carve files from raw data, and restore partition structures.
• Chip-Level Access: If the card’s controller is dead, we can read the raw flash memory directly using professional NAND programmers and custom hardware.
• Data Restoration: We carefully reconstruct files and folders, verifying integrity of photos, videos or documents. Recovered data is returned to you on safe new media.
• 48-Hour Emergency Service: Our priority service offers recovery within 48 hours for urgent cases.
• Data Security: All recovery is conducted in-house under strict confidentiality. If we can’t recover your data, you pay nothing – we follow a no-fix, no-fee policy.

Supported Memory Card Brands

We recover data from all major memory card brands, including (but not limited to):

• SanDisk
• Samsung
• Kingston (Canvas, HyperX, etc.)
• Lexar
• Transcend
• Sony (TOUGH, SF series)
• PNY
• Toshiba
• Panasonic (including Lumix Pro)
• Verbatim
• Patriot
• Apacer
• ADATA
• Delkin
• Silicon Power
• TeamGroup (Team)
• Angelbird
• Buffalo
• Integral (UK)
• Corsair

If your card is branded or unbranded, new or old, chances are we can recover it.

Common Memory Card Faults

We handle a wide range of memory card issues. Below are 30 of the most common faults, with a technical summary of causes and how we resolve them:

1. Accidental File Deletion: Users often delete photos or videos by mistake. Deletion only removes file table entries, not the actual data. Our recovery software scans the raw flash memory to rebuild file tables and recover deleted files (provided they haven’t been overwritten). We work carefully to avoid writing to the card until recovery is complete.

2. Accidental Formatting: Formatting a card (intentionally or by error) erases its file system. However, the raw data usually remains until new files overwrite it. We use low-level imaging to capture the entire card and then rebuild the original file system or carve out files by signature. This often restores access to pictures and videos despite the format.

3. File System Corruption: Improper ejection from a camera or PC, power loss during writing, or malware can corrupt the card’s file system (FAT/exFAT/NTFS/etc.). This makes files unreadable or invisible. We create an image of the card and use specialised software to repair or reconstruct the file system. For FAT/exFAT volumes, we can often salvage the partition and directory structure; if needed we resort to carving the files by identifying photo/video headers.

4. Physical Card Damage: Memory cards are small and fragile. Cracks, breaks or delamination of the PCB can occur if a card is sat on, dropped, or bent. In the lab, we use magnification and precision tools to fix broken traces or replace damaged components. If the card’s plastic casing is cracked but the chips are intact, we embed the card in protective resin or use a jig to stabilize it while reading. In severe cases, we disassemble the card to work directly on the flash memory chips.

5. Bad Sectors/Blocks: Flash memory cells wear out or can be imperfect from manufacture. Bad sectors (unreadable blocks) cause parts of the card to fail over time. We use advanced hardware imagers that can retry reads on bad blocks or map them out. By reading around bad blocks, we often recover the remainder of the data. If certain memory chips are failing, we can sometimes chip-off those NAND chips and read them individually, then reassemble the data.

6. Card Not Recognised: When a camera, phone or computer fails to detect a card at all, the card is often logically invisible. This can be due to driver issues or a dead controller on the card. First we rule out reader/adaptor faults (trying other card readers or ports). If still not seen, we may open the card to inspect its circuitry. Using proprietary hardware interfaces, we attempt to communicate with the flash chips directly, bypassing the failed controller. This lets us image the NAND data even when the device won’t mount the card.

7. Read/Write Errors: Errors like “Read Error” or files failing to copy usually indicate either physical damage or logical corruption. Causes include loose contacts, failing chips, or a damaged controller. We start by imaging the card with error-recovery settings (slowing the read process to maximise data capture). If the controller is erratic, we may go direct to the NAND chips. Once we have an image, we repair the file system or recover the files offline.

8. Virus or Malware Infection: Inserting a card into an infected computer or device can hide files or encrypt them with malware. We always begin by scanning an image of the card in a safe, isolated environment. Any malware can be identified and neutralised without risking further spread. After cleaning, we restore or extract the surviving data.

9. File Transfer Interruptions: Suddenly ejecting the card, removing it from a camera, or a power failure during file transfer can leave files half-written. Partially saved files may be corrupt. Our team carefully examines the image for these incomplete files. Sometimes we can repair them (especially JPEGs and MP4s by rebuilding headers) or recover intact portions. We also fix the file system metadata if it was corrupted by the interruption.

10. Controller Failure: A common and serious fault is failure of the card’s microcontroller. If the controller’s firmware crashes or its circuitry burns out, the card can become completely inaccessible. In this case, even if the NAND flash is fine, standard devices cannot read it. Our solution is to bypass or replace the controller. In practice this means performing a chip-off recovery: we remove the flash memory chips and read them with a high-end NAND reader. Then we reconstruct the file system or files from the raw flash dump. Thanks to our specialised lab equipment, we can handle nearly any controller or chip architecture.

11. Water or Liquid Damage: Exposure to water (even dampness) can short the card’s tiny circuits and corrode contacts. Cards are not usually waterproof like high-end cameras, so liquid often causes immediate failure. We treat water-damaged cards by first drying and cleaning them in a controlled cleanroom. We remove any corrosion with isopropyl alcohol or ultrasonic cleaning. Once the board is clean, we check for short circuits and repair or bypass any damaged traces. If the controller remains functional, we proceed with a normal recovery. If the card still won’t operate, we move to chip-off recovery.

12. Overheating: Excessive heat – for example from leaving a card in direct sunlight, a hot car, or a malfunctioning camera – can damage the controller or even the flash chips. Damaged components may delaminate or lose data integrity. We let the card cool and stabilise, then carefully attempt a read with error recovery. If parts of the board are burnt or delaminated, we may use heat guns or reflow techniques in our lab to rescue what data we can.

13. Wear and Tear (Flash Aging): Each memory card has a finite number of write/erase cycles. Older or very heavily used cards may develop more bad blocks as the flash cells wear out. This gradual failure often shows up as random I/O errors. With sophisticated NAND readers, we can often still retrieve the data before total failure. The recovery process involves mapping out worn-out blocks and reading the rest. We also recommend regular replacement of cards used for continuous recording (e.g. dashcams or surveillance) to avoid this issue.

14. Unsupported File System: Occasionally a card is formatted with an unfamiliar file system or by a proprietary device. For example, an exFAT card on a very old device, or a format meant for a specific CCTV DVR, can appear unreadable on standard readers. We have software that recognizes and mounts most formats. By directly imaging the card and examining the data structures, our engineers can reconstruct files even from exotic or unsupported file systems.

15. Electrical Damage (Power Surge/Short): A sudden voltage spike (e.g. power surge in the card slot) or short circuit can fry the memory card’s electronics. The board may show burn marks, and the controller may be irreversibly damaged. In many such cases, the flash memory itself may still hold data. We assess the board under a microscope and replace any damaged passive components (like capacitors or regulators). If the controller is irreparable, we again resort to chip-off – carefully extracting the flash chips and reading them externally.

16. Partition Table Corruption: If the partition table or allocation table on the card is overwritten or corrupted, the operating system may see the card as empty or raw. We use partition recovery tools on the image to reconstruct the table entries. By scanning for known file signatures, we can often restore the original partition boundaries and file listing without losing any data.

17. Formatting in Unsupported Device: Similar to file system issues, some cameras or devices format cards in special ways (for example, a drone might use a journaled format). If a card has been formatted in one device and then becomes unreadable elsewhere, we treat it like a corrupted file system. Our lab tools can often interpret the device-specific format or recover the data directly from the flash content.

18. Overwritten Data: When new files overwrite old ones on a card, the original data is largely gone. Data recovery in this case is very limited. If only a small portion was overwritten, we may still recover the remaining fragments of the original file (using file-carving techniques on the image). We always advise stopping use of the card as soon as data loss is noticed to maximise chances of recovery.

19. Bent or Broken Pins/Contacts: SD and CF cards have metal contacts that can become bent, corroded or broken. If the pins are bent, the card will not connect properly to readers. We can often realign or replace the metal contacts under a microscope. If the plastic tab with pins is broken, we do a chip-off procedure, eliminating the need for the connector altogether. Even badly broken connectors are no problem for our chip-off specialists.

20. Manufacturing Defects: Rarely, a card may fail prematurely due to a factory defect (e.g. flawed flash die or cold solder joint). These defects can manifest as early bad blocks or random failures. Regardless of cause, we approach them with the same hardware-level tools: special readers and chip-off techniques that can circumvent the defect and extract the data.

21. Write-Protect Switch Fault: Some SD cards have a sliding lock switch. If that switch breaks or gets stuck, the card appears write-protected or unreadable. In the lab we can gently repair the switch or bypass it on the card’s PCB. Often we’ll disassemble the card enough to bypass the write-protect line in hardware so that the flash becomes readable.

22. Adapter or Reader Issues: A microSD card in a faulty adapter or an SD card in a dirty slot may not work, even if the card itself is fine. We always test the card with multiple adapters and readers. If the card still shows problems in all readers, we then treat it as a card fault. (If it only fails in one reader, we simply recover the data using a working reader or by chip-off if needed.)

23. Counterfeit or Fake Card: Counterfeit memory cards are sold with inflated capacities (e.g. a 16GB card that reports 256GB). These cards often fail as real data is written past their physical limit. We can identify and work around a fake card by determining its true capacity and chip layout. Using a block-level image, we recover up to the actual capacity of the flash. Any data “beyond” that is simply not recoverable because it was never truly written.

24. Flash Memory Cell Failures: Individual NAND flash chips on a card can fail while others remain good. For cards with multiple flash dies, we can separate the dies and read each with a specialised reader. We then reconstruct files from the combined data, skipping any dead die. This is especially relevant for larger cards (64GB and above often have multiple NAND packages).

25. Controller Firmware Corruption: The firmware (microcode) on the card’s controller chip can become corrupted (for example by a faulty update or virus). This can make the card behave erratically. In such cases, normal reads often fail. Our chip-off method solves this because it ignores the controller entirely – we dump the raw NAND content and rebuild the file system from it, regardless of the controller’s state.

26. Encryption or Device Locking: Some devices (or file formats) encrypt data on the card or lock it to that device. For instance, certain surveillance or drone cameras can encrypt video files on the card. If the encryption key or password is not available, recovery may be impossible. However, if the card itself is just locked (e.g. by a parental control), we have methods to disable the lock signal and access the raw data. (If you have an encrypted card, please inform us – sometimes using the original device or software can decrypt the data after we extract it.)

27. Operating System/Driver Incompatibility: Occasionally, a card’s file system (such as exFAT, APFS or EXT formats) won’t mount on the user’s computer due to missing drivers. In many cases, the data is intact but simply not visible in Windows or macOS. We use compatible systems and drivers in-house to read any format. By cloning the card on our systems, we ensure that OS incompatibility never prevents recovery.

28. Extreme Temperature Exposure: Leaving a card in very hot or cold environments (e.g. inside a car in summer or winter) can stress the card. Typically, unless physically damaged, flash memory will survive temperature extremes but may become sluggish. We carefully bring the card to room temperature and then proceed with imaging. In most cases the data is unaffected if the card wasn’t physically warped or cracked.

29. Dirty or Corroded Contacts: Dust, grime or corrosion on the gold contacts can prevent a card from being read. We gently clean the contacts with isopropyl alcohol or abrasive erasers to restore conductivity. After cleaning, the card often works like new. If corrosion has pitted the contacts, we may still rely on chip-off recovery to avoid any unreliable connections.

30. Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Damage: Static electricity or a sudden electrical discharge can destroy tiny components on a card’s circuit. Unfortunately, ESD often causes hardware failure. If ESD has blown capacitors or controllers, we repair or replace those parts if possible. Otherwise, we again turn to chip-off to recover the flash data. It’s a last resort, but one that often saves the day when nothing else does.

Each of the above faults is addressed using professional equipment and techniques in our data recovery lab. We combine hardware repair (for physical issues) with software recovery (for logical issues) to maximise the chance of success in every case.

Recovery Process Overview

Our memory card recovery process is transparent and systematic, ensuring your data’s safety every step of the way:

1. Free Evaluation: We begin with a no-cost, no-obligation inspection. Using diagnostic hardware we identify the fault (e.g. controller fault, water damage, corruption, etc.).
2. Quote & Consent: We explain what went wrong, what data we can recover, and give a fixed quote. You approve the work and time-frame.
3. Secure Imaging: We create a bit-by-bit image of the card using write-blocking tools. This preserves the original and provides a working copy for recovery efforts.
4. Specialist Recovery: Based on the diagnosis, we apply the appropriate method: file system repair for logical issues, board-level repair or chip-off for hardware failures, or a combination.
5. Data Reconstruction: Recovered data is carefully assembled. We verify files (photos, videos, documents) to ensure they open correctly.
6. Delivery: The recovered files are returned to you on your choice of media (new memory card, USB drive, secure download, etc.). We ensure you can access your files easily.
7. Reporting: You receive a report detailing the problem, the recovery steps taken, and the outcome. We are happy to explain any technical details.
8. Security & Confidentiality: Your data privacy is paramount. All work is done in-house by our UK team under strict confidentiality.

Throughout the process, we keep you informed. Our engineers strive to deliver the best possible recovery while minimising any risk to your original data. Remember: if we can’t recover your data, you pay nothing.

Supported Systems

Bracknell Data Recovery supports memory cards from a wide array of devices, including both consumer and business systems:

• Digital Cameras: DSLR and mirrorless cameras (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji, Olympus, etc.), point-and-shoot cameras, action cams (GoPro, etc.).
• Smartphones & Tablets: Android phones/tablets (Samsung, Huawei, Google, etc.), and other mobile devices using microSD cards.
• Drones: Popular drones (DJI, Parrot, Yuneec, etc.) and their SD/microSD storage.
• CCTV & Surveillance Systems: Security cameras and DVR/NVR systems that use SD or microSD cards for recording.
• Dashcams and Bodycams: Vehicle and wearable cameras that store footage on memory cards.
• Industrial Equipment: Data loggers, medical devices, engineering equipment and other industrial controllers that use memory cards.
• Computers & Gaming: Laptops and desktops with built-in card readers, as well as gaming consoles (Nintendo Switch game cards, etc.) that utilize memory storage.

In short, if it uses a memory card, we can recover it. Our engineers are familiar with the quirks of all major operating systems and file formats, so whether your card was used in a Windows PC, a Mac, Linux machine, or any embedded system, we have the tools to access the data.

Why Choose Us

• 25+ Years Experience: We have specialised in data recovery since 1998. This deep experience makes us experts at tricky memory card issues.
• London’s No.1 Specialists: We focus on broken memory card recovery. It’s our core business, and our reputation shows it.
• Free Diagnostics & No-Fix No-Fee: We offer a free initial assessment. If we can’t recover your data, you don’t pay – we bear the cost.
• Fast Turnaround: Alongside our standard service, we offer a critical 48-hour emergency option for urgent recoveries.
• Technical Excellence: Our in-house lab features top-tier recovery hardware and software. We keep up with the latest card technologies and firmware.
• Friendly, Clear Communication: We explain the process and keep you updated. We speak in plain language, not just jargon.
• Secure & Confidential: All work is done on our premises in the UK. We maintain strict data confidentiality and security.
• High Success Rate: Thanks to our expertise and tools, we recover data from memory cards that others have given up on.

Choosing Bracknell Data Recovery means choosing a partner that treats your memories and business data as our own priority. We understand how critical it is to regain access to your files, and we commit to achieving the best possible result for you.

Contact Information

For expert broken memory card data recovery, contact Bracknell Data Recovery today. Our team is ready to help retrieve your data safely and quickly:

• Phone: 0800 689 0668 (UK toll-free) – Call Monday–Friday, 9am–6pm
• Email: support@bracknelldatarecovery.co.uk
• Online: Visit our website or use our enquiry form to start the process. We respond promptly to all enquiries.

Remember, every diagnostic is free, so reach out even if you’re not sure what went wrong. Let us take a look at your broken memory card – you have nothing to lose and potentially all your data to gain.

Bracknell Data Recovery – Your friendly, technical specialists in memory card data recovery. We recover what others can’t, fast and securely.