Typical Signs of a Defective Memory Card
Memory cards (SD, microSD, CF, XQD) are particularly susceptible to defects due to their compact design and frequent use. The symptoms differ significantly from those of traditional hard drives or SSDs. Since memory cards often contain valuable photos and videos, quick action at the first signs is especially important.
Memory Card Not Recognized
The most common symptom is that the card is not recognized by either the camera or the computer:
- Camera displays "No card inserted" or "Card error"
- Computer does not recognize the card in the file manager
- Card reader does not respond or blinks unusually
- Card is briefly recognized, then disappears again
Formatting Prompt When Inserting
If the operating system or camera reports that the card must be formatted before it can be used, this indicates a damaged file system structure. Important: Do not format the card under any circumstances, as this will overwrite the existing data.
Write Protection Errors
- Files cannot be saved or deleted
- Camera reports "Card is write-protected" even though the slider is not in the Lock position
- Internal write protection has been activated by the controller (wear protection)
Disappeared or Corrupted Files
- Photos and videos are suddenly no longer visible
- Files have cryptic names or show incorrect file sizes
- Images are partially damaged (artifacts, gray areas)
- CRC errors (cyclic redundancy check) when copying files
RAW File System Instead of FAT32/exFAT
If the memory card's file system is displayed as "RAW," the file system table is damaged. The data itself can often still be recovered - this is a typical logical defect.
Recognized the Symptoms? We Help Immediately.
Do not continue using the affected memory card and contact us for a free initial consultation. Our specialists recover data from all memory card types - SD, microSD, CF, XQD, and CFexpress.
Lars Müller