🧩 How to Recover Data from a Corrupted SanDisk Memory Card (Step-by-Step Guide)
If your SanDisk memory card suddenly shows the message “You need to format the disk in drive to use it”, don’t panic — your data is still recoverable! In this detailed guide, we’ll walk you through how to recover data from a corrupted memory card using the free and powerful PhotoRec data recovery tool available for both Windows and Kali Linux.
💡 Why Memory Cards Get Corrupted
- Sudden removal during file transfer
- Virus or malware infection
- File system errors (e.g., FAT32 corruption)
- Using the card in multiple devices
- Bad sectors or aging storage chips
When corruption occurs, your SD card might appear blank or ask for formatting. But you can fix a corrupted memory card without formatting using PhotoRec — and safely restore files from a damaged SD card.
🧰 Tool Used: PhotoRec (Free & Open Source)
PhotoRec is one of the best free memory card recovery software tools available. It works on Windows, Linux, and macOS and supports almost every file type, including photos, videos, documents, and archives.
Official Website: https://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec
⚙️ Step-by-Step: How to Use PhotoRec in Kali Linux
Step 1: Identify Your SD Card
Insert your corrupted SanDisk memory card and open the terminal. Run:
sudo fdisk -l
Locate your card — usually listed as /dev/sdb or similar.
mkdir -p ~/recovery/sdcard
Step 2: Start PhotoRec
Run the following command to launch PhotoRec:
sudo photorecStep 3: Select the Disk
Choose your SD card (e.g., /dev/sdb) from the list and press Enter.
Step 4: Choose the Partition Type
Select [Other] if your SD card is formatted as FAT32 (most common for SanDisk cards).
Step 5: Select File System Area
Choose [Whole] or [Search] to scan the full card for lost files.
Step 6: Select the Destination Folder
Create a folder (for example, /home/amal/recovery/sdcard) to save the recovered files. Navigate to it in PhotoRec and press C to confirm.
Step 7: Wait for Recovery
PhotoRec will now start recovering files from your SD card. It automatically categorizes them by type — images, documents, videos, etc.
📁 Viewing Your Recovered Files
Once the process is complete, open your chosen recovery folder. You’ll find multiple subfolders (e.g., recup_dir.1, recup_dir.2), each containing recovered data.
Sort or rename your files as needed — your photos, videos, and documents are now safely restored!
🧠 Expert Tips
- Never save recovered files back to the same SD card.
- Use antivirus software to clean recovered files before reuse.
- Always safely eject your SD card after use.
- Keep backups of your important photos and videos.
🙋♂️ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Can I recover deleted photos from SD card after formatting?
Yes. As long as new data hasn’t overwritten the old files, PhotoRec can recover deleted photos from SD card even after formatting.
2. My memory card shows “You need to format the disk.” What should I do?
Don’t format it! Instead, follow this PhotoRec data recovery guide to restore your files first, then format the card if necessary.
3. Is PhotoRec safe to use?
Yes, it’s open-source and read-only — it won’t modify your damaged card.
4. Does PhotoRec work on Windows and Linux?
Absolutely! It’s a reliable data recovery tool for Windows and Linux users.
5. Can I use this method for all brands, not just SanDisk?
Yes, it works for all memory card brands — Kingston, Samsung, Transcend, etc.
✅ Conclusion
Recovering files from a corrupted SanDisk memory card doesn’t have to be difficult. With PhotoRec, you can easily fix corrupted memory cards without formatting and retrieve your lost files for free. Whether you’re using Kali Linux or Windows 11, this step-by-step process ensures your data is safe and restorable.
💾 Pro Tip: Always back up your important data — prevention is better than recovery!
Written by Amal Aji | © Domebytes.com
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