The most important thing to note before attempting a memory card data recovery is to STOP THE IMMEDIATE USE OF THAT PARTICULAR MEMORY CARD WITH THE DIGITAL CAMERA in which you are trying to retrieve "lost" pictures or other images. This is very important as it might be your only chance of ever accessing your sought after pictures.
Why you may ask is this so? Well, it is this way because your digital camera in a very similar way to your computer does not actually delete your files from its database, in this case your memory card, but only marks them as 'deleted' so that they can be 'overwritten' sometime in the future when you take another shot. This is why you need to stop using your flash data card, you get the picture?
After which, you remove the memory card from your digital camera, putting it in a case; preferable the one it came with when you bought it and then keep safely. This should be done immediately, even if you have already hit the road to prevent loss of your data card.
After which you can now attempt data retrieval; by using an appropriate kind of software. There are free and commercial types. You can find out more by doing an Internet search.
So I believe we are okay here. However, let me say that attempting memory card data recovery using software is only achievable if your memory card is still working. Non-functional memory cards are not applicable as far as this option is concerned. But what do you do if your card is not working?
Get in touch with a data recovery company. A well-known provider of data storage devices, which goes by the name sanDisk recommends LC Technology. If you are not satisfied with this you can do an online search to get a data recovery company that meets your need.
It is always advisable to transfer pictures or data from your camera to your Windows computer (if you are using one) because NTFS recovery (NTFS is the standard file system for Windows) should the need arise will complement any effort on data recovery you are making on your card.
Two processes which ensure this ""preventive"" NTFS data recovery on a Windows NT computer are transaction logging and cluster remapping. They are automatic and forestall further data loss on your Windows computer.
By this, I mean that any Windows computer with New Technology File System (only in recent versions I believe) has an inbuilt capacity to achieve NTFS data recovery using these processes. Please remember to check compatibility of memory card data recovery software with your drives before use and also follow software manufacturer's instructions.
