photo and flash memory recovery in san jose & the bay area
SD card, USB flash drive, camera media & deleted photo recovery
Photos, videos, documents, project files, camera footage, and personal data can become inaccessible after deletion, formatting, corruption, controller failure, physical damage, or flash-memory problems.
With 26+ years of experience, Kotar Data Recovery provides professional photo and flash memory recovery for clients in San Jose and across the Bay Area. We recover data from SD cards, microSD cards, CompactFlash and CFexpress media, USB flash drives, camera cards, drones, dashcams, audio recorders, and other flash-based storage.
Free secure courier pickup is available across the Bay Area. You can also request a free shipping label or visit our San Jose lab by appointment.
Your device is examined within 2 hours after it arrives at our San Jose lab, and we provide the recovery options and a fixed quote before any work begins.
why flash memory data can still be recoverable
Flash memory has no moving parts, but it can still fail because of controller problems, firmware corruption, damaged connectors, NAND degradation, electrical damage, file-system errors, accidental deletion, formatting, or interrupted transfers.
Our San Jose lab protects the original device and uses the safest available recovery method, including creating a recovery copy when appropriate, before file reconstruction begins. This helps reduce unnecessary access to unstable media while preserving recoverable photos, videos, documents, and project files.
Deleted or formatted files may still be recoverable when their original data has not been overwritten.
supported flash memory devices
SD and microSD cards used in DSLR and mirrorless cameras, phones, drones, dashcams, action cameras, recorders, and portable devices
CompactFlash and CFexpress cards used in professional photography, video production, cinema cameras, and high-speed camera systems
USB flash drives used for documents, business files, photographs, videos, backups, school projects, and portable storage
Professional camera media containing RAW photographs, JPEG files, video footage, project files, and camera metadata
Drone and action-camera storage containing aerial photography, mapping files, GoPro footage, field recordings, and video projects
Embedded flash storage used in cameras, audio recorders, wearables, IoT devices, and specialized electronics when the storage can be safely accessed
Common file systems including exFAT, FAT32, NTFS, APFS, and other supported storage formats
common flash memory failures we recover from
Deleted photos, videos, or files after accidental deletion from an SD card, microSD card, camera card, or USB flash drive
Accidentally formatted memory card where photographs, videos, documents, or project files disappeared after formatting
Unreadable SD card or USB drive that asks to be formatted, reports errors, or no longer mounts
Corrupted photos or videos after unsafe removal, interrupted transfers, power loss, camera errors, or damaged file systems
Broken USB connector or damaged card causing intermittent detection, no power, or loss of access to stored files
Controller or firmware failure causing the flash device to stop being recognized correctly
Wrong capacity or 0GB errors where the device reports an incorrect size or no usable storage
Read-only or locked flash storage that prevents normal writing, formatting, saving, or device operation
NAND wear or bad memory blocks causing slow access, missing files, repeated errors, or unstable reads
Encrypted flash storage where recovery may require the correct password, recovery key, or credentials
deleted photo recovery
Deleted photos may still be recoverable from SD cards, microSD cards, USB drives, CompactFlash cards, CFexpress media, and other flash storage when the original data has not been overwritten.
If important photos or videos were deleted, stop using the device immediately. Taking new photographs, recording additional video, copying files, or continuing to use the card can overwrite data that might otherwise be recoverable.
For other deleted or formatted storage, see our lost file recovery service.
SD card and memory card recovery
We recover data from SD cards, microSD cards, CompactFlash cards, CFexpress cards, drone cards, dashcam media, action-camera storage, and other removable memory affected by deletion, formatting, corruption, physical damage, controller problems, or unreadable file systems.
If your card asks to be formatted, shows missing photos, reports card errors, or will not mount, avoid formatting it, saving new files, or repeatedly running repair utilities.
USB flash drive recovery
We recover data from USB flash drives containing documents, business files, photographs, videos, backups, school projects, archives, and portable data.
Common failures include broken connectors, damaged circuit boards, unreadable drives, accidental deletion, formatting, file-system corruption, controller failure, and USB devices that are no longer detected.
Do not bend, force, repeatedly reconnect, solder, or attempt DIY repairs on a physically damaged flash drive. Additional electrical or mechanical damage can reduce recovery options.
signs of a failing flash drive, SD card, or memory card
Files open as corrupted or cannot be accessed
Photos, videos, folders, or project files are missing
The device asks to be formatted before use
Transfers become unusually slow or repeatedly freeze
The card or USB drive disconnects unexpectedly
The wrong storage capacity is displayed
The device reports 0GB or no usable media
The storage becomes locked in read-only mode
A computer, camera, phone, drone, or recorder no longer recognizes the media
Card errors, format errors, or file-system warnings repeatedly appear
what you should do and not do
Stop using the device immediately if photos, videos, or files are missing, deleted, corrupted, or accidentally formatted
Do not save new files to the same SD card, microSD card, USB drive, or camera media
Do not reformat or initialize the device if your computer, camera, phone, or drone asks you to
Do not run CHKDSK, fsck, repair utilities, or repeated recovery scans on unstable or physically damaged flash storage
Avoid repeated connection attempts when a USB connector, card, or circuit board is physically damaged
Store the device safely until it can be professionally evaluated
Gather the password or recovery key if the storage device is encrypted
our 3-step photo and flash memory recovery process
Free evaluation and fixed quote - your device is examined within 2 hours after it arrives at our San Jose lab, and you receive the recovery options and a fixed quote before work begins
Safe imaging and recovery - the original flash storage is protected and the safest available recovery method is used for the device, controller, memory chips, and failure type
File reconstruction and verification - accessible photos, videos, documents, folders, and file structures are reconstructed and checked before delivery
how fast do you need your data back?
standard service - recovery during regular business hours
express service - completed in up to 72 hours
24/7 emergency service - round-the-clock recovery on request
why choose kotar for photo and flash memory recovery
26+ years of data recovery experience with deleted, formatted, corrupted, electronically damaged, and physically damaged flash storage
Professional San Jose data recovery lab serving photographers, videographers, businesses, creative professionals, students, and families across the Bay Area
All recovery work performed in-house at our San Jose lab without outsourcing your device or data to third-party companies
Free secure courier pickup available across the Bay Area
Free shipping label available when shipping is more convenient
Free evaluation within 2 hours after your device arrives at our lab
No data, no fee guarantee
Fixed quote before recovery begins so you know the cost before approving the work
Specialized flash recovery tools for SD cards, microSD cards, CompactFlash, CFexpress, USB drives, controllers, and flash-memory failures
Controlled recovery environment for fragile, physically damaged, contaminated, or unstable storage devices
Secure handling for personal photographs, professional media, business files, confidential documents, research data, and creative projects
24/7 emergency service available on request for urgent recovery cases
photo and flash memory recovery FAQs
Can deleted photos be recovered from an SD card?
Yes, in many cases. Deleted photos may still be recoverable if the original image data has not been overwritten. Stop using the card as soon as possible, because taking new photos, recording video, or saving files can overwrite data that may otherwise be recoverable.
Should I format an SD card that asks to be formatted?
No. If the card contains important files, do not format or initialize it. A format request can indicate file-system corruption, controller problems, damaged memory, or other storage errors that should be evaluated before additional changes are made.
Can you recover a physically damaged USB flash drive?
Yes, depending on the extent of the damage. We evaluate USB drives with broken connectors, damaged circuit boards, controller failures, electrical damage, and other physical problems to determine the safest available recovery method.
Can you recover RAW photos and professional camera files?
Yes. We recover RAW photographs, JPEG files, video footage, project files, and camera metadata from DSLR and mirrorless camera cards, CFexpress media, CompactFlash cards, SD cards, microSD cards, and other professional flash storage.
related data recovery services
For deleted, missing, or formatted files, visit our lost file recovery page.
For photos, videos, messages, and files stored on mobile devices, visit our smartphone data recovery page.
For failed external hard drives and backup drives, visit our hard drive data recovery page.
For failed solid-state drives and NAND-based storage, visit our SSD data recovery page.
For Mac photo libraries, APFS storage, FileVault volumes, and Time Machine backups, visit our Mac data recovery page.
ready to get your photos and files back?
or
call (408) 455‑4310 to speak with a data recovery expert
or
send us email at restore@kotar.us