Frequently asked questions
Payam Toloo answers questions about recovering photos and videos from SD and camera memory cards. Learn more about our memory card data recovery service.
Yes, in most cases the data can be recovered, although in rare cases it may be lost. Stop using the card, remove it from your camera and do not run recovery software or other programs, so nothing is written to it.
We make a sector-by-sector clone of your memory card, then use professional data recovery software to recover your files with their original names and folders, in working condition. We usually compare results from three or four tools and may combine the best results to recover as many working photos and videos as possible. If you know how to recover the data yourself, you can try professional recovery software. Do not format the card, save anything to it or write any data to it.
The photos may have been accidentally deleted or never saved. A photo or video may not have started recording because the card was full, or there may be read errors, bad blocks or bad sectors. Someone may also have erased the files without realising. If the photos matter to you, bring the card to us and we will see whether we can find them.
Yes, in most cases it is possible.
Yes, this is a common sign of a memory chip problem. Read errors, bad blocks or another internal fault may cause it. Copy off what you can. If the card keeps freezing or you cannot copy anything, stop using it immediately and bring it to us. We can use specialised hardware cloning tools to make a sector-by-sector copy safely, then work from that copy to recover your working files.
There may be a problem with your computer's USB port or card reader, or the camera may only be showing thumbnails of the images. Try backing up the data with recovery or disk-copying software, using the camera's USB connection directly to your computer if possible. If that does not work, bring it to a professional data recovery company to investigate and provide a free assessment and quote.
Yes, in most cases the data is still there and we can recover it. In rare cases it may have been securely erased and cannot be recovered. We cannot know until we examine the card. We use a hex editor to view its raw data and check whether it is filled with zeros or still contains random-looking data indicating it has not been erased or overwritten. We then give you a quote. If you approve it, we spend time recovering the data for you.
Learn more about our memory card data recovery service, or ask for a free quote below.
First published 7 November 2026, 2:03 PM AEDT. Last updated 7 November 2026, 2:03 PM AEDT.
The information on this page is provided by Payam Toloo, founder and owner of Payam Data Recovery. This content is copyright and may not be reproduced on other websites without written permission. You are welcome to quote or reference it with a link to this page.
Get a Free Quote
Complete this form for information about the cost and next steps
After you complete this form, we will email you information about the price, what to expect, and the next steps to get started.
Phone: 1300 444 800 (within Australia)
International: +61 2 80766079
Email: help@payam.com.au
International customers are always welcome. The easiest way to reach us from overseas is by email at help@payam.com.au, which works in every time zone.
