How to Recover Deleted Files from xD–Picture Cards?

How to recover deleted files from xD cards? Have you deleted pictures from Olympus/Fujifilm cameras? Check this post to achieve xD-picture card recovery.

By @Lora Last Updated November 13, 2024

Can you recover deleted photos from xD card?

Despite being phased out from current camera production, xD-Picture Cards, commonly known as xD cards, still serve as a crucial storage medium for many individuals. However, there are instances when data loss can occur, causing panic and frustration.

   
   
   
       

How can I recover deleted pictures from xD card for my Fujifilm camera?

       

Hey everyone, I need some help here! I accidentally deleted all the photos from my xD card and I'm freaking out! It was from a recent trip, and those memories are priceless. I'm using a Fujifilm FinePix camera and wondering if there's any way to recover those deleted photos. Are there any user-friendly software options or step-by-step guides that can help me retrieve them?

       

- Question from Fujifilm photo recovery forum

   

Fujifilm and Olympus camera users would relate the “pain” of losing photos from their xD cards. Some Olympus users are also seeking help to recover deleted photos from Olympus digital camera.

If you happen to encounter the situation of accidentally deleting vital files from your xD card, fret not! This article will guide you through the process of xD card recovery, offering step-by-step instructions to reclaim your files promptly.

Before the xD-picture card recovery, check the xD-picture card info to help you understand the process.

What is a xD-picture card?

The xD-Picture Card, introduced by Fujifilm and Olympus in the early 2000s, was a specific memory card designed for digital cameras. Notably smaller in size (20 mm x 25 mm x 1.78 mm) compared to the prevailing SmartMedia cards, it offered superior storage capacity and rapid data transfer rates while remaining cost-effective.

xD-Picture Cards utilized a flash-based NAND memory system similar to modern SD cards and Solid-State Drives (SSDs). With a remarkable storage capacity of up to 2 GB, it revolutionized the industry which was previously limited to a maximum of 128 MB.

During their prime around the 2000s, Olympus and Fujifilm relied on xD-Picture cards to provide storage for their digital cameras.

If you find yourself in possession of one and have encountered data loss, mainly photos or other files, stored on your xD card, we bring you good news: recovery of deleted photos from memory cards, including xD cards, is indeed possible with the help of photo recovery software.

How to recover deleted files from xD cards?

xD cards, like SD cards, CF cards, and MMC cards, are flash-based memory cards. When a file is deleted from such cards, it remains hidden until overwritten by new data.

Consequently, data recovery remains highly feasible, as long as the xD card is readable and the files haven't been overwritten yet.

You can employ the powerful data recovery software, MyRecover, to reclaim files from an xD-Picture card effortlessly.

Compatible with various SD cards (SD card, micro/mini SD card, SHC/CF card, etc.) and file systems such as NTFS, FAT32, FAT16, etc. 
Successfully and rapidly recovers lost or deleted camera images, like cr2/raf/orf/nef//jpg/png/gif/tif, etc. 
In addition, Word documents, Excel files, PPTs, photos, videos, audios, emails, webpages, compressed files, and over 200+ file types are recoverable. 
It also supports file recovery from different memory cards, USB drives, HDDs, and SSDs.  
Support Windows 7, 8, 10, 11, and Windows Server.

So why wait? Experience the power and convenience of MyRecover today. Retrieve your cherished memories, vital documents, and irreplaceable files with ease.

Let MyRecover be your trusted companion in xD card data recovery, ensuring that your precious data is never lost for good. Now, learn the steps of getting photos from Olympus xD picture card/Fujifilm xD card.

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Notes:✎...
Prior to initiating any data recovery operation, we strongly recommend creating a backup of your xD card and its contents to prevent any potential data loss. 
The software provides 500MB of free data recovery in total. To recover unlimited files at a time, please upgrade MyRecover.

Step 1. Connect your Fujifilm xD-picture card/ Olympus xD-picture card with lost data. Launch MyRecover. Hover the mouse over the XD card drive saved deleted files before, and click Scan.

Step 2. The software will automatically scan your xD card, recovering as many files as possible. You can input the file name or use the search box to locate specific files or folders based on modified date or size.

Step 3. Go to Other missing files, find the ORF (the photo format of Olympus camera) or other extensions of photos you have stored on the xD card. Preview the scanning results and select the files you wish to recover. Click Recover x files and choose a new place (better different from the original location) to save your files.

Thus, you have successfully performed ORF file recovery.

How to fix corrupted/damaged xD cards?

xD-Picture cards are relatively expensive compared to SD cards due to limited supply and higher production costs. As they have become rare finds, it's crucial to exhaust all possible fixes before declaring your card as beyond repair.

Here are some simple methods to rectify common xD card errors, which can also apply to recovering corrupted SD cards.

Method 1. Try a different card reader/port/computer

If your xD card isn't being recognized/read properly, it doesn't necessarily indicate an issue with the card itself. The problem might be related to your memory card reader or port. To troubleshoot, attempt using a different card reader and connect it to alternative USB ports.

Method 2. Reinstall the driver

Outdated or damaged drivers can hinder the recognition of xD cards. Consider updating or reinstalling the drivers using the following steps.

Step 1. Locate your micro xD card in Device Manager, as mentioned earlier. Right-click on it and select Update Driver Software.

Step 2. Click Search automatically for updated driver software. If a new driver isn't available, try searching for one on the manufacturer's website and follow the installation instructions.

Step 3. If updating the driver fails, right-click the micro SD card and choose Uninstall from the context menu. When you restart your computer, Windows will automatically reinstall the driver.

Method 3. Use the CHKDSK command

Windows provides a useful command-line tool called CHKDSK, which verifies the file system integrity of a volume and resolves logical file system errors. To utilize it, follow these steps.

Step 1. Type "cmd" in the search box on the taskbar and select Run as administrator.

Step 2. Enter the following command “chkdsk X: /f” (replace X with the letter assigned to your xD card) and press Enter

If it warns that "CHKDSK is not available for RAW drives", check the tutorial to fix it.

Conclusion

As xD-Picture cards have been discontinued for some time, it can be challenging to find reliable methods for xD card data recovery. To bridge this gap, we have provided detailed instructions on multiple approaches to recover deleted files from xD cards.

Simply follow our step-by-step guidance to regain access to your lost photos successfully. Remember, these methods can also be applied to recover deleted videos and other files from memory cards.