How to Recover Deleted Files From xD-Picture Cards (2024)

This describes how to recover deleted files from xD Picture card efficiently, even if it's corrupted, not formatted, or recognized. Scroll down to explore more.

By @Ivy Last Updated October 29, 2024

In this digital age, our lives are filled with cherished memories captured through photographs and videos. The xD cards is obsolete but still used in early Fuji and Olympus cameras to store these invaluable moments.

However, like any other storage device, xD cards are not immune to data loss. Accidental deletions, formatting errors, and other unforeseen events can lead to the loss of treasured photos and videos.

Don't worry, we will show you how to recover deleted files from xD-Picture cards efficiently. 

🔎👍Top recovery tool - MyRecover 
  • It has a free edition that recovers up to 500MB. 
  • Top algorithms - find deleted or lost files efficiently,
  • Recover data from formatted, damaged,  or inaccessible memory cards.
  • In uphold of 1000+ data formats, from images to videos, documents, compressed files, etc.
  • ... Learn More >
🔥xD Picture card errors & fixes

If your xD card is experiencing issues like not recognized or formatted, transfer errors, read/write errors, or the card is physically damaged, try to repair them with corresponding solutions first. Learn More >>

What Is an xD Card?

XD cards (or xD-Picture cards), short for "eXtreme Digital" cards, are a type of flash memory card commonly used in digital cameras, camcorders, and other electronic devices. Its dimensions (20 mm x 25 mm x 1.78 mm) are much smaller than SmartMedia cards, the main storage device of the time.

They were developed by Fujifilm and Olympus in the early 2000s to offer high storage capacity, fast data transfer rates, and economical pricing.

  • Its capacity was revolutionary at the time of its release, being as high as 2GB compared to the industry standard card of 128MB.
  • It is mainly used to store pictures and video formats including AVI, MP4, MPG, etc.
  • It was sold in different brands, such as Kodak, SanDisk, Lexar, and more.

However, it was disconnected around 2009 and lost to its competitor, the security digital memory cards, which is the leader in the memory card sector.

Is It Possible to Recover Data from xD Card?

Yes, it's possible to perform card data recovery, but the success rate varies, depending on different factors. Please be sure your xD card meet the following requirements.

xD Card Data Recovery Requirements Description 
1️⃣The xD card must be readable. Be sure your xD card is available in Disk Management, even if it shows up as a RAW drive. Or check if this card is in Device Manager. 
2️⃣ The deleted files are not overwritten.

When you delete files on xD picture card, they are simply hidden and don’t disappear immediately. Instead, the “free” space is ready for new data.

If you ❌continue using this card, add new data to it, or re-format it, these files will be overwritten and data recovery will be more challenging.

3️⃣Act promptly with the right method.

A reliable data recovery software like MyRecover can retrieve deleted files from xD-Picture cards in most data loss scenarios. For severe data loss scenarios or physically damaged xD cards, please seek help from professional data recovery services. 

⚠️For detailed reasons, please check:

Why do you lose data on xD-Picture cards?
 

1. Accidental deletion

The accidental deletion is one of the most common reasons for data loss on xD cards. With just a few taps or clicks, precious memories can disappear in an instant.

2. Formatting errors

Formatting an xD card without creating a backup can lead to irreversible data loss. Don’t use the full format option in the camera or your computer. Otherwise, your data will be overwritten.

3. File system corruption

Improper handling of the xD card or abrupt removal from the camera or card reader can render file system corruption and data inaccessibility.

4. Card corruption 

Improper use, bad sectors, viruses or malware, power outage, etc may cause card corruption and make your data inaccessible. The recovery rate mainly depends on how serious the damage of xD card is.

5. Physical damage

Physical damage, such as water exposure or bending, can severely affect the xD card's functionality and result in data loss.

How to Recover Deleted Files from xD Card Efficiently

If the data loss is due to logical errors like accidental deletion, formatting errors, etc., you could consider using reliable data recovery software like MyRecover. No technical expert is required and novice friendly.

MyRecover
Why Choose MyRecover?
  • Apply to: Recover data from xD-Picture cards as well as SD or micro SD cards (SD/SDXC/SDHC/SDUC), mini SD, xD, CF, MMC, and more.
  • It has a free version that recovers up to 500MB data.
  • Top algorithms - finds deleted or lost files effectively.
  • Recover deleted X3F/HEIF/JPG images, AVI/MP4/MPG videos, DOC/DOCX/TXT/XLS documents, etc., over 1000 file formats.
  • Search or filter files quickly through types, file names, extensions, etc.
  • Preview and recover files while scanning.
  • Recover specific files or folders instead of all. 
  • Support  Windows 7, 8, 10, 11, etc and Windows Server(both 32 bit and 64 bit) and NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, and ReFS file systems.
  • Recover files lost in any scenario, such as accidental deletion, formatting, virus infection, corrupted disk, etc.
  • .....

 

Now please download and install MyRecover to get started. 

Download Software Windows 11/10/8/7/Server
Secure Download

Step 1. Scan your xD-Picture card. 

Connect your xD-Picture card to a Windows PC. Open MyRecover, hover the mouse over this card, and click Scan.

Step 2. Scan for deleted or lost files. 

It will run Quick Scan and Deep Scan automatically to search and display deleted or lost files. The scanning time depends on the amount of data you have and disk size. Wait patiently. Or you can choose to filter, preview, and recover files while scanning. 

⚠️The Filter feature has 3 options, namely data type, size, and date modified. It can also be used in conjunction with the search box. Once found, double-click to preview and recover files while scanning. 

Step 3. Start xD card recovery. 

Select your desired photos and videos and then click Recover x files to recover deleted files from xD picture card. You will then be asked to select a location. Please select a new location instead of the original location to prevent data overwriting.

⚠️Notes:
  • The restore button will display the number of selected videos and their full size.

  • You can perform xD card data recovery for free, up to 500MB in total. To recover all files, please upgrade to the advanced editions.

  • In addition, you still can use this software to recover deleted files in Windows Server 2012, 2016, 2019, etc.

How to Repair Common xD Card Errors

The xD-Picture cards are very expensive and not easy to find nowadays. If you are still using this type of card, try to repair xD card as much as possible. Below are some common errors and corresponding solutions.

Issue 1: The xD card is not recognized

You insert an xD card into a Windows PC but is not available in Windows Explore. Try to check if it show up in the Disk Management. If not, your xD card may be not recognized. 

Way 1: Try a different card reader

If your xD card is not recognized, you need to check the SD card reader or the card itself. Try to connect the xD Picture card with a different card reader and see if it's available in Windows Explorer. If not, you still can try different USB ports. Or directly use it on a different machine.

Way 2: Reinstall xD card drivers

If the problem is not related to the xD card itself, it's likely something wrong with your operating system or drivers. Try to reinstall xD card drivers in the Device Manager.

1️⃣Type device manager in the search box and select it. 

2️⃣Expand Disk Drives, right-click the xD card and click Uninstall device.

3️⃣Restart your system to let it reinstall this card automatically. 

Issue 2: The xD card needs to be formatted

When inserting this card into a Windows PC, you receive the formatting error message like “You need to format the disk in drive x: before you can use it” or similar. Don’t format it as suggested and recover data from xD card first. Then, try the chkdsk command to scan xD card for errors.

1️⃣ Type cmd in the search box and select Run as administrator.

2️⃣ Type chkdsk /f /r and press Enter to check disk errors and repair them. 

Issue 3:  The xD card data transfer error

The error is usually caused by faulty xD card reader or damaged connection pins on the xD card itself. Check if the cable connecting your xD card reader to your computer is in top shape and replace it if it isn’t.

Issue 4: The xD card read/write errors

The read/write errors may trigger various error messages or cause data recovery failure. So you can't recover data from damaged xD card. Please repair the read/write errors first.

Way 1:  Use disk check utility

This may be caused by file system errors. You could consider using the disk check utility or chkdsk command to scan and fix found errors.

1️⃣ In File Explorer, right-click the xD card and select Properties. 

2️⃣ Switch to the Tools tab and click Check under Error checking. Wait until the process completes.

Way 2: Format xD card

If your card is still not readable, try to format it again.

1️⃣ In File Explorer, locate and right-click on the xD card, select Format

2️⃣ Be sure the "Quick Format" is checked. Then, click “OK” to confirm you want to format the xD card. 

Issue 5: Physical damage to xD card

If the data loss is severe or the xD-Picturecard is physically damaged, it is best to consult a professional data recovery service, with specialized tools and expertise to handle complex situations. 

⚠️Before contacting them, please: 

  • put in extra effort to learn about different data recovery services, i.e. Geek Squad, ACE Data Recovery, Secure Data Recovery, etc., from various aspects to find the most suitable software.
  • make sure your data is very important considering that it is expensive. The price depends on the severity of the damage and the difficulty of recovery.
Seek Help from Data Recovery Service
Geek Squad Data Recovery

You need to visit the Best Buy store or other Geek Squad agents to evaluate your xD-Picture card and get a quote. If you feel comfortable, you can agree to proceed with xD card data recovery. Learn More >>

Tips to Prevent Data Loss on xD Picture Cards

1. Regularly Backup Your xD Dard or Data🥇
 
Back up your XD card or data to different devices regularly, such as an external disk, network drive, NAS, cloud drive, etc., and ideally before accidents happen. This ensures your memories are safe even if the XD card is damaged or corrupted. Try reliable Windows backup software- AOMEI Backupper Standard.
2. Safely Eject the xD Card
 
Always eject the xD card properly from your camera or card reader before removing it physically. Abrupt removal may lead to inversible data corruption.
3. Take Care of xD Card 
 
Handle your xD card carefully and avoid exposing it to extreme temperatures, water, or physical shocks.
4. Scan the xD Card for Errors Periodically 
 
Perform periodic scans or run chkdsk command on your xD card to identify and fix any potential file system errors before they lead to data loss.
5. Scan xD Card for Viruses or Malware
 
You can consider using built-in anti-virus software - Windows Defender or third-party software to scan disk for malware or viruses and prevent infection and malicious deletion.

Conclusion

Losing precious photos and videos from your XD card can be distressing, but with the right approach, you can perform xD card recovery successfully. Stop using this card immediately and act quickly using reliable recovery software - MyRecover.

Download Software Windows 11/10/8/7/Server
Secure Download

Additionally, adopting good habits like regular backups, safe handling of the XD card, scanning the card regularly, etc can prevent future data loss. Among them, the best practice is to create a scheduled backup automatically. It will keep a copy of your data completely.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I recover deleted photos from an XD card? 
 
Yes, you can recover deleted photos from an XD card using data recovery software, provided the data has not been overwritten.
2. How much does professional XD card recovery cost?
 
The cost of professional XD card recovery varies depending on the extent of data loss and the recovery service provider. It's best to inquire directly with the service for an accurate estimate.
3. Is there any free XD card recovery software available?
 
Yes, some data recovery software offers free versions with limited features. However, for more comprehensive recovery, paid versions are recommended.
4. Can I recover data from a physically damaged xD card? 
 
Yes, professional data recovery services may be able to recover data from a physically damaged xD card