SanDisk Extreme PRO SD cards are widely used by professional videographers for high-speed data transfer and reliable video storage. However, when a partition table is deleted or damaged, it prevents the operating system from recognizing the card, making stored data inaccessible.
This case study details how we successfully recovered business-critical video footage for a local videography company from a SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO SD card, after a partition table corruption left the card unreadable.
As Cambridge Data Recovery, with 25 years of experience, we used partition reconstruction, file system repair, and deep forensic-level data extraction techniques to restore lost video files.
SanDisk Extreme PRO SD Card Preventing Data Access Due to Partition Table Corruption
A professional videography company contacted us after their SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO SD card stopped working, with the following issues:
- The card was detected by the computer but showed as “Unallocated” in Disk Management.
- File Explorer did not recognise the SD card or prompted a “Format this drive” error.
- Attempts to use recovery software failed to detect any video files.
- The SD card contained high-resolution video footage from a client shoot.
Since reformatting the card would erase all remaining data, an immediate professional recovery solution was required.
Diagnosis & Evaluation
When the SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO SD card arrived at our cleanroom facility, we conducted a full partition and file system diagnostic. Our findings:
- Deleted or corrupted partition table (FAT32/exFAT) – Preventing the system from recognizing stored files.
- No physical damage detected – Meaning a logical recovery approach was viable.
- Unallocated space still contained intact video file fragments – Indicating full recovery was possible.
Since partition corruption can make data appear lost, we prioritized forensic partition reconstruction and deep sector-level scanning.
The Recovery Process
1. Cloning & Imaging the SD Card to Prevent Further Data Loss
To preserve existing data, we:
- Created a forensic sector-by-sector clone of the SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO SD card.
- Used write-blocking technology to prevent accidental overwrites.
2. Rebuilding the Partition Table & File System
Since the partition table was deleted or damaged, we:
- Analyzed the file system structure to restore missing partitions.
- Rebuilt the FAT32/exFAT directory tree to make video files accessible again.
3. Extracting & Verifying Video Footage for the Videography Company
Once data extraction was complete, we:
- Recovered all high-resolution video files from the SD card.
- Checked footage for accuracy and playback quality.
- Transferred the fully restored data to a secure external storage device.
The Results: 100% Data Recovery Success
Thanks to our partition repair and deep sector-level data extraction techniques, we successfully recovered 100% of the videography company’s lost footage, including:
✅ High-resolution video recordings from the client shoot
✅ Organized file structures restored for easy access
✅ No corruption or loss of video quality
The videography company was able to deliver the final project to their client on time, preventing financial and reputational loss.
Why Choose Us?
With 25 years of experience and tens of thousands of successful recoveries, we are the leading SD card and professional video data recovery specialists in Cambridge and the UK. Our expertise includes:
✔ Partition table repair & SD card file system reconstruction
✔ High-resolution video file recovery (MP4, MOV, AVI, etc.)
✔ NAND flash memory data retrieval & chip-off recovery
✔ Secure & confidential data recovery for videographers
If your SD card is showing as “Unallocated,” requesting a format, or preventing access to video footage, stop using it immediately and contact us for expert SD card data recovery.