For SD card users in Italy, a format prompt or missing folder does not mean the next step should be to format the card. Stop taking new photographs, preserve the source and check any earlier imports before downloading a recovery tool.
Treat an unreadable card as a recovery source
Connect the card through a suitable reader and check whether Windows detects its capacity. Cancel formatting and avoid saving test files onto it. If the reader is the suspected problem, a known-good compatible reader can help distinguish a connection issue from a problem with the card.
For a stable detected card, scan and save selected results to a separate device. Organise recovered output separately from old imports so that duplicate filenames do not overwrite surviving originals. After recovery, inspect full-resolution photographs and play videos through; recovering a name or a small thumbnail is not the same as recovering the complete original.
Evaluate XRecovery before exporting everything
XRecovery 3.1.6 runs on Windows and can scan partitions, disks and external devices that Windows recognises. The ordinary scan starts with a quick scan and then proceeds automatically to a deep scan. Preview is available for some mainstream file formats; it is not a complete compatibility test for every result.
The confirmed free recovery allowance is 2GB in total. Use it to check representative files before deciding whether more recovery is worthwhile. File names, thumbnails and scan counts alone are not proof of complete recovery.
Scan, save and verify
- Preserve the source and prepare a different physical device for recovered files. Check backups first, and avoid formatting or repair writes while the missing files are needed.
- Select the intended source by its capacity and identity. Stop if it becomes unstable; scanning software cannot fix physical damage.
- Review available results and previews. Save selected files to the separate destination, then open them with their usual applications and check the important contents.
XRecovery scanning is read-only, but exporting writes data to the destination. Its default warning against saving to the scanned partition can be overridden, so keep the destination separate yourself. No software can guarantee recovery of data that is no longer readable.
Can I format the card first to make it readable?
Avoid formatting while the missing files are needed. It changes the source and may reduce the information available for recovery. Address reuse of the card only after recovery and verification.
Before choosing a download or licence
Use the official product information to check the current package, requirements and terms. For users in Italy, also check that the available interface and support arrangements fit your needs; this article does not establish a separate local edition or local service coverage.