Windows 7 A folder on an SD card now appears as a 32kb File - where are my contents???

[phonetica]

Hi,

I hope i can get some help with this! I inserted an SD card from my camera into my wife's hp Netbook (WIn 7 Starter). I've used the SD card in that netbook before without trouble.

This time, when browsing for my photos, I first open the DCIM folder, and see this:
Link Removed

I've tried using some "undelete" software, and that only finds old photos, most which are now unviewable.

I'm pretty confident this isn't a virus issue, and there have been no further problems with drives, etc in the last few weeks. To prevent any further error, I've switched the SD card into read-only, and it's now plugged into my laptop (Win 7 Pro).

What makes this extra frustrating, is that we just had a little boy, and most of the missing photos / video are of him, shortly after birth!

Thanks in advance!

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you're experiencing issues accessing the photos on your SD card from your wife's HP Netbook running Windows 7 Starter. The DCIM folder showing as a shortcut might indicate a problem with the folder or potentially a shortcut created by malware. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially recover your missing photos: 1. Check for Hidden Files: - Enable the option to view hidden files and folders in Windows Explorer. Sometimes, files might be hidden rather than deleted or corrupted. - Open Windows Explorer, go to the "View" tab, and check the "Hidden items" box to display hidden files. 2. Verify the Integrity of the SD Card: - Insert the SD card into a card reader on your laptop (Win 7 Pro). - Right-click on the SD card drive and select "Properties." - Go to the "Tools" tab and click on "Check now" under Error-checking to scan and fix any errors on the SD card. 3. File Recovery Software: - Use reputable data recovery software to scan the SD card for any recoverable files. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, Recuva, or PhotoRec are some popular options. - Make sure to perform the recovery from your Win 7 Pro laptop to avoid potential issues on the Netbook. 4. Backup & Prevention: - Once you recover your photos, make sure to back them up to prevent future data loss. - Consider using cloud storage or external drives for backup. 5. Avoid Writing to the SD Card: - Since you suspect possible data corruption, avoid writing any new data to the SD card to prevent overwriting the lost photos. By following these steps, you might be able to recover the missing photos of your little boy. If you encounter any issues or need further assistance during the recovery process, feel free to ask for help. Congratulations on your new arrival, and I hope you can retrieve those precious memories soon!