Have you ever encounter an error message “Media card storage cannot be accessed due to fatal errors”? Are you looking for a solution to fix SD card with fatal errors and recover media files from it? If “Yes” then you have landed on the right webpage. Here in this post, you will get a complete guide on how to fix micro SD card fatal errors and retrieve photos, videos and audio files from it.
As we know, the Micro SD card is widely used in different gadgets to store data like pictures, videos, music, and other important files. There are various situations where users face different SD card fatal error messages and thereby they are not able to access stored data on it.
Well, there are few ways through which you can fix SD card fatal errors easily. But before discussing SD card error fix solutions, let’s have a look at the scenario.
Practical Scenario
After my phone restarted due to removing an app off my phone it said ‘ Media card cannot be accessed due to fatal error’, I press ok then it asks do I want to repair the media card but it takes forever to repair left it on all night. I tried formatting the card on my phone it says failed even on my PC it says unable to format. Please help me… 🙁
Source: https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/memory-card-cannot-be-accessed-due-to-fatal-error.1956540/
Before we come to the solution to fix micro SD card fatal error, let us know about the reasons that lead to this memory card fatal errors.
Reasons That Leads To SD Card Fatal Errors
There are some of the common scenarios that can lead to the occurrence of an SD card error message. Few of them are mentioned below:
- Any interruption while files are in read/write process or when files are getting transferred from SD card to other devices
- Using the same memory card on multiple devices
- Improper removal of the card from the gadgets or from computer or Mac
- Storing files on a newly purchased memory card without formatting it
- Physical damage to the microSD card
- Virus or malware infection to microSD card can lead to the occurrence of fatal hard drive error
Once your SD card throws fatal error messages, it may throw several error messages, some of them are mentioned below:
- Media card storage cannot be accessed
- Card cannot be used
- Micro SD card is full
- SD card unexpectedly removed
- The card cannot be formatted
- A memory card has been formatted wrongly
- SD card is empty: display zero byte data
Above all mentioned card errors tell us that it has been damaged or corrupted severely. It will display fatal error in memory card and hence the data stored within the card becomes inaccessible. Well, nothing to worry, because in the below section of this blog you will come to know how to fix SD card error without any trouble.
Best Solutions To Solve Micro SD Card Fatal Errors
SD card that is throwing fatal error may need reformatting so that it can come in use. But formatting the card will erase all the data stored within it. Fatal errors are caused due to corruption of the card’s data and thereby make the card useless until it is not fixed. So, below I have mentioned a few solutions to fix the error message “fatal device hardware error SD card”.
Fix #1: Restart Your PC
If you’re getting the error message “SD card with fatal error” then the first thing you have to do is to restart your system. Sometimes, restarting the entire system does help in some cases. To do so, follow the below steps:
- Firstly, shut down your computer
- Next, turn off your external hard disk (the types that use a separate power cord).
- After a while turn the system back on.
- Lastly, switch the hard disk back on.
After doing so, if the SD card error issue remains there, then try the next method to resolve fatal errors.
Fix #2: Fix Fatal Errors In SD Card Using Command Prompt
The chkdsk command scans the corrupt/broken SD card and checks for the issues and repairs it. After the completion of the scanning process, connect your microSD card to see if the “SD card is damaged”. For this, follow these steps:
- First of all, connect the SD card to the system that throws a fatal error
- Then, go to the “My Computer/This PC”
- After that, under the “Devices and drives” section, locate the SD card and note its drive letter.
- Next, run the Command Prompt and type “chkdsk h: /r”, where “h” is the drive’s letter.
Fix #3: Switch the USB Ports
Sometimes, the USB hard drive which you are using to connect with the PC may receive inadequate power.
Several times the USB ports on the system may function differently, so trying a pair of different ports can be beneficial. Therefore, disconnect the SD card from the USB port and connect it directly to one port on your system.
Fix #4: Rescan The Hard Disk
Sometimes, the SD card fatal error disappears after the storage media has been rescanned for the errors. To do so, follow the below steps:
- Initially, unplug the card reader
- Then, again plug it back in.
- Choose the option Action and Rescan Disks (when prompted).
Fix #5: Try The Different PC
To fix SD card with fatal error issue, plug the card reader into a laptop or any other computer system. The storage drive may work here. It means that something wrong with the original PC. So, try this fix to resolve fatal errors effectively.
Ultimate Solution To Recover Media Files From Fixed SD Card
While fixing ‘SD card with fatal error’, if you face a data loss issue from your micro SD card then you can directly try the SD Card Recovery Tool. With the help of this software, you can restore your inaccessible, lost, corrupted, missing or even formatted data from the card showing fatal errors. Now blackberry users can also fix blackberry memory card fatal error with ease.
This tool can recover multimedia files such as photos, videos and audios. It can recover files from solved memory card locked error issue, unrecognized microSD card, fixed write-protected card error and other card errors and issues.
The software is available for both Windows and Mac users, so you can download the tool as per your system operating system and it is also very easy to use.
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* Free version of the program only scans and previews recoverable items.
Steps To Restore Lost/Inaccessible Media Files From SD Card With Fatal Errors
Step 1: Select Desired Location
Firstly, select the drive, external media or volume from which you want to recover deleted media files. After selecting, click on 'Scan'.
Step 2: Preview Recovered Media Files
Next, you can preview the recoverable media files after the scanning process is completed.
Step 3: Recover Media Files
Lastly, you can select the images, audio, video files you want to restore and click on 'Recover' option to save them at the location you want.
Tips To Remember:
Following the below effective tips, you can avoid further memory card errors and corruption:
- Make sure to keep backups of your SD card data on another PC or external data storage devices.
- Avoid improper removing of card and always perform safe removal of the card from gadgets
- Do not handle the microSD card in the wrong way that may cause fatal errors
- Always format the newly purchased memory card before using it.
Final Words
No matter whatever the reason for the occurrence of the fatal error SD card is. After going through this post, I hope you will be able to solve the problem of how to repair fatal error.
Although, I have mentioned three manual fixes for how to fix SD card. The above-mentioned SD card fixes are so easy and effective that anyone can try them to resolve SD card cannot be accessed.
In case after trying these methods to fix SD card with fatal errors, if you find that your data gets deleted then, you can perform memory card error recovery easily. And don’t forget to use the best software SD Card Recovery tool to recover deleted files SD card.
All the best for troubleshooting SD card with fatal error codes messages!
Taposhi is an expert technical writer with 5+ years of experience. Her in-depth knowledge about data recovery and fascination to explore new DIY tools & technologies have helped many. She has a great interest in photography and loves to share photography tips and tricks with others.