Data Recovery ProData Recovery Pro updates its list as soon as a drive letter appears, and checks again about every 8 seconds. A card with an unreadable format gets no drive letter, so it can take those few seconds to appear. If the list still says “No external drives found”, work through these steps.
- Check the connectionPush the card fully into the slot or reader. If you use a microSD adapter, make sure the card is seated in it. Connect the reader directly to the PC rather than through a USB hub or a monitor.
- Try another port or readerCard readers fail more often than cards. A different reader or USB port is the quickest test.
- Look in Disk ManagementRight-click the Start button and choose Disk Management. Look for a disk the size of your card, usually marked Removable. If it is listed there, it should also appear in Data Recovery Pro. If it is not listed there, Windows cannot see the card, and no app can read it.
- Click Cancel on any “format the disk” messageA card that Windows can't read still appears in Data Recovery Pro, as “Unreadable format”. More about that message.
In Disk Management, only look. Don't format the card, delete or create volumes, or change its drive letter. Those can write to the card.
Other things to know
- A card doesn't need a drive letter to be scanned. Data Recovery Pro reads the disk itself.
- The lock switch on the side of an SD card does not matter. Data Recovery Pro only reads.
- Your PC's own drive (Local Disk C:) is listed, but scanning it isn't offered in this version.
- If Disk Management shows the card with no size, or a size far from what is printed on it, the card's hardware may be failing. A data recovery lab is the safer choice.
If it still doesn't appear, contact support with your PC model, Windows version and the make of the card reader.
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