Recovery from Memory Cards and Removable Media

Identifying the Type of Memory Card

CONTENTENGINEER has considerable experience in recovering data from different types of memory card, or sticks as some are more widely known. In the early days of digital cameras, mobile phones and other small consumable electronic device/systems, manufacturers were renowned for solely or collaboratively "inventing" new media formats. This apparent lack of standards has meant that there are a large number of different media types, all with subtlely different interfaces, capacities and shapes. In fact, many systems today now accomodate many different media types for this very reason - because there are no standards. Some of the types of memory cards analysed by the Group's Experts include:

Compact Flash	Magnetic Card	Memory Stick Duo
SIMM Card	Multi Media Card	Secure Digital
XD Digital Card	USB Memory Stick	RAM Chip

Manufacturers of Cards

As with removable media there are a wide range of manufacturers of memory cards/sticks, and not just the original manufacturer that came up with the format. The very nature of the media - it being designed for mass manufacture, ensures that all manufacturers adhere to international standards FOR INDIVIDUAL MEMORY CARD TYPES and therefore there are often very few deviations or proprietary elements that need to be considered when attempting recovery from a card type. There are however, differences between the types of memory cards/sticks.

Removable Media

Compact Disc	Digital Video Disc	Floppy Disc
High Definition CD	Universal Media Disc	Smart Card

Manufacturers of Removable Media

There are a wide range of manufacturers of removable media. The very nature of the media - it being designed for mass distribution, ensures that all manufacturers adhere to international standards and therefore there are often very few deviations or proprietary elements that need to be considered when attempting recovery from these components.