Lexar Professional microSD cards are widely used in high-performance cameras, drones, and mobile devices for capturing high-quality video footage. However, when an SD card causes a device to freeze upon insertion, it often indicates firmware corruption, a short circuit, or NAND chip failure, making stored data inaccessible.
This case study details how we successfully recovered critical TV commercial footage for a media production company in Guildford from a Lexar Professional microSD card, after firmware corruption prevented the card from being read by any device.
As Guildford Data Recovery, Surrey’s oldest and best data recovery company, we have 25 years of experience using chip-off NAND recovery, firmware repair, and forensic-level data extraction techniques to restore lost files securely and confidentially.
Lexar microSD Card Freezing Devices & Preventing Access
A Guildford-based TV production company contacted us after their Lexar Professional microSD card failed, with the following issues:
- When inserted into a camera or card reader, the device froze.
- The card was not recognised on Windows, macOS, or professional video editing software.
- Attempts to format or scan the card caused system crashes.
- The microSD card contained unreleased TV commercial footage that needed urgent recovery.
Since continued attempts to read a failing microSD card can cause further data corruption, an immediate professional recovery solution was required.
Diagnosis & Evaluation
When the Lexar Professional microSD card arrived at our secure cleanroom facility, we conducted a full hardware and firmware diagnostic. Our findings:
- Firmware corruption – Preventing the card from initializing properly.
- Electrical short circuit in the controller chip – Causing devices to freeze when inserted.
- NAND flash memory intact, increasing the chances of full data recovery.
Since firmware corruption prevents standard recovery software from accessing data, we prioritized chip-level NAND extraction and firmware repair.
The Recovery Process
1. Chip-Off NAND Recovery & Data Extraction
To bypass the failed controller and recover raw data, we:
- Carefully removed the NAND memory chip from the Lexar microSD card using precision tools.
- Used specialized chip readers to extract raw data from the memory module.
- Rebuilt the file structure manually using forensic recovery techniques.
2. Firmware Repair & Sector-Level Reconstruction
Since the card’s firmware was corrupt, we:
- Used custom firmware emulation to reconstruct the original file system.
- Extracted all readable video files, ensuring no data loss.
3. Extracting & Verifying TV Commercial Footage
Once data extraction was complete, we:
- Recovered all high-definition video footage stored on the microSD card.
- Verified video integrity to ensure no frames were lost.
- Transferred the fully restored data to a secure external backup device.
The Results: 100% Data Recovery Success
Thanks to our chip-off NAND recovery and firmware repair techniques, we successfully recovered 100% of the production company’s lost TV commercial footage, including:
✅ Full high-resolution video files without corruption
✅ Original file structures and metadata intact
✅ Immediate data transfer for continued TV commercial production
The production company was able to retrieve all their critical footage, avoiding delays and financial losses.
Why Choose Us?
With 25 years of experience and tens of thousands of successful memory card recoveries, we are England’s leading microSD card data recovery specialists. Our expertise includes:
✔ Lexar microSD card firmware repair & chip-off NAND recovery
✔ Short-circuited controller bypass & forensic data extraction
✔ Video footage, high-resolution images, and professional media recovery
✔ Secure & confidential data recovery services
If your microSD card is causing devices to freeze, not being detected, or preventing access to critical footage, stop using it immediately and contact us for expert data recovery.