FAQ
TL;DR: 1500+ JPGs got corrupted after service copies; the winning move is to “scan the entire disk in the DMDE program.” Try disk-level recovery first, then selective JPG repair. Avoid writing to the affected drives. [Elektroda, DriverMSG, post #16945195]
Why it matters: This FAQ helps travelers, phone users, and anyone hit by unreadable JPGs decide what to do first and what to avoid.
Quick Facts
- Symptom pattern: thumbnails look fine but full images break after service or copy operations. [Elektroda, Viss3nna, post #16945048]
- Risk factor: copying back to the same formatted drive can overwrite originals and block repair. [Elektroda, DriverMSG, post #16945114]
- Recommended first step: full-disk scan with DMDE to locate pre-repair photos. [Elektroda, DriverMSG, post #16945195]
- Limitation: “Click repair programs will not help” when data is overwritten. [Elektroda, Dra98, post #16945363]
- Edge case: fake or damaged SD cards yield files that cannot be recovered. [Elektroda, mati211p, post #17447961]
How do I fix JPGs that show as perfect thumbnails but open corrupted?
Stop using the drive. Thumbnails can be cached and mislead you. Do a full-disk scan with DMDE to locate intact pre-repair files, then copy out found originals to a separate disk. Avoid writing anything to the affected drive during recovery attempts. [Elektroda, DriverMSG, post #16945195]
What likely broke my photos after a laptop service or format?
Files were copied off and then back to the same drive. That write-back can overwrite original sectors, destroying repair paths for JPGs. Once overwritten, many images become unrecoverable beyond thumbnails. [Elektroda, DriverMSG, post #16945114]
Which tools should I try first for mass JPG repair and recovery?
Start with DMDE for disk-level scanning to recover pre-damage originals. For file-level repair, you can test Jpeg Repair, Photo Repair, Adroit Photo Recovery, Picture Doctor, or JPEG Repair Shop. Expect mixed results if data blocks are overwritten. [Elektroda, nomudrek, post #16945129]
Quick How‑To: scan a drive with DMDE and extract photos
- Connect the affected drive read‑only and launch DMDE.
- Run a full scan of the whole disk; list found JPEGs/partitions.
- Copy recoverable files to a separate, healthy drive; verify before proceeding. [Elektroda, DriverMSG, post #16945195]
Are one‑click JPG repair apps enough?
Use them only after attempting disk recovery. Overwritten data defeats in‑file repairs. As one expert warned, “Click repair programs will not help.” Prioritize imaging and DMDE scanning before any repair passes. [Elektroda, Dra98, post #16945363]
Why did a repair app say 30–40% were fixed but I still got bad images?
Initial previews can look promising, but final decoding fails when core data is missing. One case showed 30–40% predicted full repairs, yet results remained unusable after completion. Treat previews as tentative, not guaranteed. [Elektroda, Viss3nna, post #16945247]
I recovered only recent shots; older photos are missing—can I still get them back?
If service writes or post‑incident use overwrote the sectors containing older photos, they will not be found by scanners. Continued usage reduces chances dramatically. Power down the source and attempt read‑only recovery. [Elektroda, Viss3nna, post #16945300]
Should I take the drive to a specialist?
Yes, if the photos are valuable. Choose a data recovery specialist, not a generic repair shop. The advice is to stop using the disk, boot a live system, and assess with DMDE before any writes. [Elektroda, Dra98, post #16945363]
My photos corrupted after copying to a phone’s SD card—what now?
Corruption during copy suggests a defective or counterfeit card. Reversing the copy back to the phone bakes in the damage. Do not re‑write; investigate the card and attempt recovery from the original source, if any. [Elektroda, mati211p, post #17449802]
If the images on my phone already show errors, can I still save them?
When files are already corrupted on the phone, that copy cannot be restored to a clean state. Focus on retrieving originals from the first good source or backups, if any exist. [Elektroda, mati211p, post #17449098]
What’s the safest way to test if phone photos are intact?
Connect the phone to a computer and copy photos directly to a desktop drive. Check openability there first. Evaluate only original files, not ones that were copied around multiple times. [Elektroda, icosie, post #17450304]
What is DMDE, and why is it recommended here?
DMDE is a disk editor and data recovery tool that scans entire drives for lost files and partitions. It helps find intact photos created before damaging operations, enabling safe extraction to another disk. [Elektroda, DriverMSG, post #16945195]
What is JPEG Huffman corruption in simple terms?
JPEG uses Huffman tables for entropy coding. If these tables or bitstreams are damaged, decoders fail or produce torn images. Double‑corrupted streams rarely allow clean repairs, even with specialized tools. [Elektroda, Dra98, post #16945272]
Are files from fake or failing memory cards recoverable?
Often not. Such cards produce files with invalid structure that cannot be reconstructed into valid JPGs. Avoid further writes and replace the card to prevent repeated failures. [Elektroda, mati211p, post #17447961]
