This case study documents the complex recovery of High-Definition wedding footage from a 32GB memory card. By utilizing advanced fragment carving to overcome multiple overwrite cycles, the AS Data Recovery team successfully reconstructed critical video files that conventional software failed to retrieve.

Client & Data Information

• Client Name: Confidential (Wedding Photography Company, Chengdu)
• Data Type: High-Definition MPG and MTS Camera Files
• Data Capacity: 8 GB (Targeting two 4 GB files)
• Primary Issue: Accidental Deletion / Multiple Overwrite Cycles

Incident Summary

The client, a professional wedding photography firm, accidentally deleted two high-definition video files. In an attempt to continue working, the memory card was used to record new footage multiple times, creating a “layered” overwrite scenario. Previous attempts using standard recovery software resulted in “ghost” files—videos that were either too small or would freeze after only a few seconds of playback. The fragmented nature of the flash storage made standard file-table recovery impossible.

Technical Analysis

Upon forensic imaging of the 32GB card, our multimedia specialists identified:

• Hybrid Storage Formats: The card contained a mix of MTS (AVCHD) and MPG file structures, complicating the identification of specific wedding segments.
• Severe Fragmentation: Due to the delete-and-record cycles, the original 4 GB files were no longer contiguous but were scattered in thousands of small fragments across the NAND flash memory.
• Partial Overwrite: While some sectors were permanently overwritten by new data, the majority of the video frames remained in the “slack space” of the card.

Recovery Solution

The recovery strategy utilized Deep-Sector Fragment Carving and Reassembly. Rather than relying on the corrupted file system, our engineers scanned the raw hex data of the entire 32GB card to locate the unique “headers” and “footers” of MTS and MPG streams. By manually linking these scattered data fragments, we were able to reconstruct the original stream continuity.

Recovery Process

• Forensic NAND Mirroring: Created a bit-for-bit image of the memory card to prevent further data loss from hardware wear.
• Multi-Format Fragment Scanning: Simultaneously scanned for MTS (H.264/AC3) and MPG (MPEG-2) signatures across the raw data area.
• Stream Reconstruction: Manually stitched thousands of isolated fragments together, filtering out the “noise” from the newer, unwanted recordings.
• Consistency Repair: Corrected timecodes and frame sequence headers to ensure the reconstructed 4 GB files would play smoothly without freezing.
• Client Review & Verification: The client reviewed thousands of recovered clips and successfully identified the two 4 GB wedding videos, confirming they were fully editable for their final production.

Recovery Results

• Recovery Integrity: High-Success (All critical wedding segments recovered)
• Recovered Files: 2 x 4 GB High-Definition Video Files (MPG/MTS)
• System Status: Files are fully playable and compatible with professional NLE (Non-Linear Editing) software.
• Total Recovery Time: 1 Hour

Expert Reminder from AS Data Recovery: If you accidentally delete a file on a camera card, stop using it immediately. Every new photo or video recorded significantly reduces the chances of a 100% recovery. If you encounter frozen or incomplete files, contact AS Data Recovery professionals immediately. We specialize in fragment-level carving for all professional media and enterprise database systems.