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How do you dry a flash drive
- Thread starter eyec
- Start date
it is possible to dry it out...
but you will need to open it up, then get a soft toothbrush and some WD-40, soak it with WD-40 and agitate it with the toothbrush, blot it dry and let it sit for a while...
Water Displacer - 40 is great for this... I have fixed motherboards and a CD changer (after my mom had spilled liquid soap on it) with great success...
but it is not guaranteed to work...
hope it works... if not, they are pretty cheap now anyhow...
Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
but you will need to open it up, then get a soft toothbrush and some WD-40, soak it with WD-40 and agitate it with the toothbrush, blot it dry and let it sit for a while...
Water Displacer - 40 is great for this... I have fixed motherboards and a CD changer (after my mom had spilled liquid soap on it) with great success...
but it is not guaranteed to work...
hope it works... if not, they are pretty cheap now anyhow...
Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
- Thread starter
- #3
I see no need to open it up...in fact I would rinse it with MORE water to be sure all traces of detergent are completely gone, then let it air-dry for a day or two.
I had a friend that worked for Motorola (hand-held devices) in the 80's and he claimed their first step in the repair process was to wash everything with de-ionized water and test again...more often than not this was the "repair".
Now tap water is not DI but it is safer for electronics than detergent residues. I read a Maximum PC article where they subjected a number of different flash drives through a torture test that included a drive in a pocket going through a washing machine/dryer, as I recall all devices passed that test.
Tony
Users helping Users...
I had a friend that worked for Motorola (hand-held devices) in the 80's and he claimed their first step in the repair process was to wash everything with de-ionized water and test again...more often than not this was the "repair".
Now tap water is not DI but it is safer for electronics than detergent residues. I read a Maximum PC article where they subjected a number of different flash drives through a torture test that included a drive in a pocket going through a washing machine/dryer, as I recall all devices passed that test.
Tony
Users helping Users...
Warning: As far as I know, DI water is not to be used with bare hands. It will harm your skin, so beware of that.
Besides, using normal tap water will solve your problem. Once you recover your data, trash the drive and get new one as the old one might ditch u anytime.
Besides, using normal tap water will solve your problem. Once you recover your data, trash the drive and get new one as the old one might ditch u anytime.
LawnBoy
MIS
- Mar 12, 2003
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DI water doesn't harm your skin. I washed ceramic crystals in the stuff for 3-4 hours a day for 3 years. It feels really cold after a while. It's just water that has no (or very few) charged particles in it.
Chances are that bottle of commercial water you have in your hand has been de-ionized.
"We must fall back upon the old axiom that when all other contingencies fail, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." - Sherlock Holmes
Chances are that bottle of commercial water you have in your hand has been de-ionized.
"We must fall back upon the old axiom that when all other contingencies fail, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." - Sherlock Holmes
acewarlock
Technical User
For those that might want to know what DEIONIZED WATER is.
This is a Signature and not part of the answer, it appears on every reply.
This is an Analogy so don't take it personally as some have.
Why change the engine if all you need is to change the spark plugs.
This is a Signature and not part of the answer, it appears on every reply.
This is an Analogy so don't take it personally as some have.
Why change the engine if all you need is to change the spark plugs.
Well, I have worked in an IC Fabrication lab where we were trained to handle different chemicals.
And we were told specifically not to treat DI water as ur normal tap water. It is harmful to skin. As it lacks ions, it will absorb ions from your skin.
Adnan
And we were told specifically not to treat DI water as ur normal tap water. It is harmful to skin. As it lacks ions, it will absorb ions from your skin.
Adnan
goombawaho
MIS
The absolute best proven way to dry a flash drive or other equipment is as follows. I guarantee this method!!!!
Don't get it wet in the first place. Sorry, had to say that. Accidents do happen though, and I tell everyone I meet the following:
Don't rely on a single, hard drive, CD-RW, DVD-RW, floppy, flash drive, tape, etc. to keep backing up your data on repeatedly. Have at LEAST two that you rotate between. None of these items is reliable enough that you should feel comfortable as a long term solution for data storage as a standalone device.
Don't get it wet in the first place. Sorry, had to say that. Accidents do happen though, and I tell everyone I meet the following:
Don't rely on a single, hard drive, CD-RW, DVD-RW, floppy, flash drive, tape, etc. to keep backing up your data on repeatedly. Have at LEAST two that you rotate between. None of these items is reliable enough that you should feel comfortable as a long term solution for data storage as a standalone device.
On the water part, (aside I know). I think the risks are from prolonged exposure, same as getting abit of Oil based paint on your hands won't hurt.
I think it also come down to your skin type. Must of had gallons of Ethylene glycol isopropyl ether (a nasty solvent) on my hands when I was I printer and the wife says they are in better condition than hers (well except for the scars)
Only the truly stupid believe they know everything.
Stu.. 2004
I think it also come down to your skin type. Must of had gallons of Ethylene glycol isopropyl ether (a nasty solvent) on my hands when I was I printer and the wife says they are in better condition than hers (well except for the scars)
Only the truly stupid believe they know everything.
Stu.. 2004
LawnBoy
MIS
- Mar 12, 2003
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adnan1100,
Have you any references for your assertion? All I can find is an unresolved debate over whether it's safe to drink DI water, no mention of it being harmful to the skin. In the US, OSHA requires an MSDS fact sheet on any chemical used for commercial or industrial use. Here's one for DI water:
Please note the following paragraph:
"We must fall back upon the old axiom that when all other contingencies fail, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." - Sherlock Holmes
Have you any references for your assertion? All I can find is an unresolved debate over whether it's safe to drink DI water, no mention of it being harmful to the skin. In the US, OSHA requires an MSDS fact sheet on any chemical used for commercial or industrial use. Here's one for DI water:
Please note the following paragraph:
"We must fall back upon the old axiom that when all other contingencies fail, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." - Sherlock Holmes
which get replaced everyday from drinking regular water or IONIZED Sport Drinks...
which only leads me to think that the reason why this was told to you guys, is that DE-IONIZED water is more expensive, and that drinking it instead of the bottled or tap water, would be a COST factor...
also:
Source: Wikipedia
Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
Well, I really dont mean to say you guys are wrong .. I only put forward what I was taught in a real Semiconductor fabrication lab ... I can give you their contact and you may ask them abt it .. 
cheers !!
Adnan
cheers !!
Adnan
LawnBoy
MIS
- Mar 12, 2003
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I'll stick with OSHAs recommendation, thanks. They are the hazardous materials authority in the US, after all.
"We must fall back upon the old axiom that when all other contingencies fail, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." - Sherlock Holmes
"We must fall back upon the old axiom that when all other contingencies fail, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." - Sherlock Holmes
Agreed BBB this is actually ON topic. When someone makes an assertion about something as common as DI, it needs to be checked out and verified by our resident fact-checker, LawnBoy.
Many come here and believe every word they read to be true, in some cases there's misinformation and that needs to be cleared up.
Tony
Users helping Users...
Many come here and believe every word they read to be true, in some cases there's misinformation and that needs to be cleared up.
Tony
Users helping Users...
LawnBoy
MIS
- Mar 12, 2003
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<blushes> Hey I've been wrong on a few occasions too, as some of you are well aware. Half the battle is getting good information, the other half is clearing up old misconceptions.
Besides, I'm always ready for a good debate. I spent way too much time on Usenet in my youth.
"We must fall back upon the old axiom that when all other contingencies fail, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." - Sherlock Holmes
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