Ideas to read 'failed' USB drive? 1

[BobMCT]

My desktop is 64 bit Windows 7 Home Premium and I have an older 2GB USB flash drive (not backed up - of course) and when I plug it in I hear the trumpet from the system. It displays the notification that new hardware has been detected, installing the device drivers then device is ready to use along with the green check mark on the task bar. Then a second later the green check mark disappears and there is no indication of any USB drive available. I've checked my device manager and all my drivers are up to date. Also, the led on the USB flash drive is lit steadily while inserted. I've even cleaned the contacts on the drive to assure good connection.

I get the same results when plugging this into a Linux box.

Anyone have any ideas/suggestions as to how I might be able to gain access to this device to retrieve any files?

Thanks all...

 

[melmitts]

Is this a "plain" usb or is it a "U3". I have had several U3 drives act this way.

Mel

 

[BobMCT]

It is a plain, non-U3 generic thumb drive about two years old with daily use to move documents from work to home and back.

 

[goombawaho]

Try a different PC just to see.

 

[BobMCT]

FYI - Tried three other PC's and two Linux boxen. Same symptoms. I know I might be beating a dead horse here but if there is a way I'm trying to find it.
Also, I disassembled the drive and I see no evidence of broken, damaged or discolored internals. and even out of its plastic jacket, when plugged in the led still shines and the symptoms are the same.

 

[goombawaho]

Data recovery??? Expensive, but may be possible. You know the lesson here. Keep your data on at least two sources - regardless of media format.

 

[BobMCT]

Keep your data on at least two sources - regardless of media format."

Yep! We all KNOW that. In this case I'm trying to recover my daughter's (a teacher) USB Drive. I'm sure you the experience after the fact.

 

[goombawaho]

Data recovery company is your only hope now. You've tried multiple computers - you're done. I guess you COULD try GetDataBack in whichever format the USB drive was formatted (NTFS or FAT) to see if it can SEE the data. If it can see it, then you can purchase the license with confidence that data can be recovered. I've used it many times to pull data off hard drives.

The reason I posted that is so that others searching and finding this thread will leave with a helpful hint. It wasn't to make you feel stupid.

This will be a valuable learning experience for her. Painful, but valuable.

 

[kjv1611]

Best guess, as it's common with USB flash drives: The soldered connections between the USB connector and the actual flash memory have been broken/frayed to some extent, thus giving you partial recognition in Windows, but no access to the data.

Cheapest method?
[ol][li]Find USB cable you can live without.[/li]
[li]Open up the flash drive, remove the USB connector as carefully as possible, taking note and/or pictures as best you can of where everything connects.[/li]
[li]Cut the USB cable to whatever length you'd prefer, and strip down one end (the end you'd normally connect to a device, not the end you'd connect to the PC USB port.[/li]
[li]Match the wires up to the correct locations on your memoryboard from the USB flash drive, and solder in place.... or if you can find a way to keep them in place long enough - maybe tape? - you could test before solder or glue.[/li]
[li]Connect to PC[/li]
[li]Recover files[/li]
[li]Delete the files from damaged thumb drive, maybe format if you can[/li]
[li]Toss old drive[/li][/ol]

Well, that's just the basics of it. This is not something I've done, as the data on my failed thumb drives wasn't important enough to worry about... and they were just used as transfer devices, anyway.

references:
Google

http://diskdrive.wordpress.com/2009/09/16/my-thumb-drive-is-not-recognized/

http://www.larsen-b.com/Article/288.html

Well, the last one isn't exactly the same as what I'm talking about, but another reference that might help..

 

[BobMCT]

Thanks, all.

Did everything I could do including completely disassembling the device to inspect for broken components, looseness, etc. Still NADA. But one of the links pointed me to a local recovery expert who I think we will try.

Also - no stupid feeling here! I've provided end user support for decades and I am aware that all the basics need to be covered. Suggestions like that are a sign of great support.

Again, thank you all.

 

[goombawaho]

Yeah, I know about negligent users and lackluster IT environments. Imagine the sorrow (and lost money) caused every day by failed hard drives, flash drives, etc. It must be massive. A collective crying and moaning heard 'round the world.