Flash drive problem

J

JCSM

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Is it possible to retrieve data from a flash drive that does not work anymore. The computer can't see it.
"Please insert disk into . . . "

I've tried it on other PCs and a laptop - no go. Accept it's a goner! I suppose because it doesn't have readable disks like a hard drive, it would be impossible to get the data back ( more or less 3.5Gigs worth)
 
JCSM said:
Is it possible to retrieve data from a flash drive that does not work anymore. The computer can't see it.
"Please insert disk into . . . "

I've tried it on other PCs and a laptop - no go. Accept it's a goner! I suppose because it doesn't have readable disks like a hard drive, it would be impossible to get the data back ( more or less 3.5Gigs worth)
Click to expand...
Depends on what is actually wrong with it, how old the flash chips used are, and how often it was erased [F'ed] and overwritten [0'ed].

What brand & model is it, and is it one of those that encrypts data on a separate "partition" [flash memory sectors] and if so did you have that feature enabled before it crashed and died?
 
But if your computer is giving you that error then it does indeed see it. It is the flash controller itself that cannot seem to read the flash chip. I get this sometimes with my SD card reader - caused by dirty ports or contacts. Never seen this with plain flashdisks though.

The only way I've been able to do a home recovery with any flashdisk is when the flashdisk actually shows up under Computer Management > Disk Management.

Edit: Otherwise the only solution would be to open it up (if outside warranty period) and check if something is loose. Data recovery companies can usually recover data from these flash chips. $$$$ :p
 
Last edited:
ic said:
Depends on what is actually wrong with it, how old the flash chips used are, and how often it was erased [F'ed] and overwritten [0'ed].

What brand & model is it, and is it one of those that encrypts data on a separate "partition" [flash memory sectors] and if so did you have that feature enabled before it crashed and died?
Click to expand...

4GB Traxdata - the rest is Greek to me I'm afraid . .
 
Off by heart.... CSSI? Google is your friend. Never had to use any of these companies myself. Most of my home-brewed stuff have worked for me.

Have you tried opening up the flashy yet? Had one the other day that refused to pick up - turns out it was a bit bent at the USB port itself. I just slowly bent it back and recovered most of the data.
 
ld13 said:
Off by heart.... CSSI? Google is your friend. Never had to use any of these companies myself. Most of my home-brewed stuff have worked for me.

Have you tried opening up the flashy yet? Had one the other day that refused to pick up - turns out it was a bit bent at the USB port itself. I just slowly bent it back and recovered most of the data.
Click to expand...

. . . if I can find it . . . . ! Joke's on me, but many thx :)
 
If u got linux try opening it with it, u can also try scanning for errors using cmd. Hope it helps.
 
Apropos?

demotivational-posters-cross-usb-drive.jpg
 
download a program called "drive rescue". google it. it helped me recover most of my data when my external harddrive crashed.
 
ld13 said:
Off by heart.... CSSI? Google is your friend. Never had to use any of these companies myself. Most of my home-brewed stuff have worked for me.

Have you tried opening up the flashy yet? Had one the other day that refused to pick up - turns out it was a bit bent at the USB port itself. I just slowly bent it back and recovered most of the data.
Click to expand...


Found it and opened it. Nothing seems to be loose. I've also cleaned the connections. Can't see any visible damage either.
 
JCSM said:
Found it and opened it. Nothing seems to be loose. I've also cleaned the connections. Can't see any visible damage either.
Click to expand...

Then I would bin it. After you have tried the linux thing that is. Doubt if that is going to work though. The different ports/PC idea have also "saved" me in the past.
What is up with the bold loose by the way?
 
ld13 said:
Then I would bin it. After you have tried the linux thing that is. Doubt if that is going to work though. The different ports/PC idea have also "saved" me in the past.
What is up with the bold loose by the way?
Click to expand...

There was a recent thread on the use of "lose" and "loose"! Thx for the help with this.:)
 
I've got GetDataBack for NTFS and GetDataBack for FAT, these products have saved my butt more than once, but this is just in cases where the device was not physically damanged.
 
Check under Disk Management (scroll down to the bottom) whether the flash drive is there by does not have an allocated drive letter. If it is, simply allocate a drive letter and it should appear under Drives.
 
Try reading the flash drive using the command prompt cmd. I don't think it would work but give it a try anyway. Sometimes XP screws around with you and the only way to get something to work is to use MS DOS.
 
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