how to burn all usb devices and live happily ... :(

[pamelafluente]

Hi,

I was hastily reassembling my pc and inadvertently I switched a couple
pins of the USB cable, (the one which connects to the additional 2
ports).

I think I kind of switched the power with the ground. Well this had the
nice consequence that I have "burned" any USB device I plugged in the
USB port.

Smart ah? Well, one learns from errors , and this time the lesson
was quite expensive.

Now the "hard" question. Among the devices I have damaged there I a 4
Gig pen drive where I had some data I would like to recover.

Any chance I can do it? Any help would be much apprecciate.

-P

 

[Arno Wagner]

Hi,

I was hastily reassembling my pc and inadvertently I switched a couple
pins of the USB cable, (the one which connects to the additional 2
ports).

I think I kind of switched the power with the ground. Well this had the
nice consequence that I have "burned" any USB device I plugged in the
USB port.

Smart ah? Well, one learns from errors , and this time the lesson
was quite expensive.

Usually you cannot do this. The connectors on any sane USB hardware
do not allow you to for good reason. Also a good design has fuses
in the USB power lines. Maybe your USB port has blown the fuses
and the device is actually still alive? You need to test this
on a different computer though. And maybe put an USB hub in
between, so you do not blow any more mainboard fuses....

Now the "hard" question. Among the devices I have damaged there I a 4
Gig pen drive where I had some data I would like to recover.

Any chance I can do it? Any help would be much apprecciate.

If the think is really broken, then I don't think so. The memory
chip's r/w buffers are likely fried, as is the control logic. CMOS
reacts very badly to reversed supply voltage. The individual memory
cells likely still hold their bits, but accessing them without
rewiring the chip (reqires an ion-beam workstation. I have heard
fantastic prices for renting these things even of a short time... ) is
likely impossible. Sorry.

Arno

 

[pamelafluente]

Arno Wagner ha scritto:

Usually you cannot do this. The connectors on any sane USB hardware
do not allow you to for good reason. Also a good design has fuses
in the USB power lines. Maybe your USB port has blown the fuses
and the device is actually still alive? You need to test this
on a different computer though.

I am talking about an Enermax case. The 2 USB in front of the case.
There is a gray wire
with a couple of connectors which need to be plugged in the
motherboard. What I think I did is to plug them in perfect opposite
order to the right one.

I didn't realize that immediately and I had time to fry at least 3 good
devices before realizing what was happening.

.1 The hard drive pen (a beautiful and reliable Arcdisk 4Gib
http://www.expansys.it/p.aspx?i=121144 does not lit anymore. When one
insert it in any computer the light does not turn on and it does not
get recognized by the OS) I am particularly sorry about it because I
was kind of affectionate to it and had a loot of important stuff in it


.2 A wireless receiver (sitecom 54g) which was also working
wonderfully, does not work anymore and if one smells it it smalls bad
like burned electronic stuff

.3 a USB adsl modem, this turns on normally, but does not see any
adsl line (I am not sure this is really broken).

And maybe put an USB hub in
between, so you do not blow any more mainboard fuses....

this is a good suggestion. So it' in general advisable to use a hub to
prevent accidents like this ? I also plugged some real Hard Disks
through a USBtoIDE adapter and they have not been damaged.

If the think is really broken, then I don't think so. The memory
chip's r/w buffers are likely fried, as is the control logic. CMOS
reacts very badly to reversed supply voltage. The individual memory
cells likely still hold their bits, but accessing them without
rewiring the chip (reqires an ion-beam workstation. I have heard
fantastic prices for renting these things even of a short time... ) is
likely impossible. Sorry.

(sig)

 

[Arno Wagner]

Arno Wagner ha scritto:

I am talking about an Enermax case. The 2 USB in front of the case.
There is a gray wire
with a couple of connectors which need to be plugged in the
motherboard. What I think I did is to plug them in perfect opposite
order to the right one.

Yes, that would reverse the power.

I didn't realize that immediately and I had time to fry at least 3 good
devices before realizing what was happening.

.1 The hard drive pen (a beautiful and reliable Arcdisk 4Gib
http://www.expansys.it/p.aspx?i=121144 does not lit anymore. When one
insert it in any computer the light does not turn on and it does not
get recognized by the OS) I am particularly sorry about it because I
was kind of affectionate to it and had a loot of important stuff in it

Hmmm. Dead. A pity. (BTW, it is 4GiB, which is 8 times more than 4Gib.)

.2 A wireless receiver (sitecom 54g) which was also working
wonderfully, does not work anymore and if one smells it it smalls bad
like burned electronic stuff

Also dead. Likely unrepairable, same reasns as for the drive pen.

.3 a USB adsl modem, this turns on normally, but does not see any
adsl line (I am not sure this is really broken).

May be partially broken. If you know somebody that does
electronics as a hobby, have them take a look. It may be some internel
power conditioning or even fuse that has blown and can be
replaced. Professional repair is uncertain and likely more expensive
than a new one.

this is a good suggestion. So it' in general advisable to use a hub to
prevent accidents like this ?

Usually it is not required, because a) all plugs I have seen so far are
impossible to plug in wrongly and b) the power is fused on the
mainboard. But when testing a supect device or a device that draws
a low of power, like an external 2.5" HDD powwerd from USB, it is a
good idea, since it protects the fuses on the mainboard.

One thing you also can use most hubs for is to see whether a
port is working, without risking a valuable device. Many
have an LED that urns on when the power is good.

I suspect this tragedy was possible, since the connectors
from the case are not a perfect fit to the mainboard and the
safety configuration is not standardised. (It uses extra pins
that cannot be plugged in.)

These fuses may be self-reseting thermal fuses or they may be the
blow-once-then-broken type and hard to replace, i.e. the port
os then broken.

I also plugged some real Hard Disks
through a USBtoIDE adapter and they have not been damaged.

Theu likely did not use the +5V line at all. They would still use
the ground line. As long as they stay insulated from computer
ground the USB transceivers should survive this.

(sig)

See it this way. This is a painful experience, but the one that
should teach you not to stop doing this, but to be more careful
next time when you plug soemthing with power that may be plugged
wrongly. My experience was two fried HDDs, which happened to
me despite dong electronics as a hobby for more than 10 years.
Fortunately not data lost, but seince them I am extra careful
in these cases. I think everybody needs this experience to become
careful enough.


Arno

 

[Arno Wagner]

Arno Wagner ha scritto:

Previously (e-mail address removed) wrote:

[...]
.1 The hard drive pen (a beautiful and reliable Arcdisk 4Gib
http://www.expansys.it/p.aspx?i=121144 does not lit anymore. When one
insert it in any computer the light does not turn on and it does not
get recognized by the OS) I am particularly sorry about it because I
was kind of affectionate to it and had a loot of important stuff in it

Actually, come to think of it, this may be still alive inside.
Depends on the design. If it has a 3.3V disk inside, then it
would have a voltage regulator as well. Maybe only that was blown
and it can be repaired. But it might be a tedious repair and
no way to test it until the repair is done and maybe a second
one of these would be needed for spare parts. Or the internal HDD
could be moved to a second one of these. I would only advise
trying this if you really need the data. Or somebody competent
enough really wants to try.

Arno

 

[pamelafluente]

Arno Wagner ha scritto:

Arno Wagner ha scritto:

Previously (e-mail address removed) wrote:

[...]
.1 The hard drive pen (a beautiful and reliable Arcdisk 4Gib
http://www.expansys.it/p.aspx?i=121144 does not lit anymore. When one
insert it in any computer the light does not turn on and it does not
get recognized by the OS) I am particularly sorry about it because I
was kind of affectionate to it and had a loot of important stuff in it

Actually, come to think of it, this may be still alive inside.
Depends on the design. If it has a 3.3V disk inside, then it
would have a voltage regulator as well. Maybe only that was blown
and it can be repaired. But it might be a tedious repair and
no way to test it until the repair is done and maybe a second
one of these would be needed for spare parts. Or the internal HDD
could be moved to a second one of these. I would only advise
trying this if you really need the data. Or somebody competent
enough really wants to try.

You are right this is a painful learning experience. What I am sorry
about is that I realized so late what was happening. I was stupidly
"confident" because so far I have always "assembled" myself my new
computer parts (I am not a technician, just programmer) and whatever I
did or switched I never did any damage. So I kind of was fooled into
the illusion that in any case the tensions used and the plugs were such
one could not really do any damage. Very wrong thought... Also those
front port USB plugs of the case are really nasty: it's even difficult
to plug them since there is a plug for each small pin and they are
several (8 or 10, do not remember well).

I am aware that the prices for this kind of devices is so "low"
(compared to the cost of any professional services) that any repair
attempt would be meaningless, unless you do yourself or have a friend
willing to entertain himself with experiments. As said I am
particularly sorry for the drive, I was quite happy with it and he has
accompanied me in many long programming days and efforts ...

-P

PS

About the 3.3V question I have no idea. Perhaps you can tell from the
picture (see link). I do not think it contains a "real" hard disk, I
think it's more like a USB pen drive (?)
Actually I do not really know what that nice little case contains ...

 

[Arno Wagner]

Arno Wagner ha scritto:

Arno Wagner ha scritto:

Previously (e-mail address removed) wrote: [...]
.1 The hard drive pen (a beautiful and reliable Arcdisk 4Gib
http://www.expansys.it/p.aspx?i=121144 does not lit anymore. When one
insert it in any computer the light does not turn on and it does not
get recognized by the OS) I am particularly sorry about it because I
was kind of affectionate to it and had a loot of important stuff in it

Actually, come to think of it, this may be still alive inside.
Depends on the design. If it has a 3.3V disk inside, then it
would have a voltage regulator as well. Maybe only that was blown
and it can be repaired. But it might be a tedious repair and
no way to test it until the repair is done and maybe a second
one of these would be needed for spare parts. Or the internal HDD
could be moved to a second one of these. I would only advise
trying this if you really need the data. Or somebody competent
enough really wants to try.

You are right this is a painful learning experience. What I am sorry
about is that I realized so late what was happening. I was stupidly
"confident" because so far I have always "assembled" myself my new
computer parts (I am not a technician, just programmer) and whatever I
did or switched I never did any damage.

Yes, that is what I thought befroe frying these two disks. What
I did was combine two y-cables into a 1->3 cable. Turns out that
one of the y-cables had red and yellow reversed, which I did not
notice. Smoke and consternation....

So I kind of was fooled into
the illusion that in any case the tensions used and the plugs were such
one could not really do any damage. Very wrong thought... Also those
front port USB plugs of the case are really nasty: it's even difficult
to plug them since there is a plug for each small pin and they are
several (8 or 10, do not remember well).

So you had some warnng. Just not enough. Next time you will
notice in time.

I am aware that the prices for this kind of devices is so "low"
(compared to the cost of any professional services) that any repair
attempt would be meaningless, unless you do yourself or have a friend
willing to entertain himself with experiments. As said I am
particularly sorry for the drive, I was quite happy with it and he has
accompanied me in many long programming days and efforts ...

Well, get a new one and think of the first one dying for a good
cause.

-P

About the 3.3V question I have no idea. Perhaps you can tell from the
picture (see link). I do not think it contains a "real" hard disk, I
think it's more like a USB pen drive (?)
Actually I do not really know what that nice little case contains ...

Only option is to open it. With the price and size, I expect it
actually contains a microdrive, not a flash-chip. But the
microdrive being still intact is a slim hope anyways.

Arno

 

[Impmon]

About the 3.3V question I have no idea. Perhaps you can tell from the
picture (see link). I do not think it contains a "real" hard disk, I
think it's more like a USB pen drive (?)
Actually I do not really know what that nice little case contains ...

That device almost looks like a Microdrive. Take it apart and see if
it does indeed have separate drive and USB interface. If so, you
might be able to use CF card reader to extract data.

Some (a few) Microdrive's firmware are fixed only to certain
brand/model of USB interface and won't work in other CF readers. But
most will work as stand alone CF card.

Good luck, it does suck when something blows up because of one little
mistake. I've burned out a 250GB hard drive (back then $200) when it
was brand new and I couldn't get it exchanged because it was my fault.

 

[pamelafluente]

Impmon ha scritto:

That device almost looks like a Microdrive. Take it apart and see if

Hi Impmon. Thanks. I have the "impression" it may not be a microdrive
(unless I am having a wrong idea of what a "microdrive" is, I imagine
it like a very small HD). It's quite light and also there is a lot of
space (half of the size) is taken by the foldable plug. I tend to
believe it's more like a memory stick (like an ordinary pen drive).

it does indeed have separate drive and USB interface. If so, you
might be able to use CF card reader to extract data.

What would be the experiment? Should I open it and connect to a card
reader? Could you explain a little more, I have never opened this kind
of things...

 

[Impmon]

Hi Impmon. Thanks. I have the "impression" it may not be a microdrive

(unless I am having a wrong idea of what a "microdrive" is, I imagine
it like a very small HD). It's quite light and also there is a lot of
space (half of the size) is taken by the foldable plug. I tend to
believe it's more like a memory stick (like an ordinary pen drive).

A microdrive is a very small hard drive measuring 1.75" by 1.5" by
0.25" (4.5cm x 3.8cm x 0.65cm) See here at
http://personalpages.tds.net/~wilykat/DSC01652.JPG for a picture of
the microdrive and the USB device it came from (Memorex Traveldrive)

What would be the experiment? Should I open it and connect to a card
reader? Could you explain a little more, I have never opened this kind
of things...

Since your drive doesn't work as it is, you might as well take it
apart and find out. If it is a separate memory card and USB
interface, disconnect the USB interface and use a memory card reader
to salvage any data. Memory card reader that can handle all types of
memory cards can be found for about $25 locally if you don't have one.

 

[pamelafluente]

Impmon ha scritto:

A microdrive is a very small hard drive measuring 1.75" by 1.5" by
0.25" (4.5cm x 3.8cm x 0.65cm) See here at
http://personalpages.tds.net/~wilykat/DSC01652.JPG for a picture of
the microdrive and the USB device it came from (Memorex Traveldrive)

Ahh... Now I am convinced it's probably a microdrive ! ) So it's a
very thin thing.
It's probably underneath the foldable plug.

Since your drive doesn't work as it is, you might as well take it
apart and find out. If it is a separate memory card and USB
interface, disconnect the USB interface and use a memory card reader
to salvage any data. Memory card reader that can handle all types of
memory cards can be found for about $25 locally if you don't have one.

I think it's worth trying. I have nothing to lose, anyway. So your idea
is that, perhaps, only the power electronics is gone, while the data is
still on the disk. Right?

I am willing to do the experiment. Now I have to figure out how to open
this jewel. I can only see a very small screw in a corner on the
bottom-right part of the device. There is also, more on the left-center
a king of big seal with the "warranty void if seal broken" warning. I
guess that this might conceal some screws... but touching with fingers
I cannot feel none. Should I remove the seal or go for the little screw
?

If I buy a card reader for what kind of memory cards compatibility
should I make sure ?

-P

 

[pamelafluente]

Ok I have opened it and got a card reader.

It's an Hitachi Microdrive.

I am using a Trust CR-1200 16 in 1. Has 4 slots. In one (CF/MD) the
microdrive fits. If I insert the disk, a red light turns on (there is
also another light, already on, probably the usb power)

Creates 4 new letters>

MMC/SD(E
CompactFlashI/II(F
SmartMedia(G
MS/MS Pro(H

F: says "disk not formatted" and asks whether I want to format it. So
far I have not answered.

If I remove the disk, it says "insert a disk". If can be a useful
information, this disk was formatted NTFS (I always format these drives
ntfs).

Before answering yes to the format question. I guess I should try to do
something like a boot sector recover attempt or similar, to try to
recover the data.

Any suggestion on the best next move?

/p

 

[Impmon]

Ok I have opened it and got a card reader.

It's an Hitachi Microdrive. [snip]
F: says "disk not formatted" and asks whether I want to format it. So
far I have not answered.

If I remove the disk, it says "insert a disk". If can be a useful
information, this disk was formatted NTFS (I always format these drives
ntfs).

That is a good sign.

Before answering yes to the format question. I guess I should try to do
something like a boot sector recover attempt or similar, to try to
recover the data.

Any suggestion on the best next move?

A file recovery software would help. I haven't need to use any for
quite a while since I make backup copies but a quick Google search
pointed one at
<http://www.sharewareplaza.com/Pen-Drive-Files-Recovery-Software-download_33716.html>
Looks likes it's free to use for the first month and claims to restore
memory cards and USB drives. Give it a try. If that one doesn't do
any good, you can try Googling for memory card file recovery and find
other software to try.

When you insert the microdrive, say no to reformat and leave the card
in the reader.

 

[pamelafluente]

Impmon ha scritto:

A file recovery software would help. I haven't need to use any for
quite a while since I make backup copies but a quick Google search
pointed one at
<http://www.sharewareplaza.com/Pen-Drive-Files-Recovery-Software-download_33716.html>
Looks likes it's free to use for the first month and claims to restore
memory cards and USB drives. Give it a try. If that one doesn't do
any good, you can try Googling for memory card file recovery and find
other software to try.

I have tried the software. No luck. It says no file system identified.

Another one (PC inspector) seems to scan all sectors and find no data
(?).
It seems like the disk has been completely blanked.

I am afraid that it remains only the option to format it and see if at
leat that works. Perhaps another attempt could be done using a
differerent card reader ...

-P

 

[Arno Wagner]

Impmon ha scritto:

I have tried the software. No luck. It says no file system identified.

Another one (PC inspector) seems to scan all sectors and find no data
(?).
It seems like the disk has been completely blanked.

I am afraid that it remains only the option to format it and see if at
leat that works. Perhaps another attempt could be done using a
differerent card reader ...

Would surprise me. More likely the mircrodrive has been damaged
as well. I think it was still worth the effort to try.

Arno

 

[pamelafluente]

Arno Wagner ha scritto:

Would surprise me. More likely the mircrodrive has been damaged
as well. I think it was still worth the effort to try.

Yes (

At least XP seems not to be able to reformat it.

Hmm, I think the poor drive is very close to the dubstin... do I have
other options ? (there exist low level format for these things? )


-P

 

[Arno Wagner]

Arno Wagner ha scritto:

Yes (

At least XP seems not to be able to reformat it.

Hmm, I think the poor drive is very close to the dubstin... do I have
other options ? (there exist low level format for these things? )

I don't think so. Sorry.

Arno

 

[Folkert Rienstra]

Impmon ha scritto:

I have tried the software. No luck. It says no file system identified.

Which means it must be reading 'something' but doesn't see any structure
in what it reads.

Another one (PC inspector) seems to scan all sectors and find no data (?).

Which again means it must be reading 'something'.

It seems like the disk has been completely blanked.

That is very unlikely. Dead yes, blanked no.

I am afraid that it remains only the option to format it and see if at
least that works.

Perhaps another attempt could be done using a differerent card reader ...

Maybe.
Judging from your response it may be that the cardreader is
showing fake or nonexistent data when it should issue read errors.
It may even show you a nonexisting device (or an emulation) just
because it 'thinks' that something was inserted. The fact that
each slot get's a drive letter means that it probably emulates
drives but doesn't check whether there is actually one inserted.

But, if that appears to be the case and you find one that does a
better job you'll probably find that the drive is dead.
It is very unlikely that the drive survived but not the data.

 

[pamelafluente]

Folkert Rienstra ha scritto:

Which means it must be reading 'something' but doesn't see any structure
in what it reads.

hmm I am not sure about that perhaps the recovery software is just
"pretenting"

Which again means it must be reading 'something'.


That is very unlikely. Dead yes, blanked no.

Maybe.
Judging from your response it may be that the cardreader is
showing fake or nonexistent data when it should issue read errors.
It may even show you a nonexisting device (or an emulation) just
because it 'thinks' that something was inserted. The fact that
each slot get's a drive letter means that it probably emulates
drives but doesn't check whether there is actually one inserted.

When one does not insert the disk it says no disk.
When I insert the disk a red light light up, but then if I try to
format with XP, teh OS answers it is not possible to format the drive.

It is even possible that perhaps the disk migh be reconditioned, but I
guess
I do not have the appropriate tools in any case. Perhaps XP needs some
basic information
on the disk which has been damaged.... Or perhaps the drive is ready
for the dubstin ...

But, if that appears to be the case and you find one that does a
better job you'll probably find that the drive is dead.
It is very unlikely that the drive survived but not the data.

By the way do these little MDs have inside mechanics similar to a real
HD or they are
kind of flash memory ?

 

[Impmon]

It is even possible that perhaps the disk migh be reconditioned, but I
guess
I do not have the appropriate tools in any case. Perhaps XP needs some
basic information
on the disk which has been damaged.... Or perhaps the drive is ready
for the dubstin ...

If it can't be formatted, probably dustbin along with that USB case it
came out of. Hard drives generally are not worth fixing when you can
get a new one for less than labor + part on old one. You could try
the hard drive recovery specialists if the data on the microdrive is
too valuable to be thrown out.

By the way do these little MDs have inside mechanics similar to a real
HD or they are
kind of flash memory ?

Really small mechanical hard drive. Lookie here:
http://personalpages.tds.net/~wilykat/DSC01656.JPG next to a USA
quarter and a ruler. (This one a dead 2.5GB from iPod)