OT: Ideas to read data from 'failed' USB flash drive

  • Thread starter Thread starter bobmct
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bobmct

I've searched for other groups but this one seems to have the most
relavant content.

I have a 2GB USB Flash drive that seems to have failed. Here are the
symptoms:

Plug drive into USB port.
LED on device illuminates
Windows displays "new hardware found"
Then displays "loading device drivers"
Then displays "Device is ready for use"
the green check mark appears on the task bar.

About a second later the green check mark disappears and there is no
indication that the drive is available or even inserted.

It's not on the drive list or the device list.

Any suggestions as to what I mgiht be able to do to activate/read this
thing?

I'm using Win 7 64 Home Premium but I have XP and linux available.

Thanks - eagerly awaiting any replies
 
I've searched for other groups but this one seems to have the most
relavant content.

I have a 2GB USB Flash drive that seems to have failed. Here are the
symptoms:

Plug drive into USB port.
LED on device illuminates
Windows displays "new hardware found"
Then displays "loading device drivers"
Then displays "Device is ready for use"
the green check mark appears on the task bar.

About a second later the green check mark disappears and there is no
indication that the drive is available or even inserted.

It's not on the drive list or the device list.

Any suggestions as to what I mgiht be able to do to activate/read this
thing?

I'm using Win 7 64 Home Premium but I have XP and linux available.

Thanks - eagerly awaiting any replies
Click to expand...

Problems with flash modules usually fall into three categories.

1. Corrupt Operating Software, no matter what version or brand. It
could be nothing more than a security feature kicking in to eliminate
the use of flash drives, especially if you are using a corporate
computer. Booting another Operating System can be a good way to
identify if the problem is software related. Since you indicate you
have Linux available, give it a try and see if it works.

2. Physical problems with the USB port itself. This can be anything
from bad or missing 5 volts to just a bad connector on the computer or
flash module. Try the module on another USB port of the computer but if
it does not work, try it on a completely different computer.

3. The flash module itself may be defective. That can mean a total
failure or just data errors similar to bad sectors on a hard drive. You
may want to try one of the data recovery software programs available and
see what it can locate on the drive. Your flash drive manufacturer's
web page may have a recovery program available on it. If not, here is a
link to a few of them:
http://www.fileguru.com/Smart-Flash-Recovery/info

Like hard drives, prior to using any recovery program it is best if you
are able to make an image copy of the drive so you can try more than one
recovery program if needed. Some of the recovery programs come with the
ability to try and make an image copy, if so use it before attempting
the actual recovery.

Here is a link to a program that may allow you to make an image copy of
the flash module, provided it can detect it.
http://www.worldstart.com/tips/tips.php/3739
 
Plug drive into USB port.
LED on device illuminates
Windows displays "new hardware found"
Then displays "loading device drivers"
Then displays "Device is ready for use"
the green check mark appears on the task bar.
Click to expand...

As a last resort, plug it into a Linux PC. Linux is more tolerant for
faults.

--
@~@ Might, Courage, Vision, SINCERITY.
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty! May the Force and Farce be with you!
/( _ )\ (x86_64 Ubuntu 9.10) Linux 2.6.33.2
^ ^ 17:47:02 up 15 days 9:39 2 users load average: 1.06 1.11 1.09
ä¸å€Ÿè²¸! ä¸è©é¨™! ä¸æ´äº¤! ä¸æ‰“交! ä¸æ‰“劫! ä¸è‡ªæ®º! è«‹è€ƒæ…®ç¶œæ´ (CSSA):
http://www.swd.gov.hk/tc/index/site_pubsvc/page_socsecu/sub_addressesa
 
bobmct said:
I've searched for other groups but this one seems to have the most
relavant content.

I have a 2GB USB Flash drive that seems to have failed. Here are the
symptoms:

Plug drive into USB port.
LED on device illuminates
Windows displays "new hardware found"
Then displays "loading device drivers"
Then displays "Device is ready for use"
the green check mark appears on the task bar.

About a second later the green check mark disappears and there is no
indication that the drive is available or even inserted.

It's not on the drive list or the device list.

Any suggestions as to what I mgiht be able to do to activate/read this
thing?

I'm using Win 7 64 Home Premium but I have XP and linux available.

Thanks - eagerly awaiting any replies
Click to expand...

Here is a possible low tech solution based on a personal experience. A
USB flash drive might have a bent plug. I recovered one by plugging it
in and maintaining a gentle pressure on it, pushing it up, down, or side
wise with a finger. The drive started working again but required the
pressure to be there.

Once it resumed reading I tranfered all the information to a file in the
computer. Once that was completed I trnsferred the files to a new USB
flash drive, and threw the old one away.

Not all computer problems are software related.
 
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