USB Memory Chip

  • Thread starter Thread starter Q
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Q

Q

Hello all,

Does anybody know if it is possible to recover data on a USB key when
the connector seems broken ? I mean: is it possible to read the data on
the memory chip itself ?

TIA !

Regards,
 
Q said:
Does anybody know if it is possible to recover data on a USB key when the
connector seems broken ? I mean: is it possible to read the data on the memory
chip itself ?
Click to expand...

It isnt that hard to fix any physical problem if you know what you are doing.
 
Uzytkownik said:
Hello all,

Does anybody know if it is possible to recover data on a USB key when
the connector seems broken ? I mean: is it possible to read the data on
the memory chip itself ?
Click to expand...

Yes it's possible.
The OnTrack Lab can do it for You.
If you have another (the same) usb-key you can resolder the memory chip and
it sould work.
 
That doesn't help me much, now does it ? ;-)

Any hints ?
Click to expand...

yes, repair that part of the connector which is broken.

If it did what "seems" most likely, that the metal connector
body was leveraged against the circuit board and pulled up
the traces, then you either remount the connector and repair
the traces (adding fine jumper wires if necessary) or get
another access, such as using a USB cable with bare leads
soldered to the circuit board at the corresponding points.

Yes it is possible to read the data off the chip, though you
need a memory controller of some sort to do it, like the one
already in the USB key, or another one, though with another
it becomes more difficult to get the chip interfaced with
another board, or remotely mount the chip. Far easier to
directly address the damage and leave the memory and
controller already on the PCB, working together on it.
 
Q said:
doing.

That doesn't help me much, now does it ? ;-)

Any hints ?

Q
Click to expand...

If it is just a mechanical problem with the connector itself, you might
be able to fix it. It would depend on whether something is bent or
broken. You would need to disassemble it, to see if there is an
obvious problem, and also to see what kind of replacement connector
would be required. There are some retail electronics firms like
Digikey.com or Mouser.com , that sell electronic components like
connectors, and you might find a match there.

If it is some other kind of defect in the mechanism, like a chip
failure of some sort, that would be a lot tougher to fix. More people
can fix mechanical problems for you (by soldering something or
replacing a connector), than can fix an electrical problem.

Knowing how stuff like this is made, it might not be that easy to get
it apart. If it has a plastic casing, it could be glued, or have
nasty snap together tabs, to prevent easy entry. Not many companies
would put an easy to remove screw on the housing.

Paul
 
Q said:
Hello all,

Does anybody know if it is possible to recover data on a USB key when
the connector seems broken ? I mean: is it possible to read the data on
the memory chip itself ?

TIA !

Regards,
Click to expand...

I want to thank everybody who contributed to my problem.

Regards,
 
Q said:
I want to thank everybody who contributed to my problem.

Regards,
Click to expand...

You can find a picture here of what is inside a USB key.
The controller is separate from the flash memory chip or chips.
Possible weak points - the connector's four pins could break
away from the substrate. Or the 12MHz crystal oscillator could
be broken by being dropped. Other than that, any copper traces
on the board could be broken, if the PCB is flexed by being
dropped with enough force.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_flash_drive

Removing the memory chip and soldering it to another exact model
of USB key, would be one means to recover it.

Paul
 
Paul said:
You can find a picture here of what is inside a USB key.
The controller is separate from the flash memory chip or chips.
Possible weak points - the connector's four pins could break
away from the substrate. Or the 12MHz crystal oscillator could
be broken by being dropped. Other than that, any copper traces
on the board could be broken, if the PCB is flexed by being
dropped with enough force.

Removing the memory chip and soldering it to another
exact model of USB key, would be one means to recover it.
Click to expand...

Much more viable to repair what damage got done if its only mechanical.
 
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