HELP Knackered Pen Drive

Muel · 8 Dec 2009 at 15:25

My pen drive just burnt out or summat like that, I've lost everything, my last backup was 2 weeks old.

I plug it in, it recognises there is a drive, then when I click to open it, it tells me that I should insert a disc into the drive. The light doesn't come on, when I select propeties it tells me the storage capacity is 0 bytes.

Sounds like something hardwareified has died. Anyone got any ideas?

It's a Corsair Voyager 8gb, roughly a year old, got it for Christmas last year.

CBJ · 8 Dec 2009 at 15:28

If you're using a USB hub or extension cable to connect it then try plugging it directly into a PC socket. I've got a USB hard disk that appears as a USB device when I plug it in via a USB hub but won't actually do anything, but works fine when attached without the hub. If that doesn't help then I'm afraid you may be out of luck. You could try some recovery software or a recovery service, but unless your data is worth a lot of money to you that could be a rather expensive option.

Phatzy · 8 Dec 2009 at 15:30

try in another computer, my usb drive will only work on my pc but not the laptop which is strange. anyway thier is 10 year warranty, RMA it.

Muel · 8 Dec 2009 at 15:34

Already tried it in another computer, same issues. It tries to install a USB device with a random name where it used to say Flash Voyager.

It's not even had a lot of hammer, I've never dropped it, I hadn't bent it or wacked it while it was in. It was on the desk in my netbook and I was working away, and it died as I was working with it.

I havn't got time to send it off, I've got uni work in for next week so I either need to get it back somehow myself or redo it.

Is there any way to remove the flash memory part say and insert it into another pen drive? Maybe it's a little chip that clips in or something, who knows.

J.B · 8 Dec 2009 at 16:32

Nah you're pretty screwed by the sounds of it. Theres no easy way I know of actually removing the memory chip and re soldering it on to another board.

You could see if Recuva finds anything but Im doubtful.

dangerstat · 8 Dec 2009 at 19:29

Muel I know it sounds daft but try it on a linux machine.

In a terminal type lsusb and if you can see the thumb drive in that it displays you might have a remote chance of getting some of the data off it.

Swordfish · 8 Dec 2009 at 19:30

If it gets recognised dose it get a drive letter? If so try a few data recovery programs

I like File Scavenger.

Muel · 8 Dec 2009 at 20:02

It does get a letter, but File Scavanger came up straight away saying device not recognised.

I'm pretty sure it's a hardware issue. So I'm going to heat it up with a blow torch to melt and reset the solder, or freeze it because I've heard that can work with hard drives...