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I Broke My USB Memory Stick!

by halfpoint
10 replies
Warriors,

I just accidently bumped my little 4GB USB memory stick and now it won't work. It's not my main source of back ups, however, I do have some things on it that I need a copy of and I don't have them backed up anywhere else.

There's probably less than a gig worth of stuff on it that I need, is there anyway that I can get it back without having to pay some tech guy $100 to do so.

I have used all of the files within the last 48 hours so would they be stored on a temporary memory or anything?

What are my options?

Thanks in advance.
#broke #memory #stick #usb
  • Profile picture of the author halfpoint
    Also, if it makes a difference I'm running 32 bit Vista on a Compaq Presario laptop.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Cabral
    Originally Posted by Pat Jackson View Post

    Warriors,

    I just accidently bumped my little 4GB USB memory stick and now it won't work. It's not my main source of back ups, however, I do have some things on it that I need a copy of and I don't have them backed up anywhere else.

    There's probably less than a gig worth of stuff on it that I need, is there anyway that I can get it back without having to pay some tech guy $100 to do so.

    I have used all of the files within the last 48 hours so would they be stored on a temporary memory or anything?

    What are my options?

    Thanks in advance.
    When you say broke do you mean you broke the part that connects into USB port? If so you are out of luck as I don't see a way for you to recovery files unless you take it to the pros.

    I have bumped mine before and never had an issue, heck one of my USB sticks even made through being washed in my pants and to this day still works lol

    I can see it being damaged if by change when you bumped it it was writing info to it. That would be same as if you hit a hard drive while it was writing info.

    You may try some data recovery software and I think you can find some free.

    Edit: Here is a freebie from people who created CCleaner http://www.piriform.com/recuva
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  • Profile picture of the author mywebwork
    Not trying to be the bearer of bad news Pat, but I've trashed a few of these over the years and have yet to be successful in retrieving the data. Unlike a hard disk this is an electronic chip - a non-volatile RAM to be precise. Standard data recovery techniques, which involve reading bad sectors and piecing together data, don't apply here. However it is possible that you damaged the directory table, some recovery programs may be of assistance if that is the case.

    There is software that claims to be able to do this, I have no experience with these products and am only providing links for your reference:

    USB drive Data Recovery 3.0.1.5 - Restore retrieve USB Pen drive memory stick deleted files data recovery software - SharewarePlaza

    Flash Drive Data Recovery Software and File Recovery

    Best of luck with your recovery efforts.

    Bill
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    • Profile picture of the author halfpoint
      Hey guys,

      I had a look at all three of those softwares and the problem is my computer won't recognize that the drive exists when I plug it in now, so the software won't work as it doesn't know where it's supposed to be looking.

      I can't remember exactly what I had on it that I need so it might not be that important but I suppose it's time to get another 500GB portable drive.

      If I had opened a bunch of notepad files within the last 24 hours would they be saved anywhere as temporary memory or something like that?
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      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
        Originally Posted by Pat Jackson View Post

        Hey guys,

        I had a look at all three of those softwares and the problem is my computer won't recognize that the drive exists when I plug it in now, so the software won't work as it doesn't know where it's supposed to be looking.

        I can't remember exactly what I had on it that I need so it might not be that important but I suppose it's time to get another 500GB portable drive.

        If I had opened a bunch of notepad files within the last 24 hours would they be saved anywhere as temporary memory or something like that?
        There are basically only a FEW possible problems......

        1. you disturbed it while buffered data wasn't properly posted. If so, your data is likely TRASHED!
        2. You hurt the connector. If so, you MIGHT be able to get it working, MAYBE!
        3. You hurt the chip. If so, FORGET IT!
        4. It MIGHT be an ADAPTOR you hurt. If so, get a new adaptor, and try it.

        As for the special software? FORGET IT! There are only two things it could possibly do here. One is unlikely and a hassle.(That is obviously what mywebwork's suggestion handles, but that is for a format or deletion. That MIGHT help with the buffer problem I mentioned above, but I doubt it ) The OTHER is one chkdisk could do.

        As for the PROS? GOOD LUCK finding one, and I haven't heard of ANY for USB drives. The supposed "pros" you find at best buy, etc... are just people that run programs, etc... I asked them three questions, like for an RS232<->USB adaptor, a USB<->EIDE adaptor, etc.... They didn't even know what I was talking about.

        BTW, there is no reason to save a notepad file as a temporary file, so you may be out of luck. You COULD check in the /temp folder though.

        Steve
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        • Profile picture of the author halfpoint
          I think I'm just going to accept that I'm not getting any of it back.

          I think I should be okay. Just have to do some extra work today..

          Thanks for the help guys.
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  • Profile picture of the author globalim
    sorry I think you've lost it
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  • Profile picture of the author AverageGuy
    how did you bump it? is the connector part broken? if so, get a guy, solder it. If the chip is broken, then, forget it.

    a pro can fix it, but, to you, I guess not worth the money. $100, no, no real pro will work on it.

    good luck


    david
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  • Profile picture of the author mikemac1
    Have to reiterate what Bill said, looks like you'll have to pay or lose what you had.

    Going forward, check out using Gmail as a drive to backup files, I've done this recently (finally) and because it's virtual, I don't have to worry about bring my USBs with me.
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    • Profile picture of the author MaryV
      I also think that you should try some data recovery software. The best experience I had with Advanced File Recovery on advanced-file-recovery dot com. I use it when I accidentally delete important files.
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