Data Recovery on a USB Stick

Which probably means he ran some demo version of a recovery program, which then asked him some money for the one that works ;-)

Try this program - free.

Many linux distros boot from a CD without instaling, some are specifically for data recovery. Cost nothing.

NT

What make/size is the stick?

There was a Braniac series where they destruction tested various storage devices in some very extreme ways. The memory inside the USB stick seemed to be able to handle being virtually smashed to bits. They did not say how much the forensic team charged to help prove their point though!

Having worked in the Defence industry I do remember being told the lengths that they can go to recover data and the need to chop discs up into little pieces to stop data beinf recovered.

Is that before or after they have been left in a bus/taxi/street?

Adam

I had one that took an oblique impact whilst inserted into a USB socket and stopped working,

I removed the case and found that flexing the circuitboard allowed a connection to be made again.

If you don't get anywhere with the recovery software it may be worth trying to insert the USB stick into a socket _whilst using a usb extension cable_ - presumably it'll not get recognised and you'll not get the windows 'ding dong'.

Now try flexing it (while still connected) and listen for the 'ding dong' - hold it in position and see if you can get at the onboard data.

Don't know why they bothered. Just put the platters in a furnace, when they get hot enough they demagnetise.

Kevin,

The last USB stick I lost just wouldn't power up. If you can read it, but not see the files, it might be fairly easy. If not - I think you're talking serious money and not much chance.

you'll buy two to replace it of course...

Andy

I had a similar issue with one of mine - although there was a secondary problem with something rattling around inside - turned out to be a capacitor that had come loose as well as broken circuitry :-}

What do you mean 'packed up'? For example:

Does it show up in Windows 'safely remove'? Does it show up in Control Panel: System->Devices (is there a Windows equivalent of lsusb that lists the stuff Windows doesn't have drivers for?) Does the light come on? Is there a mechanical problem (for example, is the USB plug loose)?

Is it possible to take it apart and access the circuit board? (For example, some sticks are potted in plastic so you can't)

It really depends what the problem is. For someone with the right skills, and to give you an idea:

Grabbing an image of a corrupted partition: easy, 10 minutes

Resoldering the USB connector: easy, 10 minutes

Desoldering the flash chip and replacing it in an identical USB stick: middling, a few hours - if the flash chip is in an amenable package you can source the exact same stick.

Desoldering the flash chip and reading it out with other hardware: harder, a day or more (less if you have the hardware already to hand)

Pulling apart and repairing the flash chip: really hard, weeks/months (and many thousands of pounds of equipment time)

Theo

Card Data Recovery. cheap and easy to use

Or this one

Arfa