USB flash drive problem

DeaLunae · 12-01-2006, 03:22 AM

I have an Emprex USB2.0 flash drive. Minimal 128MB storage.

I've always taken out the USB by the "Safely Remove Hardware" thing. This morning I plugged in my USB drive and the light that usually turns on doesn't turn on. The computer doesn't even notice that I plugged it in.

I'm dreading the answer but is there anyway to recover those files within the USB drive or to get it to work again?

**Done_Fishin** · 12-01-2006, 03:34 AM

TRuy rstarting your PC and putting it in again.
Sometimes the USB just refuses to strt up properly ..
only the other day I went to use my Camera CF card only to realise that none of the USB dard reader drives were showing .. a restart cured it.
Also you could try installing new hardware whilst the drive is connected.
If all else fails try one of the recovery programs on one of the threads in the "troubleshooting tips & tricks" section

DeaLunae · 12-01-2006, 12:43 PM

Okay, so I tried restrarting it but the computer still doesn't see the USB thumbdrive that I plugged in there. I tried other USBs and they all work so I think the thumbdrive is dead

Now that its most likely dead, is there anyway to still recover the files or no?

BTW, thanks for the help.

Edit:: SOrry forgot to mention. The Recover programs require that they can read the drive is there. So those aren't as helpful as I hoped.

**Done_Fishin** · 12-01-2006, 01:32 PM

Apart from trying on another PC "just in case", probably not. It sounds like you lost your first drive, the way I lost mine when I first got a drive. They were quite expensive back then too! I have lived with the "thought" of losiing data on my flash drives ever since and currently have my drive backed up on both the PC that I use it on frequently AND the computer that I visit to do work. It's a hard lesson. The only good thing about the failure was that it was still within guarantee so after returning it I managed to get a replacement, even though about 2 months and lots of phone calls later.

I haven't found any programs that "probe" ports to look for a device that should be present.
I assume that when you said you had tried other USB's you meant other devices in that USB port.
Sorry I can't be more helpful. I don't know if anyone else has any links to diagnosis programs that might help.

dmitryk · 12-03-2006, 04:49 PM

When you USB flash drives like that if you need data of it you most likely will need data recovery company (similar to one I'm working for) to get your data back. Most of the time when USB Flash Drive die like that internal Microcontroler get cooked. The flash chip which contains all data still alive and it is still possible to pull data of it.
Few things you might try yourself:
- make sure that USB connector is not bent and soldering connection are still have contact with the board
- see if any DIY Data recovery sofware can recognize you drive (R-Studio, etc).

12-01-2006, 03:22 AM	#1 (permalink)
DeaLunae Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 25 OS: WinXP	USB flash drive problem I have an Emprex USB2.0 flash drive. Minimal 128MB storage. I've always taken out the USB by the "Safely Remove Hardware" thing. This morning I plugged in my USB drive and the light that usually turns on doesn't turn on. The computer doesn't even notice that I plugged it in. I'm dreading the answer but is there anyway to recover those files within the USB drive or to get it to work again?

12-01-2006, 03:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
Done_Fishin Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brit living in Greece Posts: 7,521 OS: WinME, WinXP Pro SP3, Win7 Beta, Ubuntu 9.04 & Netbook Remix & CD2USB, Mepis 6.5, Fedora 10 My System	TRuy rstarting your PC and putting it in again. Sometimes the USB just refuses to strt up properly .. only the other day I went to use my Camera CF card only to realise that none of the USB dard reader drives were showing .. a restart cured it. Also you could try installing new hardware whilst the drive is connected. If all else fails try one of the recovery programs on one of the threads in the "troubleshooting tips & tricks" section __________________ . . I'm not old!! I'm age impaired .. D_F I DON'T PLAY GAMES How to mark your thread as solved HDD DIAG UTILS TSF's Photographer's Corner

12-01-2006, 12:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
DeaLunae Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 25 OS: WinXP	Okay, so I tried restrarting it but the computer still doesn't see the USB thumbdrive that I plugged in there. I tried other USBs and they all work so I think the thumbdrive is dead Now that its most likely dead, is there anyway to still recover the files or no? BTW, thanks for the help. Edit:: SOrry forgot to mention. The Recover programs require that they can read the drive is there. So those aren't as helpful as I hoped. Last edited by DeaLunae; 12-01-2006 at 12:46 PM. Reason: Added Info

12-01-2006, 01:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
Done_Fishin Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brit living in Greece Posts: 7,521 OS: WinME, WinXP Pro SP3, Win7 Beta, Ubuntu 9.04 & Netbook Remix & CD2USB, Mepis 6.5, Fedora 10 My System	Apart from trying on another PC "just in case", probably not. It sounds like you lost your first drive, the way I lost mine when I first got a drive. They were quite expensive back then too! I have lived with the "thought" of losiing data on my flash drives ever since and currently have my drive backed up on both the PC that I use it on frequently AND the computer that I visit to do work. It's a hard lesson. The only good thing about the failure was that it was still within guarantee so after returning it I managed to get a replacement, even though about 2 months and lots of phone calls later. I haven't found any programs that "probe" ports to look for a device that should be present. I assume that when you said you had tried other USB's you meant other devices in that USB port. Sorry I can't be more helpful. I don't know if anyone else has any links to diagnosis programs that might help. __________________ . . I'm not old!! I'm age impaired .. D_F I DON'T PLAY GAMES How to mark your thread as solved HDD DIAG UTILS TSF's Photographer's Corner

12-03-2006, 04:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
dmitryk Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Toronto... for now Posts: 76 OS: XP	When you USB flash drives like that if you need data of it you most likely will need data recovery company (similar to one I'm working for) to get your data back. Most of the time when USB Flash Drive die like that internal Microcontroler get cooked. The flash chip which contains all data still alive and it is still possible to pull data of it. Few things you might try yourself: - make sure that USB connector is not bent and soldering connection are still have contact with the board - see if any DIY Data recovery sofware can recognize you drive (R-Studio, etc). __________________ Dmitry Kisselev