Is it really fried?

eternicode · 06-10-2008, 12:49 PM

I have what I believe to be a unique problem. Intricate google searches have failed me, and simple searches in various forums don't turn up anything similar.

In the process of modding an XBox breakaway cable (splicing USB male and female connectors into it), I got the GND and 5V wires from the USB cable wired to the 5V and GND wires from the XBox, respectively (5V-to-GND and vice-versa). It was an older USB cable with non-standard wire colors (details at xbox-scene.com). While the wires were switched, I was constantly plugging my 1GB U3-enabled SanDisk Cruzer Micro, to see if it was working.

Once I realized the wires were backward (and had fried an XBox controller), I plugged the flash drive into my computer hoping it would work, but it didn't.

I opened the cruzer up, and there doesn't appear to be any phyisical damage (no burn marks, anyway). When I plug the drive into a computer, the LED comes on for a few seconds, then goes off. If I leave the drive in, it starts flashing the LED in a series of three flashes, over and over.

So my question is, is the drive really fried, or is something wrong that can be fixed? And I don't think the warranty covers this type of thing ^_^

Edit: Well, don't that just figure. After leaving it to flash for a few minutes, I unplugged and replugged it into my computer, and it works fine now. Weird...

06-10-2008, 12:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
eternicode Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1 OS: Kubuntu Hardy	Is it really fried? I have what I believe to be a unique problem. Intricate google searches have failed me, and simple searches in various forums don't turn up anything similar. In the process of modding an XBox breakaway cable (splicing USB male and female connectors into it), I got the GND and 5V wires from the USB cable wired to the 5V and GND wires from the XBox, respectively (5V-to-GND and vice-versa). It was an older USB cable with non-standard wire colors (details at xbox-scene.com). While the wires were switched, I was constantly plugging my 1GB U3-enabled SanDisk Cruzer Micro, to see if it was working. Once I realized the wires were backward (and had fried an XBox controller), I plugged the flash drive into my computer hoping it would work, but it didn't. I opened the cruzer up, and there doesn't appear to be any phyisical damage (no burn marks, anyway). When I plug the drive into a computer, the LED comes on for a few seconds, then goes off. If I leave the drive in, it starts flashing the LED in a series of three flashes, over and over. So my question is, is the drive really fried, or is something wrong that can be fixed? And I don't think the warranty covers this type of thing ^_^ Edit: Well, don't that just figure. After leaving it to flash for a few minutes, I unplugged and replugged it into my computer, and it works fine now. Weird... Last edited by eternicode; 06-10-2008 at 12:52 PM.