A customer has asked me to recover important data from a 4gb usb flash drive.
It shows in Windows with device name and size but when I try to access the data Windows asks for me to 'insert disk'.

Software recovery options see the drive but show 0 bytes so can't go any further.

I've tried resoldering but still the same.

Led does NOT flash!

xtal tested OK.

It must be a faulty controller chip, I think.

Controller chip (its a new type for me) is a small rectangular shaped BGA chip. Not really possible to replace without infra red soldering kit. So I have decided the only way is to remove the 2 tsop memory chips with a hot air station and transplant them into a replacement drive.

I have tried to source a new replacement usb drive but can't find one the same. The original point of sale can't help. The one I bought in today looked the same on the outside but internally was VERY different.

Are there any other options or am I stuck?

Hi,

I think it is not that sure the controller is bad, it is possible that some data corruption in the system area occured.
the solution is not easy, read out the flash memories and rebuild the LBA space...

regards,
pepe

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Adatmentés - Data recovery