Dear Gurus

I have in my hands a USB memory stick from Lexar (4GB). Which used to work but no more.

When I plug-in to Windows (XP SP3), it is recognised and mounted (even assigned a letter) but no partition is available.

I tried to 'raw copy' with HDDGuru Raw copy utility to image file (so I can then scan it for files with raw scanning tools). The HDDGuru Raw copy utility sees the memory stick as 5,5 KB capacity (11 LBAs).
When it copies the images, it just creates a few Kbytes file which actually is filled with zeros.

I have tried also to raw copy using linux dd command:
The memory stick is recognized as device under /dev/sdb (again no partitions)

command:
dd if=/dev/sdb of=/root/recovery.img
produces an error or reading from /dev/sdb device.

Any idea, what else I can try with software tools?
or I'm start looking into electronics parts problems? any suggestions there as next steps?

Thank you very much in advance
KC

The capacity being reported is (probably) relative to the cache or some other onboard memory. I would assume that physically it is OK but there is some damage to some internal translation table or similar.

You would need pro help with it

Hmmm, it's worse that I thought.

I opened the case, and saw that memory flash chip K9HBG08U1M-PCB0, has one side totally unsoldered in the air.
Not only that, but the pins that are in the air (pin 25-48) have dragged with them the soldered PCB bases with them. So PCB has only 'empty' holes instead of pin bases. Of course this means that pin bases have been cut-off from actual PCB lines.

Anyone tried, or know if this is possible to fix?
Are there tools for removing the flash chip, plug it in tool and get raw data in an image file?

Thanks for your suggestions on next steps
KC

Chip needs to be cleaned, short removed, and read via specific hardware like soft centers Flash Extractor or Acelabs PC3000 Flash.

In short, you need to get this to a professional for any realistic chance of retrieving your data.

Many thanks