CompactFlash, SD, MMC, USB flash storage. Anything that does not have moving parts inside.
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Data recovery from Partially damaged Flash devices

June 22nd, 2015, 8:40

Dear All
Data Recovery from completely failed Nand flash chips /devices is extremely complex & needs thorough knowledge of electronics / programming etc. It needs hardware devices like ACE PC3000 Flash / rusolut /BVG etc,
Often we came across USB pen drives or Memory cards which are partially damaged ( show correct size , give read access but give bad sectors or some read errors). Some of the home users are not having mission critical data as well ( personal photographs ) So they are not willing to spend money as well.
Is there any low cost hardware -software solution which will identify microcontroller & image failing device as compared to plain data recovery /imaging tool . If someone know about such solution pls. let me know.
Thanks.

Re: Data recovery from Partially damaged Flash devices

June 22nd, 2015, 9:24

No There isn't.

Best you can hope for is imaging with dmde/winhex/r-studio/PFaM/dd etc if the device works but the filesystem is damaged. If the controller isn't 100%, no hardware or software is going to help. The controller is a required link between the PC(USB Port) and the NAND chip. It absolutely must be working to retrieve anything meaningful from the NAND.

in Modern flash devices (2011 onwards) it is even more critical as the controller needs to apply the XOR Key and also translate wear levelling and performance algorithms.

steps in flash recovery are limited:

-physical repair - broken connectors, unsoldered components, failed electronics
-imaging/filesystem issues
-chip off

SSDs -may- have some additional luck but trying to create a general purpose fix for any flash is going to be tough due to the sheer number of combinations of Controller/NAND/PCB/firmware etc

Re: Data recovery from Partially damaged Flash devices

June 23rd, 2015, 0:49

Thank You so much HaQue
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