We received this flash drive yesterday. We chose to complete a chip off due to the damage to the board, however the data is encrypted. We therefore need to try and access the data via the board. The 4 connections chip side of the break look fairly straightforward to use, however its the damage to the board to the right of 2R2 that concerns me. Do you think this is recoverable? Any advice on how to handle the damage.

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HDD, SSD, Flash and RAID Data Recovery
Founder of The Data Recovery Professionals Group

I think you should be fine to tap wires into the top of the "2R2" resistor for +3v, the right side of the two small black resistors for the data lines and any ground point.

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PC Image Data Recovery
http://www.pcimage.co.uk

New!! HDD-PCB.COM for all your PCB and donor HDD requirements!

I don't see a problem, looks pretty easy to me. Maybe check that Vcc and Vss aren't shorted.

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Recover My Flash Drive

Hi ,
Easy But Will Take Time .I did Something Like This Few Months Back -> http://forum.acelaboratory.com/viewtopi ... 234&t=8726

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Regards
Amarbir S Dhillon , Chandigarh Data Recovery Labs [India]
Logical,Semi Physical And Physical Data Recovery
Website-> http://www.chandigarhdatarecovery.com

unless it is a 4 layer board, then you have your work cut out

Well,
Even if It Is Its Not Broken From a Place Where Reconstruction is Very Hard

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Regards
Amarbir S Dhillon , Chandigarh Data Recovery Labs [India]
Logical,Semi Physical And Physical Data Recovery
Website-> http://www.chandigarhdatarecovery.com

I'm kind of interested to see what controller is being used.. also a picture of the back side of the PCB. If there are any SMD's or errant vias/traces it could complicate things. It looks like a 4 layer PCB to me that's why I suggested checking for continuity before plugging it in.. don't want the magic smoke to escape.

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Recover My Flash Drive

Sorry for the late response, been laid up with a cold for the last couple of days. Here is the back of the board. It looks perfectly okay which is good news. Controller chip is SM3255EN Q AA. As you know I am learning this advanced stuff (even though you say its easy ). Its a bit like a brain surgeon telling his intern its 'just a tumor', we simply need to remove the top of the skull and take it out..... How would I test continuity given the condition of the board? And Jeremy if you want this I can send it to you.

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HDD, SSD, Flash and RAID Data Recovery
Founder of The Data Recovery Professionals Group

Look closely at the four traces going from the USB contacts and see where they connect to. You can use an exact-o-knife to scrape up the green coating over the trace to make a contact point for yourself that you can then solder a small wire onto to jumper it. Worst case it should take a couple hours of working with it to get it working, unless it's multilayered, but it doesn't look like it is.

If you want, I'll do it for $300.

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Data Medics - Hard Drive, SSD, and RAID Data Recovery Service Company

I have done several of these types of recoveries with jumper wires, but this is a little different. It does look like a multi-layered board. I tried doing what pcimage suggested but there was still no power to the board. I think an in-depth knowledge of electronics is needed. Not a skill I have (yet).

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HDD, SSD, Flash and RAID Data Recovery
Founder of The Data Recovery Professionals Group

SM3255EN Q AA do not crypt data.
This case is 5 minutes job

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Flash Killer - everyday new resources (pinout, XOR, ECC,config) for flash devices

Agree with Arvika - chip off recovery best option. As it is physical damage, the issues that usually complicate chip-off recovery should not exist.

Hi Guys
We completed a chip off first due to the damage, but could not resolve the case. Ace Labs support logged in to help and said the chip was encrypted.

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HDD, SSD, Flash and RAID Data Recovery
Founder of The Data Recovery Professionals Group

outsource to Arvika would be my recommendation.
also, sometimes a mix consisting of first step Join by byte can look like encryption because of the high entropy.

Then you wouldn't learn anything
My personal advice.. get the following tools:
10x (I use 20x) microscope off Amazon (not a camera)
Attach some 32-40AWG Teflon coated solid wire to a USB connector
Some "real" tweezers (eg: Wiha), not cheap garbage
A small chisel soldering tip.
A multimeter with continuity testing.

Make sure +5 and GND aren't shorted.. if it is shorted try cleaning up the copper layer in the middle.. proceed from there.

Other options include a donor PCB board, I'm sure HaQue has one in his museum of donors.
Sometimes you can get away without an "exact" match, I'll usually compare PCB designs or swap both the controller and NAND chip if the PCB is a match..
Note: some controllers use resistors (usually beside each other) to enable/disable some NAND chips so you may need to copy that configuration.

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Recover My Flash Drive

If this flash is crypted it would be strange. Maybe user use some program to crypt data? I never meet SM controllers with crypt option. It would be nice look at dump. If you are able share it let me know via PM.

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Flash Killer - everyday new resources (pinout, XOR, ECC,config) for flash devices

I have everything you detail above, it just knowledge I lack.
Thanks for the additional advice. Will try what you suggest.

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HDD, SSD, Flash and RAID Data Recovery
Founder of The Data Recovery Professionals Group

Thanks for the offer, I will knuckle down and do some more work (as instructed by Jeremy ) and let you know.

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HDD, SSD, Flash and RAID Data Recovery
Founder of The Data Recovery Professionals Group

So interested to see continue. Encrypted or, not to be, that is the question.