The USB stick is your “temporary” file repository for years: thesis draft, contract folder, only copy that commuted on a key ring. It fails at connectors, controllers and counterfeit capacity, and arrives at South Gyle daily bent, dead or demanding formats. Free diagnostic, honest verdict, fixed quote.
The bend: caught by a knee or bag, connector solder joints cracked off or traces torn: electronic repair territory, with excellent odds if the flash remains untouched (do not straighten it yourself; flexing snaps what soldering fixes). The silence: nothing when inserted, or an unknown device error: usually the controller chip has died and the job is now a chip-off read of the NAND directly, monoliths included. The lie: bargain sticks faking firmware to report capacities their flash never had, fine until the real space runs out, then sudden mass corruption; recovery reads what really exists and rebuilds the true file table.
‘You need to format the disk before you can use it’ is Windows encountering a file system that Windows cannot interpret, and clicking yes replaces all of your files with an empty structure that Windows wanted. If you've received the message: unplug it, and do not continually reconnect your USB drive or other media hoping for a different response. If you have already clicked 'yes', cease immediately: a quick format writes very little data to the media, and as long as no new data is written to the media, the odds of recovering your lost files remain good. Regardless, the "bench" process will be the same: back up the contents of your USB flash drive (or retrieve its chip's contents), rebuild the file system on the backup, and list your files again prior to concluding the job is complete.
Very often: when connectors bend, they crack at the joints, or on traces, while the flash is left intact. Micro-soldering will then restore the link for imaging purposes. Do not pull it back into shape or wobble it around in a port; each time you flex it, you increase the chances of cracking those traces which are needed for repairs.
If you answered yes: most likely not all. A quick format puts in an empty new index file and does not touch your original files, and recovery rebuilds using whatever data remains. If you have not yet answered: do not. Remove it from power. Get a quote before sending, either via phone call or by filling out the form, and send it in as is (unformatted RAW sticks are standard recovery jobs).
There are many counterfeit versions available on the market. For example, some firmware reports that you have 256GB of memory when in reality it is only 16 GB. Once the real 16 GB runs out, corruption sets in and you will no longer be able to access the data. To assist with recovery we can read the good data from the original (genuine) memory and use it to recreate what was originally saved. In other words, if your cheap USB stick wiped all your files, we would describe it as "partially recoverable", with verification at the diagnostic stage.
First, a free diagnostic, then a fixed written quote before any work is done. This means no surprises on the invoice (because we don't give you an invoice until you approve the number).
The bench work involved with recovering a stick usually does not warrant a standalone case file; however, the bench work is essentially identical to that performed during chip-level SSD recovery, the same raw-NAND reading, just a much smaller package.
It will take only two moves to place your device at our service area, and once that has been accomplished, the clock on your free look starts.
First get a quote, over the telephone or using the online quotation form. When sending your internal drive, remove all cables, caddies and power supplies, as they will have little use when sent to us. But when sending an external drive, send the complete item, including its original casing, together with the supplied cable and power supply. Ensure that the device is securely wrapped and unable to move during transportation. Either post it insured to 4 Redheughs Rigg Westpoint, South Gyle, Edinburgh EH12 9DQ or call into our offices Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm, with no appointment needed. Please include a brief description of how your device was damaged. If you have printed a shipping form, please attach it along with the device.
Once the arrival of your device has been confirmed, the diagnostic will run free of charge, and then when we make the phone call to you, we'll name the problem and tell you the fixed price to fix it. The bench will remain dormant on your device until you give us permission to proceed.
£250 + VAT, fixed price. A free diagnostic is included before we begin. Chip-off and monolith reading recover sticks which cannot be seen by anything else.