Datarecovery USB flash drive - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: SolderOcelot
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2024, 10:40:58 am
content: I've endevoured on a journey of physical datarecovery with a first project that's OK to fail. There is data on the device but not of utmost importance.It's a Kingston Datatraveler G3 16 GB which is not being detected at all. It has a phison controller and a seperate nand storage chip on the other side. The PCB looks spotless, no loose pads, no burnt components, no oxidation.My own ideas right now are:Reflowing the controller and / or nand chipTransplanting the storage chip onto a similar PCB which is not faulty. It has no BGA so difficulty level is not "undoable"Would love some advice on what to do next!

author: magic
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2024, 11:00:57 am
content: Step -1: be damn sure that it's totally dead, and not even announcing its presence to the hub, neither 2.0 nor 3.0Step 0: check continuity of USB signals, resistors, heat MLCCs with a soldering iron

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2024, 11:18:35 am
content: could be a bad contact on the 9 pins usb plug ...

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2024, 11:53:15 am
content: Before heating anything, I would go around and nudgeeverypin with fine tipped tweezers or similar probe. You will hopefully find an unsoldered one and are far less likely to introduce other faults, shorts etc. It is easiest to identify loose passives by reflowing them, but for ICs and connectors, use the mechanical test first.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2024, 02:59:34 am
content: Check if there's any sign of life from the controller.Based on the discussion here, it may just be very bad NAND (that part marking FT16B08UCH1 but an ID from Hynix suggests it's remarked rejects, and to make matters worse, it's TLC):https://forum.hddguru.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=40000The parameters to do chip-off recovery can be found here:http://flash-extractor.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12949

author: SolderOcelot
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2024, 07:27:58 pm
content: Quote from: magic on August 24, 2024, 11:00:57 amI think that's a great point I didn't seriously consider. I will be needing thinner probes to properly test the contuinity from inside the port. Guess I'll order some!Quote from: Gyro on August 24, 2024, 11:53:15 amAlso great advice. I tested every pin with tweezers and everything is mounted rock-solid.Quote from: amyk on August 25, 2024, 02:59:34 amSuper interesting stuff. I secretly hope I have to get into this stuff but also maybe that's a bit far-fetched for a learner project so I hope it's something simpler. Have to rule out the above points first.

author: SolderOcelot
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2024, 12:48:50 pm
content: I picked this project up again and would truly appreciate some external input.I've replaced the USB connector from a working donor USB flash drive (exact same model) with only basic soldering skills. I have also purchased a USB 3.0 breakout board and I'm getting excellent readings with only 2 small quirks. So I set my multimeter to diode mode (with beep sound) and I notice 2 suspicious things:GND 4 only beeps with pin 4 (from top) and not with casing nor pin 5 (drive side), whereas GND 7 beeps with casing and pin 5 (drive side). I thought all GND should connect to casingRX- 5 (breakout) takes about half a second to beep with SSRX- (pin 1, drive side) but stables out at 0 ohmUSB is still completely undetected by computer. Any ideas?

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2024, 01:02:22 pm
content: do not check continuity in diode testuse ohms ...

author: SolderOcelot
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2024, 01:59:50 pm
content: Quote from: coromonadalix on November 11, 2024, 01:02:22 pmI have been criticized before about this so I should maybe stop doing that.I have measured resistence and have noticed that the breakout points measure 0.1 to 0.3 ohms to the destination pins. However I notice that all breakout points have some sort of connection to all pins in the 10k to 14m ohms range. I'm going to assume that it's not a perfect open circuit that closes only when plugged into computer..Maybe I should try ultrasonic cleaning or a reflow with nice amount of flux.

author: BILLPOD
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2024, 02:38:01 pm
content: Good Morning SolderOcelot, This may have already been suggested, or you did try it yourself........Have you tried a known good thumb/flash drive in the same USB port to see if it is working properly?

author: SolderOcelot
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2024, 02:41:28 pm
content: Quote from: BILLPOD on November 11, 2024, 02:38:01 pmDefinitely. I have multiple computers and I have even tried datarecovery software, drive is undetected. FYI: I chose this specific USB drive BECAUSE I know for sure it's faulty. This is an educational project