Problem with Memorex Travel Drive

[Rudy]

Hey guys,
I've had someone contact me saying he accidentally put his USB travel drive in the wash. After waiting until he was sure it was dry, he put it into his computer, and of course, it was not recognized.

He has now given me the drive and has asked me to try and recover the files. When I plug it into my own computer, the indicator light doesn't even turn on, which indicates to me that the USB portion is definitely shot.

Anyway, this guy said he saw somewhere on some website that it is possible to take out the memory card from the casing and, in his words, "do something with it" and get the information off.

I've googled, and will continue to do so. I did find a recovery company that specializes in this. He also knows of somewhere that will do it for $450. But he wants me to try first, partly because I'll charge less, and because he needs the data ASAP.

Any suggestions, comments, ideas, are appreciated. Maybe if your helpful I'd be willing to shoot some Rep and/or NP your way too.

Note: I do have a soldering iron. Do you think it's feasible for me to try and take the memory out and try to stick it into a new USB "holder"?

- David

 

[weblord]

first of all, keep the water where he accidentally dropped the drive, there might be file fragments there that can be recovered. :lol: nah just joking.
DIY first 450 is a killer, don't fall for it.
i need every info you can give me.
brand, what shop bought? everything.

 

[Rudy]

Hey William,

It's a Memorex Travel Drive
Type: USB
Size: 1GB
Speed: USb 2.0
Physical (Outer) Description: It's grey, is about 2 inches long, has the Memorex logo "engraved" in a circle, and has "1GB" inside a small, blue background. While I can't find the actual drive the drive in this picture is the exact one (although I have some guesses as to which one it is).
Edit: Except that it isn't "mini"

This is all I know. There is no serial number on it or other identifcation. Ironically, I think this is a drive that I bought, and then traded with this guy for a different USB drive. I don't have any old receipts though, as this was at least a year or more ago.

I've never taken apart one of these things before, nor have I soldered (many) circuits before, but I know how it works, and have done one or two in the past, and don't doubt my abilities / potential. :o

- David

 

[weblord]

so 2007 model?
is this the exact one?
http://www.memorex.com/products/product_list.php?section=3&CID=12&SID=16&opento=12
who's David?

Hey William,

It's a Memorex Travel Drive
Type: USB
Size: 1GB
Speed: USb 2.0

This is all I know. There is no serial number on it or other identifcation. Ironically, I think this is a drive that I bought, and then traded with this guy for a different USB drive. I don't have any old receipts though, as this was at least a year or more ago.

- David

 

[Rudy]

Weblord,
I think we're both thinking on the same wave lengths! That's the one (see my edited post above), except that it isn't the "mini."

David is my real name. Rudy (was) just my nickname - 9 years ago when I was in middle school, that is!

- David

 

[weblord]

can you try to contact memorex there since they might have a solution dropping it in water won't just delete the data.

other sources of online help
http://www.fixya.com/support/memorex/removable_media

they answer within 24 hours
http://getsatisfaction.com/memorex

Weblord,
I think we're both thinking on the same wave lengths! That's the one (see my edited post above), except that it isn't the "mini."

David is my real name. Rudy (was) just my nickname - 9 years ago when I was in middle school, that is!

- David

 

[Rudy]

Yeah, that's a good idea. I went ahead and contacted them tonight, so we'll see if they respond, and what they say. I have a feeling though, that even though I said I'm a computer technician, they'll tell me not to resolder it, and to go to a "professional." Hopefully they can help!

 

[weblord]

you can also DIY the resoldering

Yeah, that's a good idea. I went ahead and contacted them tonight, so we'll see if they respond, and what they say. I have a feeling though, that even though I said I'm a computer technician, they'll tell me not to resolder it, and to go to a "professional." Hopefully they can help!

 

[Rudy]

That's what I'm thinking of doing... I'll see if they respond in a reasonable time period though.

 

[Rudy]

I haven't done anything, but I haven't heard from Memorex yet either.

I heard from 1 source that washing it in rubbing alcohol might do the trick. I heard from somewhere else that spraying it with WD-40 will help it not to corrode.

Thoughts?

 

[notlikeyou]

The alcohol will only help clean the connection where the male USB connector inserts into the PC. But honestly this one seems grim. It really comes down to how important is the data, is the 450 worth it? Do they guarantee a result for the 450 or could they just come back & say "sorry it's shot, where's the cash?" As a last resort I would open the case & resolder the chip connections into a new usb connector.

 

[weblord]

just wait 48 hours.
http://memorex.com/support/support_care_form.php

or try any of their phone numbers
http://memorex.com/company/about_us.php

 

[Joseph]

Let it dry properly, then remove the memory and place it on a new usb connector - hopefully this should work

 

[Rudy]

This looks really interesting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ1qisX52rI&feature=related

Now that I'm researching all this stuff, I'm realizing that I really have hardly any soldering experience, that I don't have the right soldering iron (just an entry-level tool), and that I'll need to find a place to buy this as well as a good alloy in the quickest amount of time.

I've also had people suggest to me to check and see if this specific circuit board can hold a charge (if it has any electrolytic capacitors), and comments that the problem could be on the memory chip itself.

I think I just found the exact drive:
http://memorex.com/support/support_product_detail.php?pid=965

 

[weblord]

just fill out the customer care form, is this resolved for you?

 

[Rudy]

Nope. Memorex doesn't support damaged drives like this and according to both the technician that emailed me AND the one who I spoke on the phone with, I "should take this to a data recovery specialist."

The guy isn't willing to pay the $450 (I talked to him today), and Memorex won't give me the circuit board specifications ... I don't have the tools to do a good soldering job (or the experience), so I'm almost at a dead end. He said it's not the end of the world if he can't get the data back, but he'd really like to get it.

 

[weblord]

im not sure about dropping it in soap water, but if dropped only in water after drying it, the data will still be there.
if this is the case spot some usb data recovery software (freeware or shareware you only need to use once no need to buy it)
http://www.download.com/1770-20_4-0...Name=platform=Windows&filter=platform=Windows
or elsewhere in google.com
if you bought in local shop (not online) try to call in as well the shop usually the tech people can help you resolve it, just phone them direct to customer support i do that usually on my cellphone if it has problems, they suggest free software even

 

[dgridley]

Did it also go thru the dryer? If so, the heat may be the culprit, not the water.

I'm surprised it's not working after drying out, unless it wasn't completely dry when he tried it and shorted it.

I've had cell phones and cameras both drop into water and work fairly well after drying out... my GF even dropped her cell phone into a glass of Pepsi and it worked after drying (except for the display backlight).