Post by thread:[EE] USB drive emergency

My new flash drive just died and I desperately need data off of it, as it's been almost a week since my last backup with a lot of work done since then. I really suspect the connector as it's a bit bent. When plugged in, it either is not detected at all, or if I put pressure on the connector it will detect something, then come up with "One of the USB devices is not recognized...". It's a USB 3.0 drive (9-pin connector), but my computer has 4-pin USB ports. I've opened up the flash drive and the connector has "110815", which I've not yet been able to find. But it looks identical to Amphenol GSB316441CEU (datasheet... http://media.digikey.com/pdf/Data%20Sheets/Amphenol%20PDFs/GSB316431CEU.pdf ) or Wurth 692112030100 (datasheet... http://katalog.we-online.de/kataloge/eican/media/pdf/692112030100.pdf ) I'm stripping a generic USB cable and intend to solder the 4 wires to the appropriate pads on the flash-drive PCB, but am not clear which pins on the USB side are mapped to which SMD pins on the PCB side, because the Amphenol connector does not show pin numbers, though the Wurth does. I'm testing with an ohmmeter, but so far all I see is that USB pin 1 maps to the second SMD pin, and that matches the Wurth connector datasheet. Would it be safe to assume that these connectors (including the once I have) have the same mappings? And anything I need to do with the shield wire? Before I cause more damage, thoughts appreciated. Cheers, -Neil.

Actually just tried that, but still not ohmmeter not seeing any connection to 2 pins. There are 2 large chips which have no visible pins, so I won't be able to move them. Just soldered on the wires, so my next email will be either extremely happiness or extremely sad... Quoting William Wilson <spam_OUTCRISTakeThisOuTclemson.edu>: {Quote hidden}> I've had some luck with just reflowing the solder between the board > and connector on USB drives. > I've also had luck moving the memory chip over to an identical > working USB drive (thumbdrive that is) > > > > Cris Wilson > Information Resource Consultant > College of Architecture, Arts, and Humanities > Clemson University > 864-656-6081 > > > {Original Message removed}

On Mon, Oct 3, 2011 at 1:57 PM, PICdude <.....picdude3KILLspam@spam@narwani.org> wrote: > Actually just tried that, but still not ohmmeter not seeing any > connection to 2 pins. Â There are 2 large chips which have no visible > pins, so I won't be able to move them. > > Just soldered on the wires, so my next email will be either extremely > happiness or extremely sad... > "Device not recognized" generally means Windows knows there's a device there due to the pullup resistors, but the hardware is not communicating. I'd reflow the joints like others have mentioned. - Martin K

Mixed results: it worked for a bit... I instantly started copying files but it died after some time (maybe 20 mins), and the drive was not recognizable anymore after that. The drive was hot at that point. I'm at home today so all I have is a basic weller iron, but I can't see anything that looks shorted. Good news is that I got my Eagle files back (lots of work there). Average news is that I could not get some invoices/admin stuff, but since I emailed those to customers, I can extract from emails and re-create. Bad news is that I could not get back all but one PIC code file which was last modified on Saturday. It's not enough for me to bother to go to a data-recovery service, so got some work to do again. :( Cheers, -Neil. Quoting PICdude <picdude3KILLspamnarwani.org>: {Quote hidden}> Actually just tried that, but still not ohmmeter not seeing any > connection to 2 pins. There are 2 large chips which have no visible > pins, so I won't be able to move them. > > Just soldered on the wires, so my next email will be either extremely > happiness or extremely sad... > > > > > Quoting William Wilson <.....CRISKILLspam.....clemson.edu>: > >> I've had some luck with just reflowing the solder between the board >> and connector on USB drives. >> I've also had luck moving the memory chip over to an identical >> working USB drive (thumbdrive that is) >> >> >> >> Cris Wilson >> Information Resource Consultant >> College of Architecture, Arts, and Humanities >> Clemson University >> 864-656-6081 >> >> >> {Original Message removed}

Neil, you have one "enclosure" and one harddisk. I understand that the enclosure is bad not the harddisk. The harddisk is not USB3 but only SATA(1 or 2 or 3) so you can connect to a motherboard or to another enclosure SATA compliant. ;-) Nicola On 03/10/2011 20.04, PICdude wrote: {Quote hidden}> Mixed results: it worked for a bit... I instantly started copying > files but it died after some time (maybe 20 mins), and the drive was > not recognizable anymore after that. The drive was hot at that point. > I'm at home today so all I have is a basic weller iron, but I can't > see anything that looks shorted. > > Good news is that I got my Eagle files back (lots of work there). > Average news is that I could not get some invoices/admin stuff, but > since I emailed those to customers, I can extract from emails and > re-create. Bad news is that I could not get back all but one PIC code > file which was last modified on Saturday. It's not enough for me to > bother to go to a data-recovery service, so got some work to do again. > :( > > Cheers, > -Neil. > > > > Quoting PICdude<EraseMEpicdude3spam_OUTTakeThisOuTnarwani.org>: > >> Actually just tried that, but still not ohmmeter not seeing any >> connection to 2 pins. There are 2 large chips which have no visible >> pins, so I won't be able to move them. >> >> Just soldered on the wires, so my next email will be either extremely >> happiness or extremely sad... >> >> >> >> >> Quoting William Wilson<CRISspam_OUTclemson.edu>: >> >>> I've had some luck with just reflowing the solder between the board >>> and connector on USB drives. >>> I've also had luck moving the memory chip over to an identical >>> working USB drive (thumbdrive that is) >>> >>> >>> >>> Cris Wilson >>> Information Resource Consultant >>> College of Architecture, Arts, and Humanities >>> Clemson University >>> 864-656-6081 >>> >>> >>> {Original Message removed}

If it's hot that's not right. Have you tried giving it a half hour to cool back down and then try inserting it again? I've got these great canned air things at work that if you flip them upside down you get a very cold liquid- I'd shoot it with that as soon as it started getting hot if your copy operation isn't complete yet. DougM On Mon, Oct 3, 2011 at 1:04 PM, PICdude <@spam@picdude3KILLspamnarwani.org> wrote: {Quote hidden}> Mixed results: it worked for a bit... I instantly started copying > files but it died after some time (maybe 20 mins), and the drive was > not recognizable anymore after that. The drive was hot at that point. > I'm at home today so all I have is a basic weller iron, but I can't > see anything that looks shorted. > > Good news is that I got my Eagle files back (lots of work there). > Average news is that I could not get some invoices/admin stuff, but > since I emailed those to customers, I can extract from emails and > re-create. Bad news is that I could not get back all but one PIC code > file which was last modified on Saturday. It's not enough for me to > bother to go to a data-recovery service, so got some work to do again. > :( > > Cheers, > -Neil. > > > > Quoting PICdude <KILLspampicdude3KILLspamnarwani.org>: > >> Actually just tried that, but still not ohmmeter not seeing any >> connection to 2 pins. There are 2 large chips which have no visible >> pins, so I won't be able to move them. >> >> Just soldered on the wires, so my next email will be either extremely >> happiness or extremely sad... >> >> >> >> >> Quoting William Wilson <RemoveMECRISTakeThisOuTclemson.edu>: >> >>> I've had some luck with just reflowing the solder between the board >>> and connector on USB drives. >>> I've also had luck moving the memory chip over to an identical >>> working USB drive (thumbdrive that is) >>> >>> >>> >>> Cris Wilson >>> Information Resource Consultant >>> College of Architecture, Arts, and Humanities >>> Clemson University >>> 864-656-6081 >>> >>> >>> {Original Message removed}

Not hard drive, but flash drive. BTW, as of a couple months ago, I've been shuffling between 3 computers and data-syncing has been tedious (and one is a netbook in my car's glove box so don't want to leave any data on it). So I got a 32GB flash drive for my active & personal data and all machines have apps installed and more static data (datasheets, etc). Worked well for over a month, until today's failure. And of course it happens when I miss one backup. Cheers, -Neil. Quoting Nicola Perotto <spamBeGonenicolaspamBeGonenicolaperotto.it>: {Quote hidden}> Neil, > you have one "enclosure" and one harddisk. > I understand that the enclosure is bad not the harddisk. > The harddisk is not USB3 but only SATA(1 or 2 or 3) so you can connect to a > motherboard or to another enclosure SATA compliant. > ;-) > Nicola > > > On 03/10/2011 20.04, PICdude wrote: >> Mixed results: it worked for a bit... I instantly started copying >> files but it died after some time (maybe 20 mins), and the drive was >> not recognizable anymore after that. The drive was hot at that point. >> I'm at home today so all I have is a basic weller iron, but I can't >> see anything that looks shorted. >> >> Good news is that I got my Eagle files back (lots of work there). >> Average news is that I could not get some invoices/admin stuff, but >> since I emailed those to customers, I can extract from emails and >> re-create. Bad news is that I could not get back all but one PIC code >> file which was last modified on Saturday. It's not enough for me to >> bother to go to a data-recovery service, so got some work to do again. >> :( >> >> Cheers, >> -Neil. >> >> >> >> Quoting PICdude<TakeThisOuTpicdude3EraseMEspam_OUTnarwani.org>: >> >>> Actually just tried that, but still not ohmmeter not seeing any >>> connection to 2 pins. There are 2 large chips which have no visible >>> pins, so I won't be able to move them. >>> >>> Just soldered on the wires, so my next email will be either extremely >>> happiness or extremely sad... >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Quoting William Wilson<RemoveMECRISTakeThisOuTclemson.edu>: >>> >>>> I've had some luck with just reflowing the solder between the board >>>> and connector on USB drives. >>>> I've also had luck moving the memory chip over to an identical >>>> working USB drive (thumbdrive that is) >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Cris Wilson >>>> Information Resource Consultant >>>> College of Architecture, Arts, and Humanities >>>> Clemson University >>>> 864-656-6081 >>>> >>>> >>>> {Original Message removed}

At 03:45 PM 10/3/2011, PICdude wrote: >Not hard drive, but flash drive. > >BTW, as of a couple months ago, I've been shuffling between 3 >computers and data-syncing has been tedious (and one is a netbook in >my car's glove box so don't want to leave any data on it). So I got a >32GB flash drive for my active & personal data and all machines have >apps installed and more static data (datasheets, etc). Worked well >for over a month, until today's failure. And of course it happens >when I miss one backup. I know that we've (the PIClist) had this discussion previously, but I should mention it again: both Dropbox and Sugar Sync work EXTREMELY well for keeping files synchronized between several different machines. Dropbox offers a 2GB account for free, Sugar Sync offers a 5GB account for free. Sugar Sync also costs about half of what Dropbox charges for a yearly account. I use both. My free Dropbox account handles all of my PIC and CAD stuff, as well as all the little miscellaneous stuff that I tend to gather. Sugar Sync (30GB account) has all of my ebooks and magazines (about 20GB so far) as well as my Windows Utils install-files directory (several GB). Shameless plug: use my referral link to sign up and both you and I get extra space for free. This free space is perpetual - it never expires or needs any payment - ever. Dropbox referral link <http://db.tt/8nh08je> SugarSync referral link <https://www.sugarsync.com/referral?rf=csq0xyf24f4tc> One final advantage (for me): both Dropbox and Sugar Sync maintain a complete copy of that data 'in the cloud'. That means that I can access it anywhere I can get an Internet connection. Obviously, I use very strong passwords for those accounts so as to minimize risk of data snooping. I mention this because there are those folks who can not tolerate the risk of a third party holding a copy of sensitive data.. Neil: you could use one of those services and still keep a copy synchronized to your flash drive. If the drive ever dies like your previous drive did, you would still have access to those files. dwayne -- Dwayne Reid <EraseMEdwaynerplanet.eon.net> Trinity Electronics Systems Ltd Edmonton, AB, CANADA (780) 489-3199 voice (780) 487-6397 fax http://www.trinity-electronics.com Custom Electronics Design and Manufacturing

Unfortunately, online/network-based/cloud type models don't fit my lifestyle right now. Since my dad passed away a couple years ago I've been *very* displaced and fighting major legal battles out of the country. I get a lot of coding and admin stuff (ie: computer stuff) done when I'm on airplanes and when I'm in a third world country, which are the times I have very poor or no internet access. Even here in the US, depending on where I am at any given time, internet access can be quite crappy, so I don't want to depend on that right now. Cheers, -Neil. Quoting Dwayne Reid <RemoveMEdwaynerEraseMEEraseMEplanet.eon.net>: {Quote hidden}> I know that we've (the PIClist) had this discussion previously, but I > should mention it again: both Dropbox and Sugar Sync work EXTREMELY > well for keeping files synchronized between several different machines. > > Dropbox offers a 2GB account for free, Sugar Sync offers a 5GB > account for free. Sugar Sync also costs about half of what Dropbox > charges for a yearly account. > > I use both. My free Dropbox account handles all of my PIC and CAD > stuff, as well as all the little miscellaneous stuff that I tend to > gather. Sugar Sync (30GB account) has all of my ebooks and magazines > (about 20GB so far) as well as my Windows Utils install-files > directory (several GB). > > Shameless plug: use my referral link to sign up and both you and I > get extra space for free. This free space is perpetual - it never > expires or needs any payment - ever. > > Dropbox referral link <http://db.tt/8nh08je> > SugarSync referral link <https://www.sugarsync.com/referral?rf=csq0xyf24f4tc> > > One final advantage (for me): both Dropbox and Sugar Sync maintain a > complete copy of that data 'in the cloud'. That means that I can > access it anywhere I can get an Internet connection. Obviously, I > use very strong passwords for those accounts so as to minimize risk > of data snooping. I mention this because there are those folks who > can not tolerate the risk of a third party holding a copy of sensitive data. > > Neil: you could use one of those services and still keep a copy > synchronized to your flash drive. If the drive ever dies like your > previous drive did, you would still have access to those files. > > dwayne > > > -- > Dwayne Reid <RemoveMEdwaynerspam_OUTKILLspamplanet.eon.net> > Trinity Electronics Systems Ltd Edmonton, AB, CANADA > (780) 489-3199 voice (780) 487-6397 fax > http://www.trinity-electronics.com > Custom Electronics Design and Manufacturing > >

I've been using AxCrypt, which works fine, but I'll investigate this. One thing I'd like is the ability to password protect a folder in one shot, rather than each file individually (and without zipping, etc). If I double-click on an axcrypt'ed file, it asks for a password and will open it up in the correct app, but if I open up MPLAB and open a project, it won't recognize or open up the individual project files (unless first decrypted and then re-encrypted after I'm done). Would be nice if Truecrypt could handle that easier, or if it let's me unlock a folder first, then be able to handle this until I lock it again. Cheers, -Neil. Quoting Isaac Marino Bavaresco <RemoveMEisaacbavarescoTakeThisOuTspamyahoo.com.br>: {Quote hidden}> Em 03/10/2011 18:45, PICdude escreveu: >> Not hard drive, but flash drive. >> >> BTW, as of a couple months ago, I've been shuffling between 3 >> computers and data-syncing has been tedious (and one is a netbook in >> my car's glove box so don't want to leave any data on it). > > > Install TrueCrypt on it. I use and it is very secure and efficient: > <http://www.truecrypt.org> > > News story: > <http://news.techworld.com/security/3228701/fbi-hackers-fail-to-crack-truecrypt/\> > > Isaac > >

On Monday, October 03, 2011 8:12 PM, "Isaac Marino Bavaresco" wrote: > Em 03/10/2011 18:45, PICdude escreveu: > > Not hard drive, but flash drive. > > > > BTW, as of a couple months ago, I've been shuffling between 3 > > computers and data-syncing has been tedious (and one is a netbook in > > my car's glove box so don't want to leave any data on it). > > > Install TrueCrypt on it. I use and it is very secure and efficient: > <http://www.truecrypt.org> Same here. And also I'll mention Unison for syncing between drives. Bob -- http://www.fastmail.fm - A no graphics, no pop-ups email service

Em 03/10/2011 20:35, PICdude escreveu: > I've been using AxCrypt, which works fine, but I'll investigate this. > One thing I'd like is the ability to password protect a folder in one > shot, rather than each file individually (and without zipping, etc). > If I double-click on an axcrypt'ed file, it asks for a password and > will open it up in the correct app, but if I open up MPLAB and open a > project, it won't recognize or open up the individual project files > (unless first decrypted and then re-encrypted after I'm done). > > Would be nice if Truecrypt could handle that easier, or if it let's me > unlock a folder first, then be able to handle this until I lock it > again. With TrueCrypt you can have a file that becomes a drive letter when mounted. If the unit is not mounted, you can backup the file and its whole content is encrypted (and it is impossible to tell it is a TrueCrypt container). When mounted, its contents are accessed through the drive letter as if it were really there. You can also encrypt an entire partition, whose contents become readable only if the partition is mounted via TrueCrypt. The third option is to encrypt the entire drive, where the only unencrypted portion is TrueCrypt's bootloader. You can boot the system only after entering the passphrase. It is not possible to tell even the operating system that you use without mounting it first. Isaac

> Mixed results: it worked for a bit... I instantly started copying > files but it died after some time (maybe 20 mins), and the drive was > not recognizable anymore after that. The drive was hot at that point. > I'm at home today so all I have is a basic weller iron, but I can't > see anything that looks shorted. > > Good news is that I got my Eagle files back (lots of work there). > Average news is that I could not get some invoices/admin stuff, but > since I emailed those to customers, I can extract from emails and > re-create. Bad news is that I could not get back all but one PIC code > file which was last modified on Saturday. It's not enough for me to > bother to go to a data-recovery service, so got some work to do again. > :( > > Cheers, > -Neil. You said it got extremely hot - put it in the fridge for a while, then try for the next bunch of files. -- Scanned by iCritical.

On Mon, 2011-10-03 at 16:35 -0700, PICdude wrote: > I've been using AxCrypt, which works fine, but I'll investigate this. > One thing I'd like is the ability to password protect a folder in one > shot, rather than each file individually (and without zipping, etc). > If I double-click on an axcrypt'ed file, it asks for a password and > will open it up in the correct app, but if I open up MPLAB and open a > project, it won't recognize or open up the individual project files > (unless first decrypted and then re-encrypted after I'm done). > > Would be nice if Truecrypt could handle that easier, or if it let's me > unlock a folder first, then be able to handle this until I lock it > again. Truecrypt works on a "container" basis. It shows up as a new drive letter. The container can be ANYTHING. Usually it's a file on your main drive. It can as easily be a partition on your drive, or a whole flash drive. A container can even be hidden in another truecrypt container, making it almost impossible to know it's there. Once you "mount" the container (after entering your password) the encrypted volume is just another drive letter (or mount point if using a *nix based system). TTYL