How can I recover [data from] my failing USB key?

Posted by moe37x3 on Super User See other posts from Super User or by moe37x3
Published on 2010-04-13T14:49:13Z Indexed on 2010/04/13 14:53 UTC
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Filed under:

usb-flash-drive

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hardware-failure

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data-recovery

I have a Corsair Flash Voyager USB key, and it's almost completely failed. When I plug it into my [WinXP] computer, the OS mounts it and open up explorer to the drive's root directory. However, if I try to copy any data off, I get an error message saying that the device is not there.

If I leave it plugged in, the OS seems to oscillate between seeing it and not seeing it, since the "Safely Remove Hardware" tray icon appears and disappears every few seconds.

The damage was probably caused by my abuse, either from plugging it in with my keys hanging off of it or from losing the cap and keeping it in my pocket uncapped.

Is there anything I can do to save the data from it or even rehabilitate the drive?

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