Thursday 17 September 2009

Tech Support Request - Broken Memory Stick

So there I am, about to post, and my memory stick dies. Anyone know how repair/reactivate/exorcise the little blighters? I have quite a lot of stuff on it, so any help is welcome.
Thanks
Normal posting resumed as soon as humanly possible.

10 comments:

Reuben said...

Hiya Rentergirl,

Can you define 'dies' a bit better? I am a geek by profession, feel free to email or chat to me re this (am on GTalk and MSN via my email address).

First things I need to know are (1) why you think it's 'dead', (2) what OS you are using, (3) the make and model (if its visible) of your stick.

-- Reuben

paul said...

Some memory sticks that are nearly dead work temporarily again in older computers, apparently there is something in it that tells the computer that it is dead so it does not open or asks to be formated but some older computers are not programmed to look. Worked for me.

Dan B said...

... Or try it in a Linux {OS] machine. I've heard it can mount in Linux when WIndows doesn't recognise it. Assuming you're using Windows and not Mac..

QG said...

All of the above comments are sensible.

I'll try a few suggestions of my own. Sorry if any of this sounds insultingly obvious but you have to start somewhere.

1. Have you had the chance to test the USB port on the computer with any other memory stick or USB device? The reason I ask is that it could be the USB port (or internal cable to motherboard) that has failed instead of the memory stick.

2. For reasons similar to above, have you tried the USB stick in another computer?

3. About the time of the problem occuring, was any change made to the computer configuration that you know of?

4. I have seen situations on Windows system where the computer just forgets to assign the USB stick a drive letter. Assuming you are using a recent version of Windows, you can open the 'Disk Administrator' utility by running the command 'diskmgmt.msc'. There should be a graphical illustration of disk storage represented by horizontal bars. Normally, each bar will have a description of the file system type and a drive letter. If you right-click on the bar, various otions will appear in a drop-down menu (tread carfeully here).

Sorry, that's all I can come up with off the top of my head. I'll keep an eye on this for feedback in case you have any further questions.

RenterGirl said...

Thanks all! It's a nightmare. By 'dead' I mean the little light does not come on, and not when I try anpother USB port. Other memory sticks work in the ports as well. It is 'loose' as if broken. I understand they can be soldered by experts. It is a 'disgco' stick. OS? Erm...what's that? Do you mean Windows( which si what I use)? (Yeah , I know - I am anti-geek.)
Thanks for your offer of help, though, Reueben, and everyone. I keep thinking it will come alive again...I just wnat to print the info off, or transfer it. I am angry as I deliberately don't keep stuff on my laptop , as they can be stolen. This loss is devastating. QG - it's the mechanics of the stick, I think, which I why I would more accurately describe it as 'broken.'

Anonymous said...

If it's 'loose' then the connectors have probably come away. Do you have any friends with a soldering iron? It's likely very easy to fix. Just remove the casing and solder the connections back on.

Anonymous said...

I have been an avid reader of your blog over the past year and I thought I would add my recent experience
and echo yours of living in a brand new 2 bed BTL newbuild flat in centre of Sheffield (even though it was
a trip visiting my friend for only just the weekend!).

- Open plan kitchen/diner/lounge.
- Small undercounter fridge with a tiny freezer compartment.
- Clothes were dried on an rack in the kitchen area - using the dryer is hideously expensive on electricity.
- I was watching TV and my eyes started stinging and watering as the vapours from the raw onions that my mate
was chopping permeated throughout the whole area.
- The extractor hood was not ducted to the outside even though an external wall was only 3 feet away.
- If the hood is to be used in recirculation mode, it needs the addition of charcoal filters that require
changing every six months (at 40 ish quid a pop!) and even then it doesn't do anything about moisture
which justs gets sprayed onto the back wall and ceiling.
- Guess what? There were not even any charcoal filters provided by default!
- There was what looked like a cupboard next to the units but I opened it and it was taken up by a massive
unvented hot water system. There was a broom squeezed down the side. Hoover, mop and bucket was propped by
a wall in the dining area.
- Paltry kitchen cupboard provision and three of the under worktop sections were taken by: fridge/freezer,
washing machine and dishwasher!
- The washing machine went on and it was so loud I couldn't hear the TV through the sound and vibration on
the laminate flooring. Not helped that the door which covered the machine was actually attached to the
machine so that caused practically the whole kitchen work surfaces to vibrate.
- The three machines also were such a tight squeeze that if anything went wrong (leak?) there would be no way
of getting behind them or out without dismantling the the worktop carcasses around them.
- Two small 'double' bedrooms with built in wardrobes and no other storage facilities at all.
- Boxes/suitcases were just stacked up in the hallway.
- No residents car parking at all except for about 4 for disabled badge holders.
- On Sat morning I had pay 7.50 to park for a max of 6 hours across the road then had to do a trip into the
centre and parked on the free residential streets until 8pm then drove back and got lucky and found a spot
on a side road where free from 6.30PM and no restriction on Sun.
- The road in front of the building is so tight that anything more than a hatchback would cause issues.
- Residents carried black rubbish bags downstairs out the front door, turned right and right again to get to
the quad where a communual bin stores were in the middle.
- Even for only 2 days was more than enough for me ........

QG said...

"it's the mechanics of the stick, I think, which I why I would more accurately describe it as 'broken.'"

Sadly, all I can suggest is:

a) Opening the stick in the hope that there is an obvious break between the little circuit board and connector that can be repaired - but even that will require a fine tipped soldering iron and preferably some practice on some expendable electronics.

b) Find a friend who can help with above.

c) Try a data recovery company. If memory serves, you are in the Manchester area (?). I found this with Google and I'm sure there will be more if you look around:
http://www.dataclinic.co.uk/

(Obviously, I have nothing to do with this company and cannot judge whether they're any good or competitively priced.)

Unknown said...

If it is still broken and there is something important on it then you can mail it to me if you like and I'll take a look. Can't promise anything but if it's just needing to be soldered up I should be able to sort it out for you.

RenterGirl said...

Mr Peregrination, I may well take you up on that, if there is no loval help forthcoming. Thanks everyone! I have some posts in progress on the memory stick, so I'm - well.. stuck until it's sorted. Thanks loads. I'm going to get a hard drive now.