USB flash drives tend to fail abruptly. Examples of failure modes include snapping off when placed in a laptop, failing to be recognised by the host computer, displaying zero bytes or failing simply due to being washed. Fortunately the flash memory chips which contain your data rarely suffer damage. It is usually the connector(s), the controller or the board that give rise to the problem. We offer in-house recovery services for all makes of USB flash drives including SanDisk, Kingston, Samsung and others for customers throughout Belfast and Northern Ireland.
Do not attempt to "fix" a stick if it has cracked at the connection point as you may damage the very small contacts on the board which transfer the data from the stick. Save all parts in a safe place and bring them to us as the memory chip is almost always intact and recoverable.
All flash drives suffer a lot of physical abuse and can also experience electronic failures. Regardless of what happened to your flash drive, there is a good chance the memory chip remained unscathed.
We can recover all makes & styles of USB flash drives: standard sticks, nano miniature drives, rugged/encrypted models.
All types of USB-A & USB-C sticks; small, large & medium size; standard drives to nano & rugged; also monolithic chip-on-board type (where we have to read the flash directly).
When recovering a flash drive, it's about accessing the memory chip and making sense out of what was stored on it. Once we repair the board or read the chip directly, we will build the file structure / translation for the flash drive using that data (the original flash drive does not need to work in order for us to get your data back).
We determine which part(s) are damaged (the connector, controller, board or flash), and whether they can be recovered from, then send a quote to you in writing.
If the connection has been snapped or if there was damage to the board then we will repair/rebuild the connections to allow us to have access to the stick using its own controller. Should you repair/fix the stick, or only get the files recovered? Our recovery guide breaks down which is which.
When the controller/board cannot be repaired (or when working with "monolithic" sticks), we read the NAND chip itself at a chip-level.
We recreate the controller's scrambling/wear levelling scheme for that particular model, so we take raw flash and turn it back into usable data.
Once we've got that data, we build out the file system, so your files are organised, and named once again, not just a collection of random pieces of fragmented data.
We check the files that were recovered to ensure that they can be opened successfully and that they are complete. Before returning any files to you, we also give you the opportunity to review them to ensure their accuracy.
Files can be delivered to you via fresh media (e.g., a USB flash drive) or you can have them sent to you via our complimentary 75 GB download service, whichever is more convenient for you.
From a broken-off stick inside a laptop to a washed drive, or even one displaying no bytes, we can recover all manner of USB flash drives, fixing boards where possible, and reading chips directly where necessary.
Give us some information regarding what happened to cause this issue, and an engineer will contact you. Usually within a single business day.
We will get back to you soon. If it is urgent, call 028 9002 0144.
A no-charge diagnostic at first. Then a cost-fixed written quote that is completed prior to beginning the process. The cost to recover one (1) USB stick or flash drive will be £250 + VAT. In most instances, you do not have to pay unless we are able to successfully retrieve your data. If chip level work is required, a 50% down payment secures the time spent on our specialised bench; you only pay the balance when we are successful in recovering your data.
Examples of some USB drives that have been recovered from various manufacturers and problems. Types of devices (and their results) are listed; customers' identities remain private.
This is an example of how a broken connection does not always equal failure. In this case, the connector broke apart, yet the flash memory remained intact. Connections were made to rebuild the board and every single file was retrieved.
An example of when the controller went bad. We simply read the NAND chip directly and rebuilt the translation to retrieve all of the data.
Example of when there was a firmware issue which hid how much space existed on the unit. We got into the controller, rebuilt the area where the error occurred, and all of the files were retrieved.
This is an example of when the board itself corroded, however the chip survived. We cleaned off all corrosion, restored the connections, and fully recovered all the contents.
The file system was damaged but the data remained intact. A read-only image and rebuild were able to bring the files right back.
Without a separate board, we were able to locate the contact points on the chip itself and read the chip directly. Using this information we were able to rebuild the data from the raw flash.
Send or drop off your item for a free diagnostic check with a description of the issue. One of our engineers will review the item, then provide you a written quote prior to doing any repairs.
Prior to sending or dropping off your device for a diagnostic test (free), obtain a quotation from us via telephone or using the provided form. Step one: get the device to our Belfast bench. Carefully wrap the device and include your contact information inside the parcel. Then send it over. There is no charge for this diagnostic service. Once we receive it, you will be given a firm written price to confirm whether you wish to go ahead, before any work is done.
Sending it? The use of a tracked, insured delivery method would be recommended. Alternatively, dropping it off can also be done Monday to Friday, 9am–5:30pm; no prior booking required but do ensure that all items are packed accordingly.
Still waiting to send something? Please complete the form describing the failure/fault in your own words and one of our engineers will get back to you with a quotation based upon your individual circumstances.
We will get back to you soon. If it is urgent, call 028 9002 0144.
The questions that we get asked most about USB flash drive recovery.
Most of the time yes. It is probably the most common type of flash-drive job that we have. A damaged connector does little damage to the memory chip itself (where your data resides). We repair the board connections, or read the chip directly to obtain the files. Do not attempt to "glue" or "force" the broken portion of the connector back together.
It is either a failure of the controller or firmware: although Windows detects the device, you will find that it cannot provide an accurate assessment of its capacity. Therefore, Windows assumes that there is nothing in the device. Your data has simply been hidden, and is still present. We will be able to recover your data by accessing the controller, and rebuilding the impacted section of the device.
Yes. Typically when a lighted stick (that doesn't mount) or otherwise unresponsive stick has a broken board or controller, the chip is usually still intact. When this happens we fix the board or retrieve your data from the chip in its original state.
Very often. Corrosion caused by water will likely damage boards and contact points; however, many times the memory chip will be salvageable. Do not power on your stick to test it. And please do not attempt to dry out the stick using heat either, just send it to us and we will de-corrode the connections, inspect & read the chip.
One stick costs £250 + VAT, and we offer free diagnostics first. In most cases you will only pay for data restoration if we successfully recover your data. If you require chip-off service, we take a 50% deposit for our specialist bench time. Your final payment is then only made if/when we are able to recover your files.
Yes, on most jobs. For all our services except when doing "chip-level" work, you only pay if we recover your data. When we do "chip-level," we charge a deposit for the special bench time, but again, the remainder is only paid if we recover the customer's data. In either case, we clearly indicate which service model will apply before starting the job.
Usually yes. Unlike solid state drives (SSDs), most standard USB sticks do not have TRIM enabled therefore deleted/formatted data is commonly preserved unless overwritten. Please stop using your stick as soon as possible and there is a high probability of recovering your files.
All of them. Whether it's SanDisk, Kingston, Samsung, Integral, Verbatim, PNY, Lexar etc., in any form, capacity and even in their encrypted/rugged forms and/or sealed monolithic designs.
Please do not attempt either option. Using superglue and applying force to a broken connection can damage the very fine pads carrying your data, and running recovery software on a failing USB drive may cause additional problems. Simply bag the parts as they are, and drop them in to us.
A monolithic stick is a single sealed unit containing an IC chip (controller) and the flash memory itself, with no individual PCB (common in small modern drives). A monolithic stick needs specialised labour to physically connect the IC contacts to the test equipment and then read the raw flash data. Fortunately we have done this many times before.
We repair sticks dropped-off during normal business hours at Cromac Square (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm), and we also accept posted sticks. If your stick breaks while being inserted or removed from your computer, simply place both parts in a plastic ziplock bag. Place a sticky note inside the bag with your name and address so we can identify you. Then simply post it to us in a small padded envelope and we will provide a complimentary diagnosis and a quote for repair.
Yes. Most often when a USB reports an incorrect size, shows as a minuscule or 0 MB USB device, asks to format, etc., there's been a failure in the controller, or its partition table is damaged. Your data remains intact on the NAND chip. Our process involves reading the raw flash data from the chip, rebuilding the missing mapping tables the controller once provided, and recovering your data. There is one notable exception. If you purchase a counterfeit 1TB USB drive that is actually based on a much smaller flash memory chip, even though it says 1TB it'll only ever hold the smaller amount of space; anything you write to what appears to be excess storage space isn't truly there. Cease using the drive immediately; just send it to us for a complimentary diagnostic.
We charge a flat rate of £250 + VAT per stick for all repairs to any type of USB flash drive. We perform diagnostics free-of-charge, and in most cases you only need to pay if we recover your data. All brands of flash drives are repaired by us from start-to-finish on our bench located in Belfast. Snapped off in the port? Bag the pieces and bring them in.