A client contacted Belfast Data Recovery after their USB flash drive suffered physical damage, causing it to break or snap at the USB connector. The reported issues included:
- The USB stick was no longer recognised by any computer.
- The metal USB connector was bent, broken, or completely detached from the PCB (Printed Circuit Board).
- The USB stick contained critical personal and work-related files, making recovery essential.
- A local computer shop attempted to fix the issue but recommended professional data recovery services.
Since physical damage to a USB stick often results in electrical disconnection between the NAND memory chip and the USB interface, a forensic micro-soldering or chip-off recovery approach was required.
Our Expertise in Physically Damaged USB Stick Recovery
With 25 years of experience, Belfast Data Recovery specializes in:
✔ Recovering data from broken, snapped, or physically damaged USB flash drives
✔ Micro-soldering PCB components and NAND chip-level recovery
✔ Forensic USB recovery using Acelabs PC3000 Flash, RapidSpar, and Atola Insight Forensic tools
Diagnosis & Recovery Process
Upon receiving the physically damaged USB stick, our engineers conducted a detailed forensic assessment. The key findings included:
- The USB connector was detached from the PCB, preventing power from reaching the memory chip.
- The internal memory (NAND chip) was intact, meaning data recovery was possible.
- No electrical short circuits were detected, increasing the chances of full data retrieval.
To successfully recover the client’s lost files, we implemented a multi-step forensic USB recovery strategy:
Step 1: Micro-Soldering Repair (If Possible)
- If the PCB was still functional, we re-soldered the broken USB connector using precision tools.
- Attempted to re-establish electrical continuity between the NAND chip and the USB interface.
Step 2: NAND Chip-Off Recovery (If Needed)
- If the PCB was beyond repair, we performed a chip-off recovery by:
- Carefully removing the NAND memory chip from the USB stick.
- Using Acelabs PC Flash and a Memory Chip Reader to extract raw data directly.
Step 3: File System Repair & Data Extraction
- Repaired damaged FAT32/exFAT file system structures to restore missing directories.
- Extracted and validated all personal, work, and multimedia files.
Step 4: Data Integrity Check & Secure Transfer
- Conducted final validation checks to confirm all recovered files were intact.
- Successfully transferred the restored data to a new high-performance USB stick, formatted for client use.
The Result
We successfully recovered 99.5% of the client’s lost files, including:
✅ Personal documents, work files, and reports
✅ Photos, videos, and archived emails
✅ Backup files, PDFs, and spreadsheets
The client was able to fully restore their critical data, ensuring no permanent loss.
Why Choose Belfast Data Recovery for Physically Damaged USB Stick Recovery?
✅ 25 Years of Expertise – Specialists in USB stick repair and data recovery.
✅ Micro-Soldering & Chip-Off Recovery – Advanced techniques for physically damaged devices.
✅ Fast & Secure Process – Ensuring complete confidentiality and successful recovery.
If your USB stick is broken, snapped, or physically damaged, contact Belfast Data Recovery today for expert USB data recovery services!