USB key

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USB key

Postby Mave » Tue Sep 20, 2005 8:19 pm

Hi:

Is it possible for my USB key to just stop working? I had a whole bunch of files I was transferring from laptop to desktop and all the sudden, both my laptop and desktop won't read from the key. I'm furious because if this key isn't working, I've lost a whole bunch of digital photos.

Is there any way I can retrieve my lost files before I seriously lose my cool?
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Postby Slater » Wed Sep 21, 2005 2:51 am

you mean like a thumb drive? I've heard of those failing before. It's possible... very possible considering that people just carry them around. Magnetic flux will destroy those very easily.
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Postby Sephiroth » Wed Sep 21, 2005 3:32 am

i've also heard aboud USB pen drives with a limited lifespan, that after tehy have been used for a good bit they die on ya.
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Postby Mr. SmartyPants » Wed Sep 21, 2005 3:49 am

well mave, how long have you had it? It is true, infact ALL data storage mediums will eventually die out on you (even cds i believe)
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Postby glitch1501 » Wed Sep 21, 2005 7:31 am

i have had 2 usb thumb drives, they have all failed eventually, i wish they were still working

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Postby kaji » Wed Sep 21, 2005 7:49 am

Hmmm, I have had mine for about 9 months and I transfer loads of files just about every day (average 300-400 MB). Not to mention I run my Portible Firefox from it on any computer that does not have the software. And I have not had any problems yet.

What brand is your divice? What versions of windows are you running it on and what error (if any) does your computer give you when attempting to read the divice? Where is the divice stored and how often do you use it.

Note: There is a possiblility of statick shock to your divice if caried in your pocket, also exposure to high temperatures can result in damage.

For now, check and recheck all your computers connections, try different USB ports if you have them and make sure that there isnt any 'junk' on the drive or port that would interfere with power flow or comunication to your PC.
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Postby Mithrandir » Wed Sep 21, 2005 3:45 pm

As a follow up to kaji, be sure that there isn't any oxidation building up on the device, also.
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Postby Mr. SmartyPants » Thu Sep 22, 2005 4:24 am

>_> I think mine died today....

but it works fine on my mac! so strange!

on my pc, it doesnt recognize the drive connected in the usb port
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Postby kaji » Thu Sep 22, 2005 5:55 am

Any new update on the USB delema Mave?
Depend on it. God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supply. He is too wise a God to frustrate His purposes for lack of funds, and He can just as easily supply them ahead of time as afterwards, and He much prefers doing so.
- J. Hudson Taylor
I remember that one fateful day when Coach took me aside. I knew what was coming. "You don't have to tell me," I said. "I'm off the team, aren't I?" "Well," said Coach, "you never were really ON the team. You made that uniform you're wearing out of rags and towels, and your helmet is a toy space helmet. You show up at practice and then either steal the ball and make us chase you to get it back, or you try to tackle people at inappropriate times." It was all true what he was saying. And yet, I thought something is brewing inside the head of this Coach. He sees something in me, some kind of raw talent that he can mold. But that's when I felt the handcuffs go on.
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Postby glitch1501 » Thu Sep 22, 2005 8:27 am

Mr. SmartyPants wrote:>_> I think mine died today....

but it works fine on my mac! so strange!

on my pc, it doesnt recognize the drive connected in the usb port


mine doesnt work, but i havent tested it in a mac, i will definatly try this when i go home and get it

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He wants them to learn to walk and must therefore take away His hand; and if only the will to walk is really there, He is pleased even with their stumbles.

Image

Healing hands of God have mercy on our unclean souls
once again. Jesus Christ, Light of the World, burning
bright within our hearts forever. Freedom means love
without condition, without beginning or an end. Here's
my heart, let it be forever Yours, only You can make
every new day seem so new.
Every New Day - On Distant Shores - Five Iron Frenzy

Nail pierced hands they run with blood
A splitting brow forced by the thorns
His face is writhing with the pain yet it's comforting to me
Passion - Kutless
:thumb:
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Postby Fsiphskilm » Thu Sep 22, 2005 10:20 am

Woah now,
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Postby Mr. SmartyPants » Thu Sep 22, 2005 12:41 pm

Volt wrote:Woah now, lets not say things that aren't true.

CDs will last for 100 years at least. Assuming you down throw them around, and they are Cheap beyond all reason.


ive heard 20-40 years
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Postby Fsiphskilm » Thu Sep 22, 2005 12:59 pm

CDs last a
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Postby blkmage » Thu Sep 22, 2005 1:50 pm

Well, that means they still die out, which just mean they're not prime time capsule material if you want it opened 500 years later.
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Postby glitch1501 » Thu Sep 22, 2005 3:14 pm

im gonna have to try to get that usb key to work, thanks for the tip volt

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He wants them to learn to walk and must therefore take away His hand; and if only the will to walk is really there, He is pleased even with their stumbles.

Image

Healing hands of God have mercy on our unclean souls
once again. Jesus Christ, Light of the World, burning
bright within our hearts forever. Freedom means love
without condition, without beginning or an end. Here's
my heart, let it be forever Yours, only You can make
every new day seem so new.
Every New Day - On Distant Shores - Five Iron Frenzy

Nail pierced hands they run with blood
A splitting brow forced by the thorns
His face is writhing with the pain yet it's comforting to me
Passion - Kutless
:thumb:
Image
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Postby Mave » Fri Sep 23, 2005 11:41 am

Hi guys!

I'm so sorry I took some time to get back on this. I've been travelling and fretting over my thesis submission (which actually was the reason I started to mess around with the USB key in the first place). <.<;; I've taken note of everyone's advice (thanks!). Very insightful, I must say. *hugs* I'll give the key another try again in the next few days since I'm out of town at the moment.


To clarify things, it was a DELL USB key with ~ 250MB (I think). I use WinXP on both my laptop and desktop. I did get some strange errors signs ---> ".......I/O device error" before the breakdown occurred. I'm sorry that's all I can remember. :sweat: After that, no computer would read it anymore. (T__T)


I don't use the keys that often and it's about 4-5 months old. I guess I could check for oxidation accumulation but I doubt it. I would claim that I've been a good caretaker of my USB keys. They typically sit around on tables in my apartment or affectionately be carried around in the little pockets of my purse/bag, almost in a disturbing Paris Hilton/Tinkerbell fashion. There's no history of me kicking, bashing or dipping them into anything liquid. I don't think I've ever intentionally dangled my USB keys around magnetic sources in some demented sacrificial ritual. So, yeah I'm pretty much dumbfounded as to why my key would betray me.
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Postby Mr. SmartyPants » Fri Sep 23, 2005 2:15 pm

not too sure, but it COULD be a possibility that it wasnt too good because dell manufactured it...

Dell periphals aren't known to be the best >_>

If possible go with Sandisk or something
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Postby ThaKladd » Fri Sep 23, 2005 3:01 pm

There is ways to recover the files.
http://www.grandutils.com/Back2Life/ - is a program that can recover deleted and lost files. also from disk with I/O error. The free version, the one to download, can only recover files up to 100kb before you register. But that may be enough if it's just pictures?

A other program, http://www.handyrecovery.com/download.shtml can download any file, but only 1 per day in the trial version - if you have bigger files on the disk.

I've tried both, and both finds lost data, even if you have formatted the HD, or lost it in some I/O errorful way... (I lost some hundred GB in my external HD, when it got overheated, and managed to recover all....)

Anyway, USB disk are very robust and can live trough a lot. I read a test once, where they had tested how much it could take - and it survived heat, water, cold, cars etc.

after you've recovered the files, try to format the drive(to FAT) with the disc management tools in control panel - if that does not make the disk work it's probably broken somehow.
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