flash drive broken - need to repair/recover

[DeluzioNFX]

so today the usb stem of my flashdrive broke, so now i can't connect it to my PC and i have alot of important files on there. So how would i repair this or get the data off the flashdrive

[Rootstonian]

By "stem" I assume you mean the part you put into the USB port?

You MAY be able to buy another same flashdrive and try to "engineer" one working one

I've never had one apart, so in your case, you may as well try what you can....good luck!

I use mine to xfer files or share pictures; never trust one as a storage device (i.e. make sure you have your data backed-up )

[pattyboy7]

Since there are four connecting points on a usb device of any sort, what I would say is just use four peices of wire and solder them to each of the connectors on the actual flash drive and then sloder the other end of the wires to the corresponding terminals on the part that plugs into the computer. The only problem with this is that you can "pop" a device that is on flashdrives that keeps the power flow to the flash drive consistent. If in the proccess you didn't "pop" the device than you should be able to get the data off of it.

[mya]

My brother stepped on my flashdrive and snapped it in two. Is there a way to fix it or a company I can send it to to be fixed?

Mya

[no1_vern]

It depends on where it was broken. Since most usb keys are a single pcb slab with a strip extending out into the USB connector, you can get someone who is handy to re-solder it together, and remove your data. While it can be reused, I would suggest that you do NOT trust it to anything valuable.

Here is a article with pics of a USB key and the repairs the writer did(his was a separate issue, the chip had come away from the PCB). To repair a broken USB flash drive - Tips & Tweaks

Sending it off to a company is feasible, but unless your willing to pay about $100 per key, it really isnt an option.