Sandisk Cruzer Edge 32 Gig Flashdrive Bent

[vaberella]

Guys I got problems. Sorry...I'm a n00b here so...hopefully you guys will be willing to help.

I had just recently bought a Sandisk 32 GB Cruzer Edge Pen Drive CZ51 and I physically damaged it.

This is what it looks like:


So what happened was it was in the USB port and I kicked it with my knee on the side. The extended red plastic back of it cracked off and the chip itself seems to be intact but bent. I did notice though that on the greenish part of the chip is more extended outwards and I can see some white parts on the green part of the chip.

I called sandisk to ask for advice and they gave me the number for LC technology and call them for data recover. I told them my problem and they said no problem with retrieving the data but it would cost me $375. I only have 5 gig of info that I need retrieved not 32 but the price was ludicrous.

Is there anyone here who knows about retrieving the data off these disks and if it's even possible? Or am I doomed. There are seriously important files here.

[howste]

Did you try it to see if your computer still can read it? If it can't, does it look like any electronic components are broken off the drive? Can you post a picture?

[Taxmancometh]

If it still works there are lots of programs out there that can recover the data. Let us know.

[vaberella]

Hi guys,
I tried several different computers and none of them read the flashdrive. I don't know if any electronic parts are broken off. It doesn't look like it. But as in the first and second picture...the white areas seem to say there was some damage or damage of some kind. Here are some pics of the flashdrive and subsequent damage.










Thanks in advance for the help.

[Steve R Jones]

If multi computers can't read the drive - there aren't tricks we can tell you that will help. Ya gotta be able to access the drive to run any of the data recovery apps.

You could shop around for other professional shops to help get the data back.. But even they can't guarantee anything.

[vaberella]

Thanks Steve. I think I will send it to flashdrivepros. Have you ever heard of this company? Or are they scammers? I plan on calling better business bureau and all that before I commit. In any event, they seem legitimate and said if they can't recover it, they'd give me my money back and have a 94% success rate. They are a bit pricey but better than the $375 I was not about to pay.

[howste]

Have you taken the case off to see if there's any internal damage? If not, it's probably the circuit card that's cracked which would have broken some leads. If it's the board that's broken you can try to reconnect the leads with solder. They should be pretty wide at the connector.

[RicheemxX]

Yeah basically that's all they are going to do. Either try to re-solder the leads or de-solder and remove the chip and put it into a reader and pull the info that way. If you were comfortable enough with the tools you could try it yourself.

Hard to believe though that you had information that was that important on a USB drive and didn't have it backed-up anywhere else. If you do get the information back I'd strongly suggest backing it up to something a bit more safe and secure.

[J1mmy]

I wouldn't recommend trying it yourself if you're not comfortable with it. Some companies charge more if there is evidence of tampering as it might require them to rectify any further damage you might have caused knowingly or unknowingly in your own efforts.

I've had a HDD crash on me with important info on it so been there done that. Do your research on companies prior to sending it off.

Finally, hopefully form this experience you will backup your data regularly. Just upload to Google Docs.

[Billistheman]

Flashdrivepros are definitely not stammers... unless they bribed 500 people to shower them with praise on their Facebook page.