EvilZone

General Tech => Hardware => : kenjoe41 June 10, 2013, 08:58:43 PM

: restore flashdrive image!
: kenjoe41 June 10, 2013, 08:58:43 PM
Ok, my usb flash key got corrupted when installing Ubuntu 13.04 off it to a friend's laptop. Story is that he removed the usb during the process of installation.

Question is: Can i recover my usb flash, something like restore its image. IDK cos it has never happened to me.
Problem is that the OSs(windows, debian & ubuntu) don't read/recognise it.
: Re: restore flashdrive image!
: proxx June 10, 2013, 09:19:02 PM
Then recovery is pointless, just put a new image on it.
You dont want to take any risk when doing an install one bit off could really mess up your day.
Seen it before, weird errors mysterious crashes all sorta horror movie stuff.
Thats why we do the MD5 checksum always before installation.
: Re: restore flashdrive image!
: techb June 11, 2013, 05:56:24 AM
So manually mounting it wont give a file system?
: Re: restore flashdrive image!
: Kulverstukas June 11, 2013, 06:36:57 AM
Not sure what you are asking. If you want to recover files you could tru this: http://evilzone.org/security-tools/icare-data-recovery/
If you just want ubuntu on it then install it again, or if the drive does not mount ghen format it.
: Re: restore flashdrive image!
: Stackprotector June 14, 2013, 09:29:38 AM
You think it corrupted the flash memory ? :P, no it did not. It could however corrupt your filesystem because not all filesystems are hot-swappable. Just repartition and but the image back on again.
: Re: restore flashdrive image!
: kenjoe41 June 14, 2013, 01:18:10 PM
Problem is the flash doesn't mount in eitner of ubuntu and debian, and not recognised in windows.
It even lives no record with "fdisk -l" and "dmesg | tail" is no help.
How am i to repartition then?
Oh, Gparted is no help too.
: Re: restore flashdrive image!
: Stackprotector June 14, 2013, 01:38:35 PM
: kenjoe41  June 14, 2013, 01:18:10 PM
Problem is the flash doesn't mount in eitner of ubuntu and debian, and not recognised in windows.
It even lives no record with "fdisk -l" and "dmesg | tail" is no help.
How am i to repartition then?
Oh, Gparted is no help too.

It's dead
: Re: restore flashdrive image!
: Darkvision June 14, 2013, 01:53:38 PM
: Factionwars  June 14, 2013, 01:38:35 PM
It's dead


YUP, this is VERY common when going from xp/vista and back again, if your flash drive gets corrupted this way its garbage. Nothing you can do will get it to be seen. tell your friend he owes you a new flash drive :P


(who would have thought that warning to wait till AFTER the install to remove the flash drive might know something)
: Re: restore flashdrive image!
: kenjoe41 June 14, 2013, 02:17:44 PM
Ok then, am just gonna charge really extra now or else am getting my baseball bat out.
Wish me luck cos i just lost alot of memories there.
: Re: restore flashdrive image!
: Mellow_ June 14, 2013, 02:49:16 PM
: kenjoe41  June 14, 2013, 02:17:44 PM
Ok then, am just gonna charge really extra now or else am getting my baseball bat out.
Wish me luck cos i just lost alot of memories there.
Why were you installing Ubuntu from the flash drive without backing up the important data on there first?
: Re: restore flashdrive image!
: kenjoe41 June 14, 2013, 04:00:51 PM
: Mellow_  June 14, 2013, 02:49:16 PM
Why were you installing Ubuntu from the flash drive without backing up the important data on there first?
Here is my mini version of Hippocrates oath:
I swear by the Lords and Admins of EZ to never
ask why question, if a situation ever arises,
am to help out if ever i can or forever keep my peace,
if ever i set out to help, am to do no harm and,
act in the best interests of my friend(client),
forever to sympathise with him.
my client shall have a say in whatever i choose to
help out with and always respect there action.
i am never to stand and just criticise but set out to help
as per the best of my knowledge.

i say all this and more with a sound mind, not force and
swear to abide by it.

: Re: restore flashdrive image!
: kenjoe41 June 15, 2013, 10:26:37 PM
I swear am up to no Good double posting

Just opening the topic because @darkvision and other swear by the Lords of EZ they can help ???
Thanks Hippocrates.
: Re: restore flashdrive image!
: Darkvision June 15, 2013, 11:57:20 PM
Well as i said to ken in PM, i MAY have a way to get his info back. I couldnt find a yes or no answer for sure while searching(ie i know of no one who has done this (success or failure) but the theory sounded good. i ran it by xires, and it turned out the question i was asking was in essence useless, because of me not understanding something right. however the idea itself SEEMS sound, so at least me and xires think it should/could work...yeah not the greatest opening i get it, but since this could ruin perfectly good hardware(ie cost money) i feel you should be warned that i have NOT tried this trick before, i thought of it after my last post.


So the basic idea: get the exact same make and model flash drive, and move the memory modules from your old one to the new one.


What you will need:
Exact same make and model thumb drive/flash drive
soldering iron
soldering bulb
a very thin gauge solder, such as 22 gauge
flux
(decent info on all this, here:[size=78%]http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Practical_Electronics/Soldering (http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Practical_Electronics/Soldering)[/size])
magnifying glass/stand
steady hands/time to get them. this is very detailed work, you will make mistakes and have to undo a joint and redo it. be patient. :P


Note 1: You may also use/need a clamp to hold the chip to the board during re-soldering, make SURE its a rubberized and not pressing to hard, it CAN be done without this, but depending on your skill level this could save you a bit of time.


Note 2:Even if you are using resin core solder i highly recommend getting some flux. a dirty soldering iron is a unhappy soldering iron. Also a good soldering pad is a nice addition.


Note 3: i find lead based solders easier to work with because of the lower melting point, but they do tend to cost more than lead free ones now, comes down to personal preference.


Note 4: Just to make sure: The same kind of precautions you take when dealing with any other circuit board should be taken here. Static electricity is BAD for computer parts.


Step 1: identify your memory module(s) and your controller module.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/Usbkey_internals.jpg/625px-Usbkey_internals.jpg (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/Usbkey_internals.jpg/625px-Usbkey_internals.jpg)
Label 2 is your controller module, this is what went bad more than likely. Label 4 is a memory module. note that its going to be the biggest chip(s) on the thumb drive.


Step 2: Remove the memory module(s) using a soldering iron to melt the solder and a soldering bulb to collect the melted solder. Be VERY careful not to break or bend any of the contacts, if you do this becomes a exercise in futility. Once the memory chips are taken off of both boards take the ones with the information you want and put them on the new known good board.


Note 5: Even if this in the end proves useless, you can re-solder the new modules back onto the new board and still have a functioning drive, assuming you dont bend/break any of the contacts.


Step 3: re-soldering is an art as much as science. be sure to use the flux you purchased on the tip of your soldering iron in between each joint to ensure you get good joints. (dip iron in flux, wipe on pad, solder joint, repeat.)


Step 4: test! let us know if it worked.


As stated this ENTIRE thing is based on IF it was the controller module that went bad(which i think it is), hence why you cant even mount it. If this allows you to mount, then you should either A have all your files right away or B need to recover them, but now they ARE recoverable.


Anyway i THINK that covers everything, if i missed something evilzone make sure to point it out.