Hi,

The USB connector to my 4GB SanDisk Jump Drive is loose so I can not access my data from the drive. I went to the NCSU OIT Walk-in Center and the guys said that my jump drive needs to be soldered back together in order to retrieve the data. They suggested I call Best Buy and try here. I did call Geek Squad and they said that they will not be able to get my data recovered any sooner than 2 weeks. I wanted to know if there are any local places (or any one experienced in soldering) I can go to in order to get my data back as soon as possible?

Thanks!

1/26/2011 1:07:29 PM

there are definitely some folks on tww that CAN do it

you can always post an ad around the ECE buildings on centennial, too

1/26/2011 2:09:45 PM

I can do the soldering if you want to meet me near campus to drop it off and pick it up. It'll probably take me an evening to get done, so I can get it one day and bring it back to you the next.

1/26/2011 2:44:15 PM

Thank you two for responding! I carefully took it apart, which was amazingly easy (don't know if that is a good thing). I wanted to see exactly where the connector pins were broken. I took some pictures:





Andrew, would you still be able to solder the pins back to the broken pieces inside the red portion of usb connector?

(Disclaimer: I am no means an expert with this stuff but I am an engineer and like to see how things are put together... )

1/26/2011 3:11:47 PM

no i think he's just gonna get the data off of it... (straight wire connection)

that or replace the plug portion entirely

still kinda cheap

[Edited on January 26, 2011 at 3:47 PM. Reason : e]

1/26/2011 3:46:46 PM

Yeah, all I need is the data. What is a straight wire connection?

1/26/2011 4:02:59 PM

he's gonna attach 4-6 wires (not sure how many to be honest) to the prongs directly from a unraveled USB cable... or something similar (not unraveled very much either)

1/26/2011 4:08:45 PM

Ohhh, I gotcha! That makes sense. Thanks for the clarification! It really doesn't matter which way it is done, I just hoping someone around here can successfully get my data asap without me having to pay over $300 to get it done somewhere else. One place said $700! Crazy!

Lesson learned...backup data on a MORE regular basis in more than one place.

You guys are pretty helpful!

1/26/2011 4:16:11 PM

4 Pins - 2 Differential Data Lines, 1 Power (5V), and GND.

If you get a new connector just solder the new one to those 4 pins on the chip portion.

1/26/2011 4:18:03 PM

Thanks Creaver!

Is there anyway that I can do the straight wire connection myself?

When I cut the end of a USB cord and peeled away some of the rubber, I saw the following cords:

red
white
black
green cord
a small bundle of copper/silver wires wrapped around each other



Can I just connect the four colored wires to the four connector pins for the jump drive to work?

[Edited on January 26, 2011 at 4:39 PM. Reason : picture didn't show up]

1/26/2011 4:38:30 PM

http://diskdrive.wordpress.com/2008/02/21/flash-read-error-flash-drive-not-recognized-how-to-repair-usb-flash-drive/

1/26/2011 5:21:37 PM

Great link! Thanks for that. Now that I figured out which wires go where, I only have one more issue...I don't have the soldering tools. Can I use super glue as a quick fix? I know it is probably not the most ideal thing to use...

1/26/2011 6:09:41 PM

I'm gonna bet that superglue is an insulator and say no

1/26/2011 6:19:41 PM

Yeah, I was talking about place the wire on top of its corresponding pin so the two metals touch and then applying a small dab of super glue on top wire in hope that it will stay in place long enough to transfer the data. Guess that wouldn't work either. How about using hot glue on top of the wire and a little on the pin to keep them connected and in place?

My apologies for throwing out other alternatives...I don't have access to a soldering tool.

1/26/2011 6:49:17 PM

You can definitely do it that way if you can assure that the connections all stay tight and that you get the pinouts correct. The more reliable method is what others have suggested and what I had intended to do - just take a cut cable like that and solder to the pins.

Sent you a PM about availability if you still want me to work on it.

[Edited on January 26, 2011 at 10:25 PM. Reason : .]

1/26/2011 10:14:31 PM

as long as you make sure the wires are contacting the pins under the glue, it will work. hot glue is a better choice as you can hold the wires in place with a paper clip or something, glue it, and pull the paper clip out while the glue is still molten, leaving everything in place

1/27/2011 9:13:58 AM

I just soldered a plug onto the PCB, pretty straightforward. Data is safe.

Be sure and file this under "positive things TWW has done". Precious and few, those moments are.

1/27/2011 7:00:11 PM