Dead USB Stick

[dwilsonfl]

One of the first year teachers at school came rushing in my classroom today frantic because her Verbatim USB stick is dead. Tried it in several other PCs but it is not recognized by any of them. Any ideas before I pop the thing open and check the solder joints?

I tried to explain the concept of backup, but of course she hadn't.

Thanks,

David

[dr_st]

Try to determine if its a bad USB, a bad flash or a bad partition.

Does the "plugged in" sound play when you plug it in?

Is it recognized in USBView or in Device Manager as anything (even unknown)?

[dwilsonfl]

nope - dead and not recognized or seen in device manager

[dr_st]

Then I guess it's your planned solution or nothing...

[emeraldgirl08]

Looks like the owner of the USB stick got a crash course lesson in the importance of making back ups!

For those of you procrastinating- perform one now!

[dwilsonfl]

Yep. I gave her my back up files but she lost a years worth of lesson plans. Mine are printed out, saved on physical media 2x and in the cloud.

Thanks guys,

David

[dr_st]

There is no reason whatsoever to make backups of USB sticks. Because anything on a USB stick by definition should already be a copy of something stored on some computer. If it isn't, then you have a problem.

[emeraldgirl08]

There is no reason whatsoever to make backups of USB sticks. Because anything on a USB stick by definition should already be a copy of something stored on some computer. If it isn't, then you have a problem.

Mistakes, situations, and accidents can happen. If any data is important then a backup to more than one location should be suggested- period.

[bill bolton]

Because anything on a USB stick by definition should already be a copy of something stored on some computer.

There are many commercial applications for removeable USB memory as the initial primary storage medium for data, from which it is later transferred to a other storage for archival purposes.