A client contacted Birmingham Data Recovery after experiencing a failure with their Kingston DataTraveler USB stick. The main issues reported included:
- The USB stick was not being recognised when plugged into a computer.
- There was a visible crack on the casing, suggesting potential physical damage to internal components.
- The USB contained important business and personal files, requiring immediate recovery.
- A local computer shop was unable to retrieve the data and referred the client to us.
Since physical damage to USB flash drives can impact the internal circuit board and memory chips, a specialized forensic recovery approach was necessary.
Our Expertise in Kingston USB Stick Data Recovery
With 25 years of experience, Birmingham Data Recovery specialises in:
✔ Recovering data from physically damaged USB sticks
✔ Forensic-level NAND chip-off recovery for non-functional flash drives
✔ Reconstructing corrupted file systems to restore lost data
Diagnosis & Recovery Process
Upon receiving the Kingston DataTraveler USB stick, our engineers conducted a detailed forensic inspection. The key findings included:
- The USB connector was slightly bent, preventing a proper connection.
- The printed circuit board (PCB) had a minor fracture, affecting data transfer.
- The NAND memory chip was intact, meaning data could still be extracted.
To successfully recover the client’s important files, we implemented a multi-step forensic USB recovery strategy:
Step 1: USB Hardware Repair & Stabilization
- Resoldered the broken USB connector to restore electrical contact.
- Stabilized the damaged circuit board to allow temporary data access.
Step 2: NAND Chip-Off Data Extraction
- When the initial repair did not fully restore access, we performed a chip-off recovery.
- Carefully removed the NAND flash memory chip from the damaged USB stick.
- Used a specialized chip reader to extract raw data directly from the memory chip.
Step 3: File System Reconstruction & Data Recovery
- Analysed the extracted NAND data to rebuild the original file system structure.
- Recovered and restored all lost documents, photos, and videos.
Step 4: Data Integrity Check & Secure Transfer
- Conducted final validation checks to ensure all files were intact and accessible.
- Successfully transferred the recovered data to a new external USB drive for the client.
The Result
We successfully recovered 99.7% of the client’s lost files, including:
✅ Business documents, spreadsheets, and PDFs
✅ Personal photos, videos, and important archives
✅ Project files and multimedia content
The client was able to access all their critical files, avoiding permanent data loss.
Why Choose Birmingham Data Recovery for Kingston USB Stick Recovery?
✅ 25 Years of Expertise – Specialists in physically damaged USB flash drive recovery.
✅ Advanced NAND Chip-Off Recovery – Extracting data even when USB sticks are completely non-functional.
✅ Forensic-Level Data Extraction – Ensuring complete recovery of lost and corrupted files.
✅ Fast & Secure Process – Protecting sensitive business and personal data.
If your Kingston DataTraveler USB stick is not recognized, physically damaged, or contains important files, contact Birmingham Data Recovery today for professional assistance!