Kingston USB Repaired
This USB Flash Memory brand KINGSTON model DT101 G2 with a capacity of 8GB was brought to me and the complaint was it was not working.
I connected it into the USB port of the PC and it was not recognized by Windows Operating System.
Therefore the duty began; the device was disarmed step by step.
When the PCB could be seen, look what was seen in the photo below.
The four pins were separated from the PCB. Therefore they had to be re-soldered, but first I had to de-solder the metallic case from the circuit to re-build the tracks.
Thanks God the two connectors of the center (Data+ and Data-) had not lost the connection with the tracks. One of the ends (+5v) was only de-soldered, but the track of the circuit was intact. The other end (Gnd) was broken, in other words, the track attached to this point was broken (open- circuit).
The metallic case was re-soldered into the circuit again. So the two contacts of the center were intact in this repair, nothing was done with them. The end of +5v was re-solder with its own track, and the end of Gnd was attached with the circuit by scratching the other good side of the track and joining both tracks by means of tin.
At this time the device was armed again and connected into the PC. Look yourself the results.
Mission Accomplished
This article was prepared for you by Humberto Rodriguez, one of our ‘Master Authors’ from Cuba.
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Note: You may check his previous repair article in the below link:
https://www.jestineyong.com/seagate-barracuda-160gb-hdd-repaired/
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Anwar Shiekh
July 24, 2015 at 8:38 pm
I have a tendency to also let some super-glue wick between the connector and circuit board to give it even more strength so this does not happen again.
Humberto
July 25, 2015 at 10:35 pm
You are right, but in my country that product is very hard (almost inpossible) to get.
Yogesh Panchal
July 24, 2015 at 9:17 pm
Good attempt . Thanks for sharing.
Humberto
July 25, 2015 at 10:36 pm
Thanks Yogesh
Mark Rudisill
July 24, 2015 at 9:55 pm
It would have been extra informative if you would have shown how you rebuilt the tracks/solder pads. Good Job !!!!
Humberto
July 25, 2015 at 10:38 pm
Yes, but remember the articles should not be so huge.
S Ramachandran
July 24, 2015 at 10:17 pm
Thanks for sharing your experience
Humberto
July 25, 2015 at 10:39 pm
Thanks. You are welcome
Albert
July 24, 2015 at 10:19 pm
I read in the Posts to also use Super Glue afterwards. I did use it too but it has one disadvantage. It probably would mean that the next time it needed a new repair when you are still able to solder the glued contacts that the gases that evaporate from the hot glue could damage your eyes or longs while soldering. Although I wear glasses it happened more then once that I got those fumes in my eyes. It in fact is mostly a repair that needs to be done because people didn't take care enough to prevent these things from breaking from the pcb paths. I mean to say: It would fall out of any Guarantee. It is abuse of how one normally should take care of these USB sticks/micro USB Smartphone connectors etc.etc. It is simply not made to repair it more then once.
Liviu
July 25, 2015 at 4:35 am
buy a toy ventilator for kids working on battery (1.5V)and put it to blow away all the fumes. Keep a window open for more fresh air.
Albert
July 26, 2015 at 1:41 am
That sounds like good advise Liviu. But I wasn't at home and my Friend for Whom I repaired things like a broken mini USB Smartphone connector, didn't have anything of the sort. And I volunteered to fix more micro and/or mini broken off USB connectors for him. Almost a year I helped him out with fixing the more difficult electronic repairs. And since he as a Starter Service Provider didn't have much money to go on I did it for Free. Again those SuperGlue fumes are very agressive and not something that you should do inside anyway, even when using a Fan. The Gases do oxydize Copper and Solder easily!
Humberto
July 25, 2015 at 10:43 pm
Yes albert, you are 100% right. This USB Memory was connected to a laptop and the machine dropped to the floor and this USB was first in touch the floor, it saved the laptop from a repair.
Albert
July 26, 2015 at 2:06 am
Hi Humberto, I hope that the people who brought in their broken USB stick, won't complain about their laptop that needs an USB connector repair now also? And that they won't come back in the next 3 months with the same complaint. (It depends on your guarantee time period on repairs).
About those Laptop USB connectors are some connectors internally protected with little TI (Texas Instruments) smd chips against short circuiting the 5Volt Line. But not all Laptops are protected this way.
Dilfaroz
July 24, 2015 at 10:27 pm
Thanks and I am appreciating lovely solutions should be possible to make one book or DVD for maximum solutions?
Humberto
July 25, 2015 at 10:48 pm
Yes, I suppose you should resume some experience and make your book or DVD
Henrique Jorge Guimarães Ulbrich - Brazil
July 24, 2015 at 10:54 pm
I just think that such a problem would have to be envisaged by the manufacturer...
Humberto
July 25, 2015 at 10:53 pm
I don't think so. Once you buy a device and warranty time is over, everything that happens is your own problem
Anwar Shiekh
July 24, 2015 at 11:06 pm
I forgot to mention that I now use Gorilla USB drives (http://www.epmemory.com/usb_gorilladrive.html), as I am tired of normal USB drives failing even if I am careful with them.
Albert
July 25, 2015 at 4:31 am
Rubberised USB sticks, I take it that it is a layer on top of the outside case? Although they look sturdy and not too expensive, I think it will be a problem when the Rubber in a few years becomes very sticky instead of the way it was when you bought them. I had mouses that were rubberised and they now can't be used anymore because of the rubber that kind of sticks to your fingers. Just so you know if you buy a lot of them and they all get sticky in a couple of years?
Merlin Marquardt
July 24, 2015 at 11:16 pm
Interesting. Good work.
Humberto
July 25, 2015 at 10:54 pm
Thanks Merlin
randy
July 25, 2015 at 12:00 am
yes, how did you rebuild the tracks? In fact, that would be a good article here from anyone or from multiple authors. I have tried using thin copper strips but can't seem to permanently hold down the copper strip to the pcb, super glue doesn't seem to hold up well to soldering heat. thanks
Humberto
July 25, 2015 at 10:57 pm
The tracks were rebuild by means of my WELLER soldering iron of 40 watts and fresh tin; a blade and a magnifying glass of 10x
Gary
July 25, 2015 at 4:31 am
Very common issue with usb sticks.
I am surprised someone actually brings this into fix as a new one only cost £3 - how much do you charge for fixing this Humberto?
You are one of my favourite engineers on this website you always post unusual and inventive fixes.
Keep up the good work!!!
Hoots from Scotland!!!
Humberto
July 25, 2015 at 11:03 pm
Thanks Gary for be one admirer or fan.
I live in Cuba, this kind of device and any electronic appliance is very expensive in my country, the prices are over in 3 or 5 times.
In this case I charged nothing, because of being a closed friend. But it would cost about 5.00 CUC (our money) as a minimum price (an equivelent of 5.00 USD)
Biruk Aweke
July 25, 2015 at 8:45 pm
nice solution thanks for sharing.
Humberto
July 25, 2015 at 11:04 pm
Thanks Biruk
marco tapia
July 25, 2015 at 9:58 pm
Thanks to Mr humberto and jestine for taking the time to post these articles for us to read as I always learn something from every article that is posted so good job on this usb repair. 🙂
Humberto
July 25, 2015 at 11:06 pm
Thanks marco Tapia, you are welcome.
by the way, the surname of my father is Tapia too
Albert Hoekman
July 26, 2015 at 2:27 am
Dear Humberto,
USB-sticks (and other devices) are always problematic when used in a laptop. Nowadays the laptops become very thin and the cases are mostly build of (ABS) plastic and that is horrible. This results in a lot of failing USB-connectors on laptops, especially when USB-devices are permanently connected to the laptop. I have to repair at least one laptop with USB-connectorproblems every week. And it's a lot of work!
See also https://www.jestineyong.com/laptop-usb-port-repaired/
A.Fitzgerald Downes
August 1, 2015 at 9:25 am
This is fantastic. I never gave any thought to repairing a USB flash drive. You have given me something to think about since many clients come to me and I advice them to buy another one since they are somewhat inexpensive. Actually I forgot that the data stored may value alot. Thanks for the repair idea and I will advertise tomorrow that Fitzgerald Enterprises will be repairing USB drives. Thanks for your report.
Regards,
A. Fitzgerald
jahabarsadiq
August 7, 2015 at 1:44 am
Really fantastic
Mark Tembo
August 14, 2015 at 8:54 pm
This is good article because it can help you repair one and retrieve data from a USB disk. Thanks again!
aziz ola
August 20, 2015 at 12:27 pm
thank you
Robert Calk
August 21, 2015 at 6:25 am
Nice job, Humberto. Thanks for the nice article.
majid soroori
September 15, 2015 at 11:34 pm
thank you very nice job
best regard.
Jim Whalen
September 16, 2015 at 6:52 am
Thanks for sharing. After recsoldering Have you tried using some hot glue stick to hold the usb down firm. and if ever needing repaired again you can remove the glue fairly easy with a small tool. P.S. the tempture 40-50c (104-122f)for glue melt is above anything the usb would see.The Glue guns low temps approximately 120 °C (248 °F)
Gurpreet
September 17, 2015 at 8:25 pm
Good person good work.
Michelle
March 22, 2018 at 2:15 am
My usb was inserted in my laptop and accidentally hit/bent the usb... when I insert it to laptop it reads it as removeable disk f instead of my usb name and when I open it I get a message that says please insert removeable disk. I am not able to see any files. What can I do to recover them?