USB Stick Data Recovery – SanDisk Not Recognised, No Physical Damage

A university student in Nottingham experienced a critical issue when their SanDisk USB stick suddenly stopped being recognized by any computer. The USB contained important coursework, research papers, and final-year dissertation files. There was no visible physical damage, but the drive was completely unresponsive. Desperate to recover their work before submission deadlines, the student contacted Nottingham Data Recovery, Nottingham’s best data recovery company, with 25 years of experience in professional data recovery.

The Problem

The USB stick was not being recognized, likely due to one of the following:

  1. Controller Chip Failure
    • The USB controller failed, preventing the computer from detecting the device.
  2. File System Corruption
    • If the USB was improperly ejected or experienced a sudden power loss, the FAT32 or exFAT file system might be corrupted.
  3. No Backup Available
    • The student had no backup, making data recovery crucial before assignment deadlines.

The Data Recovery Process by Nottingham Data Recovery

Step 1: Initial Assessment

The recovery team performed a detailed evaluation:

  • Physical Inspection:
    • No visible damage, no bent connector, and the casing was intact.
  • Logical Diagnostics:
    • The USB was not detected by Windows, Mac, or Linux systems.
    • Disk Management showed no assigned drive letter, meaning the system wasn’t recognizing it.

Step 2: Data Recovery Approach

Since there was no physical damage, the team used advanced flash memory recovery techniques:

1️⃣ Controller Bypass & Direct NAND Access

  • The USB stick’s controller chip had failed, meaning the device could not communicate with the computer.
  • The NAND memory chip (which stores the data) was removed and accessed directly using specialised NAND chip readers.

2️⃣ Raw Data Extraction

  • Once the NAND chip was accessed, the team extracted raw binary data from the flash memory.

3️⃣ File System Reconstruction

  • Since the controller failure prevented normal data access, the team reconstructed the FAT32 file system manually, allowing the retrieval of original files.

Step 3: Data Validation & Secure Delivery

✅ File Integrity Check

  • The recovered coursework, research documents, and dissertation files were verified and tested for corruption.

✅ Secure Data Transfer

  • The student’s files were transferred to a new USB stick and a secure cloud backup.

Challenges Faced

  1. Controller Chip Failure
    • USB failures at the controller level require specialised NAND recovery, making DIY solutions ineffective.
  2. Time-Sensitive Recovery
    • The student had an upcoming deadline, requiring a fast turnaround.
  3. File System Corruption
    • The data had to be rebuilt manually from raw NAND memory, requiring expert-level recovery.

Outcome

✅ Recovered 100% of the university coursework and dissertation files.
✅ Delivered the recovered files within 48 hours, allowing the student to meet their submission deadline.
✅ Provided recommendations for cloud backups and external storage solutions.

Lessons Learned

  1. Always Back Up University Work
    • Use Google Drive, OneDrive, or an external SSD to store important documents.
  2. Avoid Unsafe USB Removal
    • Always eject the USB stick properly to prevent file system corruption.
  3. Seek Professional Help Immediately
    • DIY recovery attempts can worsen the damage—consult data recovery specialists for safe retrieval.

Why Choose Nottingham Data Recovery?

✅ 25 Years of Experience: Experts in USB, SSD, and NAND flash memory recovery.
✅ Advanced Flash Recovery Tools: Specialized equipment to bypass failed controllers and extract NAND data.
✅ Fast Turnaround: Emergency recovery available for urgent academic deadlines.
✅ Secure Handling: Ensuring data privacy and security for sensitive university work.

This case highlights Nottingham Data Recovery’s expertise in USB stick recovery, ensuring the student could submit their coursework on time with zero data loss.