Where to get a USB stick fixed/soldered in BKK?

[dfdgfdfdgs]

I'm right in thinking that the data on the drive should be fine right?  It's just the connections that have broken off.

 

If so where can I take it to get it fixed, anybody have any specific recommendations?

[Crossy]

Amorn Service in Fortune Town should be able to sort for you.

[dfdgfdfdgs]

Thanks for the tip.  I went there and it's basically the same sort of place as Pantip and MBK, but I'd never heard of it before.

 

Anyway Amorn took one look at it and said 'can't'.  I tried 3 of the independent vendors there as well (all of them doing general computer repairs) and they all said no straight away.

 

I think it needs a specialist 'solderer'.  And it's a micro-soldering job, so your normal soldering iron won't work.

 

Any ideas?

 

I'll post a photo in a minute of the actual stick.  There's 2 of them by the way, only one of them has the data I need but I can't remember which is which...

Edited December 7, 2017 by dfdgfdfdgs

[lopburi3]

Don't see any photo but if you have any access (remove any plastic cover) to the copper strips it should not be hard to solder pig tails (wire) to what is exposed and then solder other ends to a USB extension cable (actually better do the cable end first to act as heat sink when you spot solder to the USB stick contacts).  Expect people you talked with believed you wanted to make the actual USB good again but that would not be required to retrieve data as you can they copy to whatever you want.

[VocalNeal]

Last resort bring some beer round and I'll have a go at it. I have a very fine tip iron.

[Crossy]

Let's see the photos of the damage before committing  

[dfdgfdfdgs]

Pictures.  The top one was my attempt at soldering.  It connected briefly then cut out again and I didn't want to keep trying because I was messing up the plastic around the soldering points.  It's been left for a few months so the wires have since separated.

[dfdgfdfdgs]

21 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Last resort bring some beer round and I'll have a go at it. I have a very fine tip iron.

 

Do you mind taking a look at the below link and see if it's the same sort of thing you have?  For less than 200 baht I'll buy one on eBay rather than trouble you.

 

I wasn't sure what sort of equipment was needed.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/5V-8W-Portable-Mini-USB-Electric-Soldering-Iron-Pen-Gun-Tip-TouchSwitch-Set-Fine/182726044756

[Crossy]

Well I'm not surprised Amorn and others said no, butchery of a high order has been occurring here I'm afraid

 

I admit I was expecting to see a unit with a possibly bent or pulled off connector that just needed re-soldering.

 

The second unit may be recoverable if you have the right kit. The right kit being a hot air unit, very fine solder, a powerful magnifier and a steady hand. But what on earth did you do to the USB connector?

 

Just how valuable / irreplaceable is the data? I suspect you are looking at a specialist data-recovery outfit who can read the memory device directly, sadly that does mean $$$

 

Many moons ago when I was a struggling student I used to fix TVs (in the days they could actually be fixed). A unit that had been "got at" first attracted a premium of "0", that's a zero added to the price.

 

[dfdgfdfdgs]

5 minutes ago, Crossy said:

I admit I was expecting to see a unit with a possibly bent or pulled off connector that just needed re-soldering.

 

 

Pretty sure that's all it is.  But I'm not sure if I have a steady enough hand to do it, even with the right equipment

.  The wires look a mess now because they've frayed over time.  They'd be easy to pull off and start again.

 

I was thinking of getting a new USB connector from an old phone charger and using that.

 

 

7 minutes ago, Crossy said:

But what on earth did you do to the USB connector?

 

Bent it in the laptop.  Sat on it I think 

[Crossy]

Just now, dfdgfdfdgs said:

They'd be easy to pull off and start again.

The problem is the amount of heat that's been thrown in to the board and that device with lots of legs, these things are very sensitive to heat, usually rated for 5 seconds of soldering temperatures, once.

 

Are the pads becoming detached from the board itself?

 

I wouldn't take it on I'm afraid, it's been way too long and I don't have the air unit, the young eyes or the steady hand.

 

A hint for anyone who wants to have a go, don't use stranded wire to make pigtails, use solid core, regular (rigid) phone cable is a good source.

[ExpatOilWorker]

Try these guys: http://www.datarecoverythai.com/en

 

[lopburi3]

1 hour ago, Crossy said:

A hint for anyone who wants to have a go, don't use stranded wire to make pigtails, use solid core, regular (rigid) phone cable is a good source.

Actually I found using stranded worked OK if tinned well first and then just a quick touch with iron against board contact allowed a solder joint.  But you did have to be quick to keep wires from spreading and have not done such work for many decades now so not aware of current start of the art.

 

But photos do not show what I was expecting (inside metal cover issue with contact slides) and not even sure memory chip has survived now (especially on unit that has been worked on).  Not sure if second unit might be usable without the metal cover (appears damaged top photo so perhaps that is the only issue).

[dfdgfdfdgs]

Second unit is also overheating when plugged in.  Just tried it again.

 

I think I'll see how much the company in post 12 is charging, they have a dropoff location in Asoke.

[VocalNeal]

Mine is like this. Best picture I could find. The tip is so fine one could puncture the skin if it was lost in the bottom of a drawer. Variable heat. My son bought it without realizing it is 220V so wouldn't work for him.

 

 

Near Phrakanong if you bring beer. Sadly it does look a bit mangled but I'm eternally optimistic. The overheating ones sounds worrisome.

 

I don't have the air unit, the young eyes or the steady hand.

I've got some Geezer gogles 

 

 

Edited December 7, 2017 by VocalNeal

[dfdgfdfdgs]

On 12/7/2017 at 11:25 AM, ExpatOilWorker said:

Try these guys: http://www.datarecoverythai.com/en

 

 

Went to their drop-off location today and there's nothing there to do with data recovery, just a few condo/apartment buildings, restaurants and a bar.

 

Emailed them and no response either.

[ExpatOilWorker]

On 12/9/2017 at 10:50 PM, dfdgfdfdgs said:

 

Went to their drop-off location today and there's nothing there to do with data recovery, just a few condo/apartment buildings, restaurants and a bar.

 

Emailed them and no response either.

You must have been at the wrong building. I have used them a few years ago and they are top notch.

Did you call them?

[VocalNeal]

On 12/9/2017 at 10:50 PM, dfdgfdfdgs said:

 

Went to their drop-off location today and there's nothing there to do with data recovery, just a few condo/apartment buildings, restaurants and a bar.

 

Emailed them and no response either.

Today is Constitution Day it is a public holiday!

 

Had a quick look but didn't phone. I'd say the small open door with a sign that says "for rent" leads to stairs or elevator?

Edited December 11, 2017 by VocalNeal

[varun]

Such a fuss for a couple of USB sticks?
What is it on the USB sticks that is so important? 

 

Forget about the data, destroy the drives and move on.

 

Just putting it out there - have you considered embracing the 'cloud' ? 

Edited December 12, 2017 by varun