USB Flash
Lost data from a flash drive? At DataHelp we offer professional data recovery from damaged or failed USB flash drives, using advanced technology and algorithms that let us recover data even in the most complex cases.
We recover data from USB flash drives of all brands — including drives with broken connectors, dead controllers and monolithic designs. Where the controller cannot be revived, we read the NAND chips directly (chip-off) and reassemble your files from the raw dumps.
Pricing
Indicative prices by damage type
| Type of damage | Price |
|---|---|
| Software issues | |
Deleted Data Accidentally deleted files | from €69 |
Formatting Formatted flash drive or card | from €69 |
Corrupted File System Drive or card unreadable, asks to be formatted | from €99 |
| Hardware issues | |
Broken Connector Mechanically damaged USB connector | from €69 |
Damaged NAND Chips Unreadable blocks, chip-off recovery | from €169 |
Faulty Controller Flash drive not recognised, wrong capacity | from €329 |
Monolithic Chip (microSD) Integrated chip, more complex recovery | from €399 |
Prices are indicative. The final price is set after diagnostics, based on the actual condition of the device.
Common faults at a glance
Software failures
| Damage | Cause and symptoms |
|---|---|
| Data deleted by the user |
|
| Formatting |
|
| Damaged file system |
|
Hardware failures
| Damage | Cause and symptoms |
|---|---|
| Faulty memory controller |
|
| Faulty memory blocks |
|
| Broken connector |
|
Interface types
•USB 2.0 Micro-B
•USB 2.0 Type-A
•USB 3.0/3.1 Gen 1 Type-A
•USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A
•USB 3.1 Type-C
•USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C
•Thunderbolt 3/4
•Wi-Fi
•Lightning
How do we recover data from flash drives?
When recovering data from a flash drive, we first use specialised tools to create an image of the drive and then work only with that copy. The process includes rebuilding the file system and recovering individual files. Unlike hard drives, flash drives have no moving parts, so mechanical failures are rarer – which makes data recovery simpler and faster.
Even with smaller drives, we regularly deal with problems such as a failed controller chip or damaged memory cells that call for expert work.
Preserving the file system structure is essential for reconstructing the data in full. A corrupted file system or a mechanically damaged connector can make the data harder to reach, but with the right techniques and equipment we achieve a high success rate.
USB flash drive construction and its impact on data recovery
A USB flash drive contains NAND flash memory chips, a controller chip and the USB interface. The design varies by manufacturer and price range, and it directly affects how complex the recovery will be.
Many modern flash drives use a monolithic design, with all components integrated into a single chip. This makes them more compact and robust, but recovery is considerably harder – it requires specialised equipment to access the memory cells directly.
Construction types
Classic construction
Separate components on a circuit board – controller, memory chips and USB connector. Easier recovery – the memory chips can be accessed directly.
Monolithic construction
Everything, including the USB connector, is in a single chip. More complex recovery – requires special adapters and knowledge of the chip’s internal layout.
COB (Chip on Board)
The chip is embedded in epoxy directly on the board – common in cheap flash drives. Recovery of medium complexity.
Data recovery from USB flash drives of all brands
Each manufacturer uses different controller chips and memory technologies. Our laboratory has an extensive database of firmware and tools for working with all common USB flash drive brands.
Premium brands
- •SanDisk – Extreme, Ultra, Cruzer series
- •Samsung – Bar Plus, Fit Plus, Duo Plus
- •Kingston – DataTraveler, IronKey (encrypted)
- •Corsair – Flash Voyager, Survivor
Common brands
- •Transcend – JetFlash series
- •ADATA – UV series
- •Verbatim – Store ’n’ Go
- •Silicon Power – Blaze, Jewel
Specialised flash drives
- •Encrypted – Kingston IronKey, Apricorn Aegis
- •Rugged – Corsair Survivor, LaCie Rugged
- •Dual USB-A/C – SanDisk Ultra Dual
- •Lightning – SanDisk iXpand (for iPhone)
How to prevent data loss on a USB flash drive
Most common causes of data loss
- •Unsafe removal – pulling the drive out while data is being written, without using ‘Safely Remove’
- •Mechanical damage – a broken USB connector or bent contacts
- •Electrostatic discharge – static electricity damaging the electronics
- •Overvoltage from the USB port – a faulty port can destroy the drive
- •Memory cell wear – flash memory tolerates only a limited number of writes
Recommendations for safe use
- •Always remove safely – use the ‘Safely Remove Hardware’ function
- •Use the cap – it protects the connector from dust and damage
- •Don’t keep it on your keyring – mechanical stress damages the connector
- •Back up important data – a flash drive should never be your only copy
- •Buy quality brands – cheap flash drives tend to fail sooner
Three steps to getting your data back
1
Stop using the flash drive
If the flash drive is not recognised, reports an error or asks to be formatted, disconnect it immediately. Repeated connection attempts can cause further damage to the data or memory cells.
2
Don't format or repair
Windows often offers to format or repair the drive. Never choose these options – they can overwrite data irreversibly. For hardware failures, also avoid off-the-shelf data recovery software.
3
Register your case for a free assessment
Send the flash drive yourself or drop it off in Prague. Optional insured DPD pickup costs €45. We assess the fault and send you a binding quote. Recovery starts only after your approval.
Broken USB connector? Even if the connector is broken, we can recover the data. We solder on a new connector or access the memory chips directly using specialised adapters.
Supported USB flash drives
| Brands | SanDisk, Kingston, Corsair, ADATA, Verbatim, Patriot, Transcend, Silicon Power, Samsung, Lexar, PNY, Integral, Emtec |
|---|---|
| Interfaces | USB 2.0, USB 3.0/3.1/3.2 Gen 1/Gen 2, USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, USB4), Thunderbolt (limited) |
| Construction | Standard (NAND + controller + PCB), monolithic (single chip), encrypted (hardware-AES) |
| Capacities | From 128 MB legacy drives up to modern 2 TB high-capacity drives |
What to do if your USB flash drive fails
Stop using the drive immediately — any new write overwrites recoverable sectors.
Keep the drive in an anti-static bag; do not bend or apply heat.
If the drive has physically broken, keep all the pieces — the data on the NAND chip can still be recovered via chip-off.
Do not format the drive when Windows prompts you to — formatting wipes the partition table.
USB flash repair vs. data recovery
Flash drives are not usually repaired for continued use. Once a controller or NAND chip fails, the drive has reached the end of its life — even if we can extract the data, its wear-levelling state is compromised and it should no longer be trusted with data.
We specialise in data extraction. For standard USB drives we can swap the PCB or reprogram the controller. For monolithic designs (common in low-cost USB sticks) we use chip-off recovery — desoldering the NAND and reading it directly with specialised equipment.
After recovery we return your data on a new, verified drive. The original USB drive is either physically destroyed or returned to you, whichever you prefer — we never return drives for continued use.
Do not keep plugging in a failing USB drive
If your USB drive is only recognised intermittently, shows the wrong capacity or triggers Windows errors, stop plugging it in. Every connection makes the controller reorganise the flash cells, and a failing controller can corrupt the translation table (FTL), making recovery much harder or impossible.
Do not use third-party 'repair' tools that offer a low-level format or firmware reflash — these usually mark all sectors as blank, destroying the directory structure. If Windows offers to format the drive, always click Cancel.
Why choose DataHelp for USB flash drive recovery?
USB flash recovery requires specialised equipment (Rusolut Visual NAND Reconstructor, PC-3000 Flash, BGA rework station) plus deep knowledge of each controller's firmware and address translation. Every manufacturer (Phison, Silicon Motion, Alcor, USBest, ChipsBank) uses proprietary internal formats that generic tools cannot interpret.
Our specialists have reconstructed data from thousands of USB drives — from standard SanDisk Cruzer drives to monolithic chips and physically broken sticks where only the fragment with the NAND chip survived. For chip-off recovery we operate two BGA rework stations and keep a stock of common USB controllers for firmware transplants.
Our team has more than 35 years of experience (since 1990). Typical success rates for USB flash drives: 85% for controller failures, 60–70% for monolithic chip-off, 40–50% for physically broken drives with damaged NAND.
Frequently asked questions — USB flash drive recovery
Standard USB recovery (logical damage, deleted files, formatting) starts from €69. Damaged memory chips (chip-off) from €169, a faulty controller from €329 and monolithic chips from €399. Physically broken drives require an individual quote. No Data, No Fee: if no data is recovered, there is no recovery fee (the optional €45 pickup fee is non-refundable).
Often yes, if the NAND chip itself is intact. USB drives usually break at the connector or PCB, while the NAND memory survives. We desolder the NAND and read it directly with chip-off equipment. Send us all the fragments — even a drive that looks destroyed can contain recoverable flash chips.
No. The format prompt means Windows cannot read the partition table, but the data is usually still intact in the flash memory. Formatting erases the partition structure and makes recovery more difficult. Unplug the drive and contact us.
Diagnostics take 24–48 hours from when we receive the drive. Standard recovery takes 3–14 days depending on the damage. For urgent cases we offer Priority (24–72 hours) and Express (12–48 hours) for a surcharge; EcoHelp (4–6 weeks) is available at a reduced price.
Need to recover data from a USB flash drive or memory card?
Request a free case assessment or contact us for more information.
Related guides
Useful reading before or after data recovery
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