The Case
A customer brought in a 64GB USB thumb drive that was not being detected by their computer whatsoever. Before bringing the drive to us, they had already taken it to a local computer repair shop that attempted to repair the connectors — unsuccessfully.
The drive had been problematic for a while. It started working slower and slower until it eventually stopped being recognized completely. The customer opted into our Expedited Plus Data Recovery Service as they needed the data back urgently.
What Is USB Chip-Off Data Recovery?
USB chip-off data recovery is the process of physically removing the flash memory chip (NAND) from a USB drive and reading the data directly from the chip. This is done when the USB drive has failed and the data is inaccessible through traditional recovery methods.
The flash memory chip is removed using specialized soldering equipment, then the data is read using forensic-grade tools. This bypasses the failed controller entirely.
Can Data Always Be Recovered?
The success of a chip-off recovery depends on several factors:
- Type of failure — Controller failure is highly recoverable via chip-off. Physical NAND damage is harder.
- Condition of the NAND chip — Exposure to extreme heat, moisture, or physical damage can make data unreadable.
- Overwrite status — If data has been overwritten or corrupted at the chip level, recovery may be partial or impossible.
Chip-off is a delicate, complex process that should only be performed by trained professionals with the right equipment. The wrong technique can permanently destroy the chip.
Our Diagnosis Process
Visual Inspection
The USB drive is visually inspected for signs of physical damage, corrosion, or connector failure. In this case, we could see the previous repair shop had already attempted connector work.
Initial Testing
We verified with our data recovery equipment that the USB drive was indeed not being detected at all — confirming the failure was beyond simple connector repair.
Disassembly & NAND Extraction
We disassembled the entire USB drive and soldered off the 2 NAND chips (where all data is stored). The problem in these cases is almost always a failed controller — the NAND chips themselves are typically intact.
Chip Reading ("Dump")
Each NAND chip was read individually using our PC-3000 Flash by Ace Laboratory. This produces a raw "dump" — a complete binary image of everything stored on the chip, including the data structures the controller used to organize it.
Controller Emulation & Data Rebuild
Once we had both chip dumps, we emulated the controller in our system to rebuild the data. This step reconstructs the file system from the raw NAND data — the same way the original controller would have organized it — and makes the files accessible again.
The Result
| Drive | Capacity | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| USB Thumb Drive | 64GB | 100% data recovered — original file structure intact |
What to Do If Your USB Drive Fails
If you can't access the data on your USB drive, do not attempt to repair it yourself. Further connector attempts, heat application, or software tools can make chip-off recovery harder or impossible. Call a specialist first.
- Stop using the drive immediately
- Don't attempt to bend, heat, or re-solder the connector
- Don't run disk utility or recovery software if the drive isn't detected
- Contact a professional who has chip-off capability and forensic NAND reading tools
USB Drive Not Detected?
Stop. Don't touch it. Every repair attempt without the right tools reduces your chances.
We offer free over-the-phone consultations — tell us what's happening and we'll give you a straight answer about your options before you send anything in.
Five Star Data Recovery
Contact us before you try anything else. The data that looks gone may not be.