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Question

USB drive broken, please help, assignments due tomorrow!

Mar 5, 2012 4:17PM PST

Somehow my USB has broken. I have never seen an inside of a USB before, but I opened it up to have a look and I found a loose object inside where it shouldn't be - a battery-like object with two small wires attached to it. The plastic on it is slightly bent. Here is a photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/75803484@N05/6958362713/
Please help me, I have assignments due tomorrow and I have no idea what to do!!

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
Resolder item
Mar 6, 2012 12:53AM PST

It looks like the Y1 (crystal)broke off. Note that Y1 solder area, if nothing is there and the solder looks deformed, etc., maybe that's the area it needs to be returned to. A solder iron and a deft hand will do. Alas, if you can cramp down or somehow keep the flash drive from moving, in order to best resolder the item back on. I guess its Y1, but you need to verify that. Notice how all the other solder is smooth, etc., while Y1 appears rough or tipped, peaked as you will observe for that. Be quick, don't keep the solder iron too long in these electronics are quickly over-heated. -OR- allow a pro at this for what maybe a quick job. ALSO, handle that now exposed flashdrive with care and non-static handling.

tada -----Willy Happy

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Answer
Looks like a capacitor
Mar 5, 2012 8:00PM PST

Your options are three if you're talking about a USB hard drive. If you know how to solder, can find the location where the capacitor once was and can verify correct polarity, you can try to put it back in place. Barring that, you quickly acquire a new USB enclosure that's compatible with the hard drive. A third option, and maybe the best an easiest if your PC is not a laptop, would be to see if you can open your PC case and attach the hard drive to the motherboard. If Windows plays nice with the hard drive, you should be able to collect your data.