Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

USB thumbdrive

Feb 16, 2005 11:06AM PST

I inadvertantly sent my thumbdrive through the washing machine cycle (soap included). Is there any chance I didn't just make a slightly expensive key chain toy out of my thumbdrive. Please help!!

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
(NT) (NT) Let it dry out for a few weeks...
Feb 16, 2005 11:11AM PST
- Collapse -
laundry mistake
Feb 27, 2005 12:33AM PST

Thanks for the info. I tried the thumbdrive and it works fine. Luckily, the one I have has a very tight fitting cap and it kept most of the water out.

- Collapse -
Just me....
Feb 27, 2005 12:40AM PST

I wouldn't trust the unit as much as before. Make sure that you don't fall into the trap where it had the only copy of some file you could never lose...

It may be just fine, but then again...

Bob

- Collapse -
USB Drive
Feb 17, 2005 7:29AM PST

I did exactly the sam thing with my USB mini drive and i simply kept it warm and dry for a week or so til i knew it had dried out and then tried it and it actually worked perfectly
Give it a go - the only way its really gonna break is if u plug it in or send power through ti and it shorts something out.
Hope this Helps
Dan

- Collapse -
Laundry mistake
Feb 27, 2005 12:37AM PST

I dried it out and tried it and it works perfectly. Luckily the drive I have has a very tight fitting cap and it kept most of the water out. I'll be more careful in the future. Also will back up my things more carefully, my electronic report card was on the thumbdrive and it would have been a major headache if I had lost it. Thanks