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Old 06-30-2008, 05:40 AM
Roy
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Default Re: Changing USB drive letter

On Jun 30, 12:16*am, Paul <nos...@needed.com> wrote:
> Roy wrote:
> > On Jun 29, 1:05 pm, Paul <nos...@needed.com> wrote:
> >> Roy wrote:
> >>> On Jun 29, 5:23 am, Paul <nos...@needed.com> wrote:
> >>>> Roy wrote:
> >>>>> On Jun 28, 9:41 pm, Paul <nos...@needed.com> wrote:
> >>>>>> Roy wrote:
> >>>>>>> Hello Paul
> >>>>>>> I was able to downloaded the file and immediately run it but
> >>>>>>> regardless if the USBflash drive plugged *is suspected to be defective
> >>>>>>> or intact , it does not react...Is there a special way to run this
> >>>>>>> software?
> >>>>>>> Thanks
> >>>>>>> Roy
> >>>>>> If there is no reaction, then the USB flash is dead. It could be that
> >>>>>> there is a break in where the connector meets the PCB, inside the flash
> >>>>>> packaging.
> >>>>>> You should also test, with a known to be working USB device. That
> >>>>>> will demonstrate how the program is supposed to work, and also prove
> >>>>>> there isn't a problem with the USB ports on the computer you are
> >>>>>> using for this testing.
> >>>>>> I also use a couple Linux LiveCD distributions, for hardware testing.
> >>>>>> Knoppix (knopper.net) and Ubuntu (ubuntu.com), can be booted from
> >>>>>> their respective CDs, without installing any software on the hard
> >>>>>> drive. Using programs like dmesg, lspci, and lsusb in Linux, you
> >>>>>> can list/enumerate the hardware that the OS can "see". But UVCView
> >>>>>> should be doing the same thing, with a much smaller investment
> >>>>>> in time and effort. Those Linux distributions, are a 700MB download.
> >>>>>> Any time I need to prove "it's a hardware problem", I boot one of
> >>>>>> the Linux CDs, and see if the symptoms look the same. For example,
> >>>>>> my first computer had a video (AGP) problem, and the symptoms
> >>>>>> existed in both Windows and Linux.
> >>>>>> * * Paul
> >>>>> I did try using a working USB device such as the *flash drive,
> >>>>> wireless mouse dongle, it does not react... or does it need more time
> >>>>> for its operation? Whenever I click the close icon it states that "
> >>>>> windows cannot close the program, it may need more time for its
> >>>>> operation etc".
> >>>>> Further
> >>>>> the caption says:
> >>>>> 16 Bit MS-DOS Subsystem
> >>>>> D:\UVCVIE~1.EXE
> >>>>> C:\DOCUME~\ROYBAS~1\LOCALS~1Temp\. A temporary file needed for
> >>>>> initialization could not be created or could not be written to. Make
> >>>>> sure that the directory path exists, and disk space is available.
> >>>>> Click close to terminate the application
> >>>>> This surprises me is as I never experienced this with previous command
> >>>>> prompt application.
> >>>>> I don't understand why would it have an issue of disk space when I
> >>>>> still have 35 gigs of free space in my hard drive
> >>>>> BTW Sorry
> >>>>> I am not familiar with linux *applicationeither..
> >>>>> Roy
> >>>> UVCView.x86.exe should execute immediately when you double click it in
> >>>> a folder window. File size is 167,231 bytes. It is not a DOS program..
> >>>> When it starts, it should look very similar to this.
> >>>>http://www.die.de/blog/content/binary/usbview.png
> >>>> I don't know right off hand, what versions of Windows it supports.
> >>>> I'm using it on Win2K right now, and it is fine. Something else
> >>>> is going on with your system, would be my guess. Are you seeing
> >>>> any other strange problems, or is this the only one ?
> >>>> * * Paul- Hide quoted text -
> >>>> - Show quoted text -
> >>> I have never experienced such peculiarities with other programs and
> >>> only with that UVCvie...
> >>> My PC is run by WinXP Sp2.
> >>> I could never get it to display the appearance that you showed here
> >>>http://www.die.de/blog/content/binary/usbview.png
> >> I've been looking for another copy, and there is one here.

>
> >>ftp://ftp.efo.ru/pub/ftdichip/Utilities/

>
> >> File size is 167,232 bytes.
> >> MD5sum is 93244d84d79314898e62d21cecc4ca5e

>
> >> The MD5sum matches the download from the Microsoft site, so seems
> >> to be legitimate. Give that one a try and see if the behavior is
> >> any different.

>
> >> Maybe someone else understands the significance of -

>
> >> * * "16 Bit MS-DOS Subsystem"

>
> >> because I don't. Presumably it is an important clue. I'd
> >> almost suspect malware, or alternately, an important file
> >> on your C: drive is corrupted. I tried looking on the
> >> Microsoft site, and so far, don't see an exact match
> >> for the symptoms.

>
> >> * * Paul- Hide quoted text -

>
> >> - Show quoted text -

>
> > Thanks for that link Paul! The UVCview.x86 from that ftp really
> > works ! It displays the activity of *all the available USB ports and
> > its conclusive, the suspect drive is really bugged or possibly fried
> > by static electricity as its not shown in the diagram no matter how
> > many times I refreshed it.
> > Meanwhile a normal flash drive will indicate its connection status.

>
> > Now the question is there a way to retrieve the data DIY or I just
> > have to dispose it?.
> > Roy

>
> I understand there are outfits that will attempt recovery of data from
> USB flash sticks. I don't see a way to do it with software right now,
> unless you can coax the unit to appear in UVCView. If there is absolutely
> no response, then any kind of software probe will fail. (You might start
> with the manufacturer's web site, before searching for an independent
> recovery lab.)
>
> To recover the data in a hardware lab, I think there are at least two chips
> inside the flash stick. One is the controller, with USB interface. The other
> chip or chips, are the flash storage devices. By removing the flash storage
> chip and connecting it to another controller, a recovery lab may gain access to
> the data. (Or for that matter, they may even have a clip or jig, to probe
> the chip without removing it.)
>
> If the unit is easy to disassemble, you can look at where the USB connector
> solders to the PCB. If the design concentrates bending stresses all
> at one point, the result can be that a trace to the USB connector is
> broken. If that is the case, then some careful work with a soldering
> iron (not a Weller solder gun), might be able to fix it enough, to do
> data recovery. You would want a soldering iron with a grounded tip, and
> really old fashioned soldering irons, may deliver a small static discharge
> to what they are soldering. But the last small iron I bought from
> Radio Shack, was grounded.
>
> With regard to why the archive.org version of file failed, as I mentioned
> earlier, the files for download now, are a byte short. There should be
> a byte with 0x00 in it, on the end of the file. My copy of Win2K seems
> to tolerate the missing byte. I guess WinXP is being more careful. The
> FTP site I provided the link to, is not missing the byte, and is the
> full file. So perhaps that is why it worked. I've never had a complaint
> from other people, about the web.archive.org version of the file. I
> guess now I'll have to permanently switch to that new link.
>
> * * Paul- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -


I understand....I think cost wise, data recovery from the flash drive
is not encouraging if a third party will attempt to recover it.
Regarding DIY with the information you mentioned I can't do it myself
as that requires some sort of considerable skill in electronics and
surgical precision and I am not good in doing that.
I just have to extract the bits and pieces of that important file of
that busted flash drive from the hard drive of the computer where it
was copied and recompose it. That s a lot of work to be done but I am
certain I can recover the lost data better this way...
Anyway I learned something very important
To be in careful of plugging any Flash drive on any computer as there
are some units that have stray static electricity.
I just verified it from somebody who also plugged a flash drive it was
busted also by the same PC that destroyed mine.

Thank you very much for all your help Paul!
Sincerely
ROY

BTW,
Just another thing. to think about..how come larger external HDD USB
connected drives is not affected by that PC and how come only the
flash drives .....?
Just keep me wondering

Roy

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