Tom's Hardware > Forum > Storage > Flash Media > [Solved] Protect bare (uncased) flash drive from physical damage

[Solved] Protect bare (uncased) flash drive from physical damage

Forum Storage : Flash Media - [Solved] Protect bare (uncased) flash drive from physical damage

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Best answer from sminlal.

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mkny13   10-13-2009 at 07:10:21 PM

Bit of preample before I get to my question, bear with me. So my 8GB Cruzer died (or so I thought)--it was totally unresponsive when plugging it into a variety of PCs. I tried cleaning the contacts and gently squeezing/twisting the casing to see if I could reconnect anything that had come loose inside, all without effect. As a last ditch, I cracked the case open and plugged the interior component (just a board, flash mem, and a USB plug) in--voila, it works.

I realize I can't trust this "Franken-drive" with critical data, but it would be nice to load UBCDWin (technically, it would actually be UBUSB) onto it and leave it in my glove box. Here's my question: what's the best way to protect the components now that they don't have a case? I considered good ol' duct tape, but I'm worried it won't conduct heat away. Should I just leave it naked? Any other ideas?

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Best answer from sminlal
Considering how many flash drives have plastic cases I'd be surprised if you need to worry that much about heat conductivity. Duct tape sounds like a good solution to me. You might want make the first layer from electrical tape just in case the duct tape is conductive.
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Bronze Storage badge sminlal   10-14-2009 at 12:17:08 AM
Best answer

Considering how many flash drives have plastic cases I'd be surprised if you need to worry that much about heat conductivity. Duct tape sounds like a good solution to me. You might want make the first layer from electrical tape just in case the duct tape is conductive.

Reply to sminlal
tmike   10-14-2009 at 07:05:37 AM

stick it inside something novel... say, a stuffed bunny rabbit, sticking out where the bunny's junk would be. a stuffed bunny humping your USB port would be so... well, something.

Reply to tmike
huron   10-14-2009 at 04:11:08 PM

I've seen articles (I think PopSci) that the person encased it using PlastiDip (they used clear, so you could see inside, but it sells in a number of colors).

------------------------------ Antec 900, MSI P7N Diamond, E8400,
4 GB (2 x 2GB) Crucial Ballistix 4-4-4-12, 8800 GTS 512 SLI
 Reply to huron
hattrick68   10-14-2009 at 06:21:35 PM

mkny13 wrote :

Bit of preample before I get to my question, bear with me. So my 8GB Cruzer died (or so I thought)--it was totally unresponsive when plugging it into a variety of PCs. I tried cleaning the contacts and gently squeezing/twisting the casing to see if I could reconnect anything that had come loose inside, all without effect. As a last ditch, I cracked the case open and plugged the interior component (just a board, flash mem, and a USB plug) in--voila, it works.

I realize I can't trust this "Franken-drive" with critical data, but it would be nice to load UBCDWin (technically, it would actually be UBUSB) onto it and leave it in my glove box. Here's my question: what's the best way to protect the components now that they don't have a case? I considered good ol' duct tape, but I'm worried it won't conduct heat away. Should I just leave it naked? Any other ideas?



Just curious, because I have first hand experience with the incredible quality of Cruzer ;) Why not just go spend another $12 for a new one? Or better yet, get an OCZ Rally 2 high speed USB drive?

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Reply to hattrick68
mkny13   10-21-2009 at 05:30:12 PM

hattrick68 wrote :

Just curious, because I have first hand experience with the incredible quality of Cruzer ;) Why not just go spend another $12 for a new one? Or better yet, get an OCZ Rally 2 high speed USB drive?


I did replace it, with an adata 16GB stick. But as I've gotten a second life out of the cruzer, why not put it to some use?

I think I'm going for electric tape. I still worry a bit about thermal conductivity but I'll take my chances.

Reply to mkny13
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