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WHAT IS A USB PENDRIVE OR MEMORY?
A flash drive is...
USB flash drives or memory sticks belong to the family of devices with FLASH technology. Their operation is very similar to SSD hard drives, but with differences in both the connection and internal components.
The use of these devices became standardized with the advent of the USB port, allowing information to be transported from one place to another in a very small space. These devices have evolved in terms of size, capacity, and speed, both in USB flash drives and SSD hard drives.
Parts of a pendrive
They consist of a USB connector (in any of its A, B, or C formats), the electronic board with various components, a controller, and one or more memory blocks for storing information. Their operation is very similar to that of an SSD with certain peculiarities, but in general terms, they are practically identical.
They come in various types and sizes, along with different types of memory, although they can be divided into two types: those with a separate controller and memory block, and those that are unified in a single chip or chip, called monolithic.
PROBLEMS WITH FLASH MEMORIES?
Except for SLC, all other FLASH device technologies, such as pen drives or SSDs, present common failures in terms of memory block degradation, causing the devices to stop working at any time. In many cases, problems appear as follows:- The computer doesn't recognize the USB flash drive.
- The USB flash drive is broken, damaged, or unreadable.
- The files or photos stored on the flash drive have been lost.
- Flash drive read error, the USB is unreadable.
- The Flash drive or USB displays strange characters when connected to the computer.
- And physical faults such as a broken USB connector or damage to the memory block controller due to short circuits.
TIPS TO AVOID LOSING DATA
Flash technology has many advantages over traditional storage, but also some drawbacks. As mentioned above, one of them is the degradation of memory blocks. It is very convenient to use pen drives or USB sticks as portable and fast storage from one place to another.
However, we have become accustomed to working directly with them by opening documents, modifying them and saving them directly on the same device. This way of working causes the cells of the memory blocks to gradually degrade. In addition, the mere fact of being connected to the computer, without even using the USB, slowly depletes the cells as the operating system queries the USB device every X amount of time and the device responds.
To avoid degradation of the cells, it is always ideal to connect the device, and when it is not needed, eject the operating system correctly to avoid wear and tear and/or loss of information due to incorrect disconnection.
This point is very important, since most USB flash drives work in eXFAT (Extended FAT) format. It is a very old format, patched to be used today with large capacities (the original limit was 3.99 GB per file) but easily corruptible.
Therefore, losing data if the device is not properly ejected may occur under these circumstances.
¿CÓMO LLEVAMOS A CABO EL PROCESO DE RECUPERACIÓN
DE DATOS DE UN PENDRIVE O MEMORIA USB?
In just 1 HOUR
We arrange pickup through a courier service.
Within 4 Business Hours
After receiving the device at the lab (within 24h), we carry out a diagnosis and no-obligation quote within a maximum of 4 business hours.
Between 4 and 7 business days
This is the average recovery time, in business days, for the damaged device*
WE EXPLAIN IT TO YOU IN A VIDEO
THIS IS HOW WE RECOVER YOUR DATA STEP BY STEP
Transparency, technology, and expertise at every stage of the process. Watch the video and discover how we work.
THE ADVANTAGES OF RECOVERING DATA FROM A PENDRIVE OR USB MEMORY WITH US
Customers
Analyzes performed
Spare parts
Experience
Free collection and delivery service (*)
Free diagnosis and quote
Real-time tracking through our intranet
If we don’t recover your data, you don’t pay
Free customer support phone line
Electronics Laboratory and Class 100 Clean Room
Qualified technical staff and ongoing training
Service with European-wide coverage
* If the device is unrecoverable or the quotation is rejected, courier charges will be charged.
Si necesitas recuperar la información de un Pendrive o memoria USB...
HOW MUCH DOES DATA RECOVERY FROM A PENDRIVE COST?
PRICES FOR DATA RECOVERY FROM PENDRIVES, MEMORY DRIVES, AND USB
The price for recovering data from pen drives, memory sticks, and USB drives will always depend on the damage suffered by the device, together with the working hours and technical equipment required to carry out the recovery processes.
In any case, a prior diagnosis is necessary to detect the type of fault or combination of several faults. Below we detail the most common faults and the reference prices:
These prices are indicative, to give you a reference.
If you want to know the exact cost for you, it's best to contact us and we'll give you a free, no-obligation quote.
THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FLASH MEMORIES
NAND Flash memories are SLC, MLC, TLC and 3D NAND and for graphical representation we could identify it as a sponge cake, starting with SLC as a single layer and the rest adding multiple layers on top.
NAND SLC (single-level cell):
SLC (single-level cell) NAND offers higher durability than any other type, but very low capacity. They are the first flash devices. They could be considered “eternal” as 256 MB USB flash drives are still fully functional today.
NAND MLD (multilevel cells)
MLD (multi-level cell) NAND offers higher capacity than SLC NAND, however, its durability is lower and many USB flash drives started to fail after a short time of use due to the low fault tolerance of these types of memory.
NAND TLC (triple-level cell):
The NAND TLC (triple-level cell) offers higher capacity than a NAND MLD but at the cost of shorter lifetime. Due to the standardization of this technology, the manufacturing cost is lower. Most USB flash drives or USB devices are usually equipped with these memory chips, with a relatively balanced compromise between capacity, speed and cost.
3D NAND (vertically stacked cells)
3D NAND, (vertically stacked cells) are the latest evolution in the flash technology market.
Mainly used in SSD devices, they offer high performance and high reliability at a higher cost.
The set of memory blocks can be separate from the controller or embedded in the same chip. The price difference may vary depending on the controller and its encryption, the type of memory block and in other cases whether the wiring to access the memory block is known or has to be reverse engineered. In many cases, it is necessary to take X-ray images and use a signal analyzer to identify the individual signals in order to be able to read the memory block with the appropriate equipment. Once the reading process has been completed, the information will be extracted by carrying out the necessary processes, which may take several days of work.
The best is to let OUR CLIENTS speak for us
Our 300+ reviews are published on Google
Average rating: 4.7 out of 5
Nacho Àngel Ravell11/06/2025 He tenido muy buena experiencia con Laby Recuperació. Mi disco duro se estropeó de repente y lo llevé allí. Hicieron una comprobación gratuita y sin compromiso, y aunque el daño era bastante grave, lograron recuperar una gran parte de la información (aceptando el presupuesto). Tienen unas condiciones para la reparación muy buenas, y desde el principio, me transmitieron mucha confianza, profesionalidad y transparencia. Realmente, si ellos no lo pueden recuperar, nadie puede. ¡Muy recomendables! Josep Martorell Juvanteny06/06/2025 Molt contents de l'experiència amb el servei de recuperació de dades de Laby. Se'ns va fer mal bé un disc dur extern amb moltes fotos importants per nosaltres, i tot i que són bastants diners hem pogut recuperar les fotos que teniem al disc dur. Manuel Palomino27/05/2025 He tenido que recuperar la información de un disco duro que creía muerto y han consegjido recuperar el 100% del contenido, el cual era importante para mí. El proceso de entrega y recogida ha sido fácil y ágil y la información muy correcta y detallada en todo momento, tanto por la intranet de la empresa como por teléfono. Para mí era importante recuperar el contenido del disco. El precio cada cual tendrá que valorarlo. Te facilitan un presupuesto que puedes aceptar o no. Contento NURIA CANO PEÑALVER24/05/2025 Gracias a Laby pudimos recuperar datos muy complicados de conseguir de un nas. No teníamos apenas esperanzas, así que después de un grandisimo trabajo por parte de laby, lo consiguieron y nos salvaron la vida. Esto fue en marzo y tenía pendiente escribir esta reseña tan bien merecida para ellos. Muchas gracias a todo el equipo de Laby Eduardo Exposito13/05/2025 Encantado con el buen servicio, celeridad y trato. 100% recomendable. Elena Shifflette10/05/2025 Superb performance from Laby! They were able to get my data (including my photo library) from a dead MacBook Pro laptop when all the other services in the city that I’d tried had failed. Well worth the price. A bit out of the way (find the shop in the basement) but they returned my disc to me via messenger free of charge which made everything easy. They answered my many questions and were very patient with me. Highly professional and highly recommended. Marco Alcácera08/05/2025 Recuperación perfecta Daniel Soler Mayoral06/05/2025 100% profesionales. Muy contento con ellos! Trabajo desde hace años y es un placer. Espero seguir manteniendo este trato con ellos :)
WHAT DEVICES CAN WE RECOVER AT LABY?
Data Recovery from Mechanical Hard
HDD disks have as main components the metal plates (disks), where the data is stored, and the heads that are responsible for accessing the information. The most common hard disk.
SSD Hard Drive Recovery
SSDs do not move, hence the name solid state. The information is stored in blocks and no headers are required to access it. It is much more efficient and faster than an HDD hard disk.
External Hard Disk Drive Recovery
External hard disks allow us to store outside the computer all the important information of which we want to make a backup copy. But one failure can cause us to lose all this data.
iPhone, iPad, iMac or MacBook
Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, iMac, MacBook, Mac Mini, etc. They are reliable, elegant, powerful and easy to use.
Laptop Hard Drive Data Recovery
On the laptop hard disk we store important work or home information. If a failure occurs, it can cause us to lose all this valuable personal data.
Data Recovery NAS, SAN and
A SAN, NAS or DAS disk is a compact enclosure consisting of several hard disks that are connected via a network cable to the system, hence the common name network hard disk.
Data recovery from RAID systems
RAID disks are a redundant group of independent disks. They can be HDD disks or SSD disks and together they form a storage system to distribute or replicate data.
Recovery of USB Flash Drives
Pen drives or USB flash drives consist of one or more memory blocks. They work in many cases like SSD devices (same Flash technology).
Memory Card Recovery
Memory cards are used to store information from devices such as cameras, cell phones or tablets. They differ in their storage capacity and read/write speed.
Ransomware or Virus Recovery
We recover data encrypted with viruses or ransomware. Ransomware is extortive software: its purpose is to prevent you from using your device until you have paid a ransom. Depending on the type of ransomware, either the entire operating system or only some files are encrypted.
Mobile and Tablet Recovery
In mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets, recovery processes can be performed by analyzing the electronics of the damaged components or by performing the chip off process.
USB FLASH DRIVE FAQ
If your computer doesn’t recognize your USB flash drive, it could be due to several factors. Here are some solutions you can try:
- Make sure the USB flash drive is properly connected to your computer’s USB port.
- Try connecting the USB flash drive to different USB ports on your computer.
- Check if other USB devices are recognized in the same port. This will help identify whether the problem is specific to the USB flash drive or the port itself.
- If the USB flash drive is still not recognized, there may be a problem with the electronics, controller, or memory block. In that case, you might consider seeking help from data recovery professionals like Laby.
Yes, in many cases it is possible to recover lost or damaged files on a flash drive or USB flash drive. When files are accidentally deleted or the drive malfunctions, it is advisable to consult data recovery specialists. These professionals have the tools and knowledge to attempt to recover lost information. However, it is important to keep in mind that it is not always possible to recover all files, and the probability of success depends on the condition of the drive and the severity of the damage.
When a flash drive displays strange characters when connected to a computer, it may indicate that the drive is corrupted. Strange characters are usually the result of an error in interpreting the stored data. This can be due to various factors, including a damaged or corrupted file system, problems with memory blocks, or damage to the device controller. In cases like this, it’s advisable to seek help from data recovery experts, who can assess the condition of the drive and determine the recovery possibilities.
To prevent memory cell degradation on your flash drive or USB flash drive, it’s recommended to follow some best practices:
- Eject the USB device properly before disconnecting it from your computer.
- Avoid working directly on files stored on the flash drive or USB flash drive. Instead, copy the files to your computer’s hard drive, edit them, and then save them back to the device.
- Avoid prolonged and constant use of the flash drive or USB flash drive. Unplug it when not in use.
- Keep the device’s firmware up to date, if possible, following the manufacturer’s recommendations.
These practices can help reduce memory cell wear and extend the lifespan of your flash drive or USB flash drive.
There are several types of NAND Flash memory used in flash drives and USB drives. The main ones are listed here:
- SLC (Single-Level Cell) NAND: Offers greater durability and reliability compared to other types of memory. However, its capacity is more limited.
- MLC (Multi-Level Cell) NAND: Offers higher capacity compared to SLC NAND, but its durability is slightly lower. It is used in many USB devices due to its balance between capacity and cost.
- TLC (Triple-Level Cell) NAND: Offers even higher capacity than MLC NAND, but its durability is lower. Due to its lower manufacturing cost, it is commonly found in flash drives and mid-capacity USB devices.
- 3D (Vertically Stacked Cell) NAND: This is a recent evolution in Flash technology. It offers high performance and greater reliability, but generally comes at a higher cost. It is primarily used in SSD devices.
Each type of memory has its own characteristics in terms of durability, capacity, and cost. The choice of memory type will depend on your specific storage needs and budget.

