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I just washed a USB key...

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  #1  
Old 02-14-2005
MYOB's Avatar
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Location: Dublin, Ireland
Member since: Apr 2002, 527 posts
I just washed a USB key...

In the 40 degree (celcius) cycle in my washing machine

Nothing much important on it, but any chance of getting it to work again?
  #2  
Old 02-14-2005
StormBringer's Avatar
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Location: USA
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if no soap dries in it and you allow it to dry thoroughly for a few days, its quite possible. Although, if any moisture gets trapped in the plastic cover, its prolly going to kill itself and possibly the USB port when you use it again.
  #3  
Old 02-14-2005
Nodsu's Avatar
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Location: Estonia
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A coworker of mine washed his generic USB key.
All the data was intact after drying it off.
Now it just smells of washing powder :P
  #4  
Old 02-14-2005
MYOB's Avatar
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Location: Dublin, Ireland
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Quote:
Originally Posted by StormBringer
if no soap dries in it and you allow it to dry thoroughly for a few days, its quite possible. Although, if any moisture gets trapped in the plastic cover, its prolly going to kill itself and possibly the USB port when you use it again.

In light of that, I think I'll try it first on an expendable machine (I have plenty... Dell laptops with no batteries that run as nothing more than test monkeys)

Being the impatient bugger that I am, I just hairdryered it. And it works! No data loss, nothing wrong except it now smells of Surf and the Disgo logo and the logo of the company who gave it to me (freebe) are gone....
  #5  
Old 02-14-2005
Phantasm66's Avatar
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Location: Glasgow, Scotland
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Quote:
I just washed a USB key....
LOL!!!

Hehe that was really funny.

Actually, I am sorry to hear that.

I have washed things (not unlike) that before, so I do feel your pain.
  #6  
Old 02-14-2005
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Location: Duke University, North Carolina, USA
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I've heard from many people that if you simply wash it again with just water and are patient enough to let it dry completely out it should be fine. I've never done it myself though.
  #7  
Old 02-14-2005
Phantasm66's Avatar
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Location: Glasgow, Scotland
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I heard once that even some fairly electronic things can survive if soaked and then left to dry for like.... a year..!
  #8  
Old 02-14-2005
MYOB's Avatar
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Location: Dublin, Ireland
Member since: Apr 2002, 527 posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by LNCPapa
I've heard from many people that if you simply wash it again with just water and are patient enough to let it dry completely out it should be fine. I've never done it myself though.
Considering its working now, I don't want to tempt fate by washing it again....
  #9  
Old 02-14-2005
AtK SpAdE's Avatar
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Location: Black Mesa
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Washed many things

My dad did my laundry (which is ussualy my moms job) he washed my PDA. He realized it was in there after a while. (loud noise). I let it dry and waa-laa it still works.

Sean


BTW-The PDA i had before this was run over by my moms car, so i dont have very good luck with them
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