Hacking Transferring data from "dead" USB flash drive?

[Faxanadu]

Hey guys, I've been storing Wii U game data on a 32GB flash drive, and the system is no longer acknowledging it. It tries to access the flash drive briefly (blinking LED) but then tells me nothing is connected. Didn't realize that Nintendo "doesn't recommend" flash drives because of issues like this, and now I have a bunch of saves stuck in limbo.

I'm not super tech-savvy, so I came here to ask if there was a way to transfer the data to another device? I know that it's a proprietary format so I can't access the files via PC... but is it possible to do something like a byte-by-byte copy to a hard drive?

 

[NWPlayer123]

Um, yes, there are programs for your PC that should just read it raw, assuming it can still access it.

 

[Faxanadu]

Awesome, I'd love to try. Any recommendations on what programs to use, or where to find them?

And should I assume that, if WERE able to transfer the 32GB contents over to a 1TB hard drive, my Wii U will assume the hard drive just has 32GB of storage capacity?

 

[nIxx]

You can try Testdisk you can get it from here and documentation is there too http://www.cgsecurity.org/

 

[Captain_N]

you can use aconis True Image home to make a 1:1 image of the flash drive. you can then place the image on a new flash drive that is 32gb or larger. i have tried this and i know it works

 

[Faxanadu]

Thanks guys. I've downloaded both programs and will report back with my results.

 

[Faxanadu]

True Image didn't read the drive. TestDisk did though, and I created an image.

Used a third tool to transfer the image to another USB flash drive of the same size, and got the same results as before. Does not load data, does not acknowledge the drive in the Wii U file management menu. However it does recognize when the USB is removed, as it gives me a "don't remove USB devices while the power is on" notification.

So, same result. I will give it another try with an external hard drive.

 

[Faxanadu]

Can't figure out how to re-image my external hard drive with True Image, TestDisk, or "USB Image Tool". Any suggestions/advice/education?