Swapping Memory Chips on USB Flash Drives - Does it work for data recovery?

If your USB flash drive malfunctions, can you swap the memory chip to an identical drive to recover data? We test this theory on popular brands of USB flash drives. Is it easy to do a nand chip swap and will it work?
USB thumb drive data recovery service:
zeroalpha.com.au/usb-data-rec...
00:00 This video covers a common usb data recovery myth and demonstrates usb flash drive technology.
00:50 How to open and dissasemble all types of USB drives
10:47 Chip Swap Results
USB Brands and controller chips featured:
Sandisk: 20-82-00388-B0
Kingston: IS918-FN12
Verbatim 1: PHISON PS2251-09-V
Verbatim 2: PHISON PS2251-70-25
Emtec: UP25 UO25046G
PNY: PHISON PS2251-19-26
SP: PHISON PS2251-19-26

[@ZeroalphaAu]

USB Data Recovery Service: zeroalpha.com.au/usb-data-recovery

[@TheEfX]

Wow, Right on time. I was Data Recovering that Kingston 64Gb Exodia USB - Controller IS918-FN12. I swapped the chip - USB got detected but chip NAND it self doesn't show any Storage. I then proceed to swap those chip back. And now both the donor and the dead USBs NAND chips not detecting anymore. So i think Kingston did has some kind of encryption upon chip swapping

[@maxmustermann7397]

Even in the case the controller notice that it's not the original flash chip due to a security feature (built-in encryption) I would expect that the device is still recognized as a USB device (at least with an error). Would be interesting if these will work again if the controller is swapped too.

[@TheEfX]

Cannot wait for new videos. Want to learn so much. Also starting the field of Data Recovery 😍😍😍😍

[@jct4647]

Yes please; follow up why mem-swap do not work on Kingston & PNY, thanks.

[@DiskTuna]

agreed! move NAND back to original and see what it does.

[@TheEfX]

I did swap back the Kingston Exodia USBs with IS918 Controllers. And both the donor and patient USB won't show the Storage no more. So once gone never gonna get it back@@DiskTuna

[@ryanoei4909]

how about swapping with same controller but different capacity, does it work?

[@computersrepaircotesaint-l7407]

great info thx

[@paultomlinson528]

Prob because manufacturers use these controllers and put their own Xor on and you got unlucky chosing a donor. I see it alot.

[@BillAnt]

Yes, but shouldn't the controller even with a bad memory chip show up in device manger?

[@speedydanny4624]

i have an ssd that uses flash chips...and i think it can be upgraded...(upgraded because it has on the other side same amount of flash chips if u wanna add..)but my question is/or who is gonna do the firmware update?(on the controller...) in other words...i can double the ssd memory using flash chips...instead of nvme ones. the ssd is an 128gb liteon that uses toshiba 16gb flash chips...

[@daverighthere7883]

Hi. I have a nand card from a damaged sd card. Can it work to recover the date after putting it into a usb card?

[@sebastian19745]

The flash that have space for a second memory IC, what happens if is populated with the same chip or a different capacity? I tried long time ago to add a second chip(4G memory IC from a flash USB) on an old 1G mp3 player and it did not worked, only the original 1G was seen.

[@ZeroalphaAu]

The controller will probably need to be reprogrammed so the new chip will work

[@TheEfX]

Can you make a video about SSD. Mainly WD Green memory NAND chips with Sandisk Controller. Are they swappable???

[@ZeroalphaAu]

I've been thinking about it :)

[@daverighthere7883]

Hi. I have a nand card from a damaged sd card. Can it work to recover the date after putting it into a usb card? If yes, can I send it to you and do it for me. I'll pay you.

[@jimmihenry]

If the chip would be soldered back onto the original PCB would they work again???

[@ZeroalphaAu]

Yeah they will work again