This article is intended to assist in software recovery of USB Flash Drives based on Skymedi SK6211 microcontroller. This controller is found in flash drives from various manufacturers, for example: Kingston, Kingmax, A-data, etc. The utility was chosen as an example. It, like many others, is designed to work in the OS environment - MS Win XP. A Kingston DT100 / 1GB flash drive was chosen as the "experimental" one.
The utility kit includes:
1) SK6211_20090828.exe - the main module itself.
2) SK6211_User_Manual.pdf - instruction for the program in English
3) SK6211BA_Skymedi Flash Support List _20090828.xls - "Flashlist" - a list of memory modules that this version of the utility supports. (Useful for determining "CodeBankVer" by date)
4) SK6211BA R-W Performance_Capacity List_20090828.xls - A summary table of speed tests of various memory modules in single-channel and dual-channel modes in Win XP sp2 & Win 2k sp4.
5) SK62XX_FAT_20090505.exe & SK62XX_FATool_UserGuideV1.pdf - an auxiliary utility for flash testing.
6) ErrorCodes.txt - list of error codes.
7) DrvSwitch.exe - factory driver.
8) Driver_Using_manual.pdf - instructions for using the driver.
1. Preparation
We connect the flash drive and find out the VID / PID, for example, using ChipGenius 3.0. Subject has VID = 0951 PID = 1607.
Run the "SK6211_20090828.exe" utility and select default in the "Configuration Selection".
We see that in the first window (DUT1) a flash drive was detected (SAMPLE - No Match), but so far it is not ready for firmware! SAMPLE = example, No Mach = No Match. This means that the current settings (default) do not match the internals of the flash drive. The utility has already determined that the flash drive is built on a controller that responds to its requests and has already read information from its firmware.
Viewing this information is done by double-clicking on SAMPLE.
Here we see the contents of the firmware:
1) SK6211 controller
2) Memory FID (AD D3 14 A5 34) and its name (HY27UT088G2A)
3) CodeBank version: C080512A_F080516A
4) Firmware version: CodeSwap-0512
5) The rest is not so important (date of manufacture / utility version / configuration name = “engraving on the USB connector” / VID & PID codes, etc.)
6) Channel: Byte Mode (Single-channel mode. May come in handy in the settings!)
Everything is good here! But what to do with the code that the firmware has flown so that most of this information is not there !?
Controller Version: SK6211BA
Flash Part No.: No matched Flash Part No.
Flash ID 01: 0x89 0x95 0x94 0x1E 0x74
Flash ID 02: 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00
Flash ID 03: 0x89 0x95 0x94 0x1E 0x74
Here, the utility read the FID from the flash drive, but was unable to select the memory from its list!
Conclusion: try another utility or check contacts. Sometimes restoring contacts on the Data Bus between the controller and the memory changes the ID-shnik and the utility, by the correct ID-shnik, finds a match in its Database.
Controller Version: SK6211BA
Flash Part No.: I29F32G08AAMD1_S
Total Flash Size: 8192 MB
4K Page, MLC
Flash ID 01: 0x89 0xD7 0x94 0x3E 0x84
Flash ID 02: 0x89 0xD7 0x94 0x3E 0x84
Flash ID 03: 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00
Flash ID 04: 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00
Flash ID 05: 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00
Flash ID 06: 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00
Flash ID 07: 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00
Flash ID 08: 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00
Here the utility found memory in its database. But the Code Bank version is unknown! We find it by searching for the date by the name of the flash chip in the file SK6211BA_Skymedi Flash Support List _20090828.xls
Now we are looking for suitable Code bank.
Opening the file:
…\SK6211_PDT_20090828\CodeBank\2806\CBVer-1.2.2.44.ini
We find the version by date 09.03.09: C090309A_F090309A
2. Settings
Let's go back to the subject. Click on the “Advaced” button to go to the advanced settings. The password is 123456.
1) prescribe VID & PID: 0951 & 1607
2) Vendor Name: Kingston
3) Product Name: DataTraveler 2.0
4) Revision: 8.2 (leave unchanged)
5) Disk Type: Removable (leave unchanged)
6) S/N: 001478544881SK8703120829 (this is the experimental serial number)
7) S / N Gen: (3) Don "t Change SN
Below you can skip to
8) Fixed Flash Size = 1024 (set the original size of the flash drive)
9) When you set the checkbox to Erase All, a message is displayed: Warning Message: System information will be eliminated after erase all!!!
(Warning: system information will be deleted after setting the "delete everything" mode !!!)
Go to the right window Flash Options
10) Select controller: SK6211BA
11) Select Code Bank Ver: C080512A_F080516A (the one issued by the utility for double click on SAMPLE) Now I'm waiting for the option to select the desired memory - HY27UT088G2A - in the Flash Selection section, but this does not happen. What is the reason? Perhaps in the utility version! After all, the firmware version is indicated: PDT Version: SK6211_PDT_20080616_BA, and I use SK6211_20090828! We go along the path of choosing a b/w flashlist. We find the date - 04/02/2008, but I can't find a name with such a date in the list, and Code Bank versions with the nearest date don't fit either! The assumption that the date from the flashlist matches does not work for this flash drive. Helped only full enumeration! When choosing C090828A_F090828A, the utility made it possible to select the desired memory!
12) Next, select Channel Mode: Single
We don't change anything else.
Get READY status
Now the utility is “ready” to flash the flash drive.
Click Auto-LLF
3. Work on the bugs
44 -
2 -
when changing read/write test error 37 -
The jackdaw on ERASE ALL helped
45 -
(Status READY, error in LLF process)
Helped: switching to test mode by closing 31-32 feet per m / s of memory
and re-firmware
_______________________________
101 -
Need a more recent version of the utility with new memory support
ps: in previous version 20090709_BA (34 - )
_______________________________
94 -
1 -
When trying to flash - (Access error)
Removed the USB extension cable, due to which there were losses.
_______________________________
In the work on the bugs, the experience of forum users was used: Vitorrio, SeeJay, E1haZ and others.
Discussion of the article and problems during recovery are discussed in this forum thread.
Kingston flash drives are known for their reliability and long life, but they are also not immune to various failures. Sometimes the drive really "dies" and it is not possible to restore it. More often there are situations when a flash drive can be brought back to life using a special firmware utility.
Most often broken Kingston flash drives dt100g2 and datatraveler.
Is it possible to recover a flash drive
Signs that the drive can be recovered:
- When you connect a flash drive, a notification appears that a new device has been detected.
- The system prompts you to format the removable drive.
- Drive won't open but shows up in File Explorer.
- Errors occur when reading and writing data.
These problems are fixed by flashing the controller or formatting the media, but if the flash drive has important information, then before performing any recovery procedures, you need to try to “pull it out”. Use a recovery program like Recuva or to extract so you don't lose your files.
Search for a program for controller firmware
To restore, you will need a special utility for the Kingston flash drive. In order not to make a mistake and download the correct program, you need to know the drive controller model.
Method 1
Look necessary information You can go to the flashboot.ru website in the iFlash section, using the VID and PID values of the flash drive as a filter.
- Connect the drive to your computer.
- Open device manager ( right click on the icon "Computer" - Management).
- Find "USB Mass Storage Device".
- Right click and open properties.
- Go to the Details section and select the Hardware ID property.
Method 2
Another way to get necessary information- download the Flash Drive Information Extractor program and click the "Get Data" button. The report will contain the lines "VID" and "PID"; use their value to find a utility that can correctly restore the Kingston Datatraveler flash drive.
You can download the program in the "Files" section on the flashboot.ru website. If the utility is not here, try to find it on other web resources. 
Recovery utilities
You can find the desired program without a controller model - just type in the search engine the query "utility restoration kingston". In the results, you will see several utilities, among which there will definitely be such programs as Phison Preformat, AlcorMP AU698x RT, etc.
The problem is that Kingston flash drive recovery programs only work if they are compatible with the controller installed in the drive. Therefore, if you download the first repair utility that comes across, it may not detect the connected media.
When desired program found, you can begin to restore it. Be sure to look at the instructions that should be packed into the archive along with the recovery utility - perhaps the program has a special operating procedure. The general order of recovery looks like this:
You don’t need to do anything else: the program will correct errors on its own and return the flash drive to a working state. This completes the recovery of the Kingston flash drive; if the firmware of the controller did not help fix the problem, then the cause of incorrect operation should be looked for among hardware faults.
Downloading free programs to repair flash drives, you can restore the USB drive and restore the ability to use it for writing and reading again. In this case, you will have to sacrifice data, which then, perhaps, cannot be restored. But an alternative to using these applications is a non-working flash drive and the lack of information.
Problem Diagnosis
The main signs that a flash drive needs repair are:
- Issuing messages about protecting the USB-drive from copying or about an unidentified device;
- The impossibility of determining the drive by any computer;
- Lack of disk list;
- The impossibility of reading (and, of course, writing) information;
- Failed when trying to repair or format.
Sometimes the problem may lie in the USB connector or the lack of drivers on a particular computer. But, when problems are noted on each device, most likely the matter is in the drive. And you can try to restore it.
Utilities for flash drives
You can try to restore the functionality of the USB drive using system utilities. But when the problem is serious the best option will be restored through a program specifically designed for repair. Some manufacturers release their own applications that best deal with the repair of these particular brands. Although they can be used to restore a USB drive of any brand.
Advice: Special programs are designed for repair, not for restoration. Extracting information using them is not recommended.
JetFlash Online Recovery
To restore non-working Transcend drives, the manufacturer has created a special utility that can be found and downloaded for free on its official website. It's called JetFlash Online Recovery and is very growing in use. There are only 2 commands here:
- Fix a flash drive by erasing all data;
- Restore with saving data.
First, you should use the second method. And, if he does not help, the first.
Silicon power
There is also a recovery program on the Silicon Power website in the support section, which you can get for free. It allows you to recover, first of all, flash drives of this brand and is called SP Recovery Tool Utility.
Adata
The manufacturer Adata on the official website also has a freely available USB recovery program. If, using USB Flash Drive Online Recovery, it was not possible to read the information, the flash drive can be repaired by losing data.
Kingston Flash Drive Repair
The owner of a Kingston drive will surely like the opportunity to get the whole flash drive back after running the MediaRECOVER 4.0 Digital Image Recovery program. In some cases, the application manages to save some of the data, even if the USB drive has been formatted. Recovery, unlike most of these programs, is subject not only to video, audio and photo files, but also Word documents, eBooks and tables.
Universal programs
In addition to specialized software, which mainly repairs its own brand of drives, there are several applications that can restore the working condition of most devices. One of them is D-Soft Flash Doctor, which provides the following benefits:
- Menu and documentation in Russian;
- Lack of localization for individual brands;
- Creating an image of a flash disk for further work not on the drive, but on its virtual copy.
The following programs, not so well known, but also free and quite effective, are:
- ChipEasy, which can not only easily restore a flash drive, but also recognize the manufacturer if its name is not written on the case or has been erased over time;
- Flash Drive Information Extractor is a utility that can provide maximum amount data about the flash drive along with its recovery;
- CheckUDisk is, for all its ease of use, a very fast and detailed application.
How to find a program to repair a flash drive
It is possible that, even after trying all of the above methods, it did not work out to restore the performance of your USB flash drives. In this case, you should do the following:
- Download the Chip Genius utility;
- Find out with its help VID and PID, as well as the name of the chipset located inside the flash drive;
- Go to the iFlash website and enter the received 2 numbers;
- Find your drive model in the list.
Now it remains only to find the corresponding program in the Chip Model column, paying attention to the match of the controllers. You can find and download it for free on the Internet. The principle of operation for all of them is approximately the same - more emphasis on restoring performance, less on saving data.
Thematic video:
Good day!
If your flash drive began to constantly fail: it is not formatted, when connected to a computer - it often freezes, when copying files to it - errors fly out, but it has not been subjected to mechanical stress - there are CHANCES to restore its performance!
It would be nice if, when connecting a flash drive, it was at least somehow determined, for example: a connection sound is emitted, the flash drive is displayed in "my computer", an LED blinks on it, etc. If the computer does not see the USB flash drive at all, then first I recommend that you read this article:
In general, it is impossible to give universal instructions on how and with what program what to do in order to restore a USB flash drive! But in this short article I will try to give an algorithm that will help, even for novice users, to deal with the problem and solve it.
Recovery flash drive // step by step
Determining the controller model
It turned out, by the will of fate, I have one flash drive that Windows refused to format - an error took off "Windows cannot complete formatting". The flash drive, according to the owner, did not fall, water did not fall on it, and in general, it was handled quite carefully ...
All that was clear after looking at it was that it was 16 GB and its brand was SmartBuy. When connected to a PC, the LED lit up, the flash drive was detected and visible in the explorer, but it malfunctioned.
SmartBuy 16 GB - "experimental" non-working flash drive
To restore the normal operation of the flash drive, you need to reflash the controller chip. This is done with special utilities, and each type of controller has its own utility! If the utility is chosen incorrectly, then with a high degree of probability, you will ruin the flash drive completely ... I will say even more, one model range flash drives - there may be different controllers!
Each device have their own unique identification numbers - VID and PID , and the flash drive is no exception. To choose the correct utility for flashing, you need to determine these identification numbers (and the controller model by them).
One of the most simple ways to find out the VID, PID, and model of the flash drive controller is to use special utilities. One of the best of its kind is .
Flash Drive Information Extractor
small free utility, to get the maximum information about the flash drive. You don't need to install it!
The program will determine the USB flash drive model, model and type of memory (all modern flash drives are supported, at least from normal manufacturers)...
The program will work even in cases where it is not defined file system flash drives when the computer freezes when the media is connected.
Information received:
- controller model;
- possible options for memory chips installed in a flash drive;
- type of installed memory;
- maximum current consumption declared by the manufacturer;
- USB version;
- the total physical volume of the disk;
- disk size reported by the operating system;
- VID and PID;
- Query Vendor ID;
- Query Product ID;
- Query Product Revision;
- controller revision;
- Flash ID (not for all configurations);
- Chip F/W (for some controllers), etc.
Important! The program only works with USB flash drives. MP3 players, phones and other devices - it does not recognize. It is advisable, before starting the program, to leave only one single USB flash drive connected to the USB ports, from which you want to get the most information.
Working with Flash Drive Information Extractor
- We disconnect everything that is connected from Usb ports (at least all drives: players, external rigid disks, etc.).
- We insert the repaired USB flash drive into the USB port;
- We start the program;
- Click the button "Get flash drive information" ;
- After some time, we get maximum information about the drive (see screenshot below).
- If the program freezes- don't do anything and don't close it. Remove the flash drive after a couple of minutes from the USB port, the program should "hang down", and you will see all the information that it managed to pull out from the flash drive...
Now we know the information about the flash drive and we can start searching for the utility.
Flash drive info:
- VID: 13FE; PID: 4200;
- Controller model (Controller): Phison 2251-68 (second line in the screenshot above);
- SmartBuy 16 GB.
Addition
You can reliably determine the controller model if you disassemble the USB flash drive. True, not every body of a flash drive is collapsible, and not every one can be put back together later.
Usually, to open the case of a flash drive, you need a knife and a screwdriver. When opening the case, be careful not to damage the inside of the flash drive. An example controller is shown in the screenshot below.
Broken flash drive. Controller model: VLI VL751-Q8
Supplement 2
You can find out the VID and PID of the flash drive using the device manager (in this case, you don’t need to install anything). True, in this case we will not recognize the controller model, and there is some risk that VID and PID it will not be possible to accurately identify the controller. And yet, all of a sudden the above utility will hang and give no information at all...
How to find a utility for flashing a flash drive
Important! After flashing the flash drive, all information on it will be deleted!
1) Knowing the controller model, you can simply use search engines (Google, Yandex for example) and find what you need.
The algorithm of work is as follows:
- We go to the site:
- We enter our VID and PID in the search bar and look for;
- In the list of results, most likely you will find dozens of lines. Among them, you need to find a line that matches: controller model, your manufacturer, VID and PID, flash drive size .
- Further in the last column - you will see the recommended utility. By the way, note that the version of the utility also matters! It remains to download the desired utility and apply it.
After you find and download the desired utility, run it and format the media - in my case, you had to press just one button - Restore (restore) .
Formatter SiliconPower v3.13.0.0 // Format and Restore. An end-user utility designed for both low-level and high-level (FAT32) formatting of flash drives on Phison PS2251-XX controllers.
After a couple of minutes of blinking the LED on the flash drive, it began to work normally, messages from Windows about the impossibility of formatting no longer appeared. Bottom line: the flash drive was restored (became 100% working), and given to the owner.
That, in fact, is all. For additions on the topic - I would be grateful. good luck!
One of the largest usb flash drives in the world random access memory and other storage devices. Even despite all the reliability of such devices, the usb flash of this brand often fails. The resuscitation of such flash drives has much in common with Transcend drives, however, like all other flash drives. Read more about this in the article, which describes the main ways to resuscitate usb drives.
How to restore a Kingston flash drive?
1. If you encounter any problems in the operation of the usb drive, you should try to format the device. For this, there are special programs that restore damaged sectors, bad blocks, and even some interruptions in the operation of controllers. These are utilities from HP USB Disk, HDD LL Format, EzRecover and others.
3. Consider the fact that even for one controller there may be 10-15 utilities that can restore Kingston flash drives. So download whatever suits you. And then run them and check which utility accepts the controller and the usb flash memory chip.
These are the main methods for recovering drives from the well-known memory manufacturer Kingston. Of course, there are other, even more effective methods. Try it, in 90% of cases of problems with flash drives, everything can be solved on your own, with the help of special programs and useful information.