[SOLVED] Is my USB stick dead?

[steveRoll]

I've had a Silicon Power 32GB flash drive for about 4 years now, and it has worked flawlessly. One day I brought it to school to move some files over. It worked without any problems, but I do remember putting it in and out of the computer multiple times.
When I get back home and I try to connect it to my PC, strange things happen...

• The PC doesn't seem to recognize it (a drive shows up under "This PC", but trying to open it just gives "Please insert a disk into drive D:")
• The LED on the stick just stays on instead of flashing
• And, the most pressing issue, the stick heats up very quickly

Thankfully, I don't have any important information on it, so I tried to format it, but it gives a similar error message ("There is no disk in USB drive D:")

Are there any options I have from here, or is the stick as good as dead?

 

[hang-the-9]

Test it on a few computers, if you get the same issue it's dead. I have seen some USB sticks heat up a lot even when good, especially if they are in a metal case. If it's getting hotter than it used to be that shows an issue.

 

[steveRoll]

Yes, I have tested it on multiple computers and the same thing happens.
That's too bad... Is there no way to fix it somehow?

 

[hang-the-9]

Yes, I have tested it on multiple computers and the same thing happens.
That's too bad... Is there no way to fix it somehow?

There is usually a way to fix things, depends on how much time and money you want to spend vs just replacing it. For a fix you need to buy some memory storage chips and solder them onto the board. Maybe need a new board also or the chips are good but the board is bad. Since it's detecting the device in the computer I'd guess the storage part is what is bad.