# USB Flash drive repair **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 19, 2017, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-flash-drive-repair/804857 "2017-12-19T13:43:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-flash-drive-repair/804857/1 "2017-12-19T13:43:04Z")
I have a USB flash drive that ripped part of a computer’s USB port out when I last used it. The plastic piece in the middle of the port is stuck inside the drive. Is it possible to remove this without ruining it? ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-flash-drive-repair/804857/2 "2017-12-19T13:57:07Z")
You need to take the “Drive now safe to eject” messages seriously.🙂 My first thought is to use a small tweezers to grab the broken bit out. A small blade like an exacto blade might also work, you just want to be careful not to damage the contacts on the drive. A jeweler or watch repair place would probably be able to help also. ---
**Author:** ![Lare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-flash-drive-repair/804857/3 "2017-12-28T01:06:56Z")
And it should go without saying, but I will anyway, the power should be off before you do. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-flash-drive-repair/804857/4 "2017-12-28T01:43:38Z")
What brand? Check if there’s a warranty. I prefer to buy ones with 5 or more years. As for your present predicament, tweezers or something. With the power off, just in case. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-flash-drive-repair/804857/5 "2017-12-28T02:07:27Z")
> [@Lare](#): > > And it should go without saying, but I will anyway, the power should be off before you do. > [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > As for your present predicament, tweezers or something. With the power off, just in case. What power? A thumb drive is inherently **un** powered when it’s not plugged into a computer. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-flash-drive-repair/804857/6 "2017-12-28T03:26:49Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > What power? A thumb drive is inherently **un** powered when it’s not plugged into a computer. Ah misread. Drive is whole, computer not. Nm ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-flash-drive-repair/804857/7 "2017-12-28T04:04:27Z")
I’d recommend switching to a new thumb drive. They’re a lot harder to control once they’ve had the taste of plastic. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2017, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-flash-drive-repair/804857/8 "2017-12-29T09:12:24Z")
Assuming the standard sort of design of thumb drive, you don’t really even need the metal shroud that surrounds the bit you plug in - so in the worst case, you should be able to peel this away to remove the foreign object - leaving a bare board with the 4 USB terminal strips on it - it should still be possible to insert this into a (non-broken) USB port to retrieve the drive contents. I’d recommend you destroy it after that and buy a new one.