Flash Voyager Pendrive dead.... AGAIN?!? 2nd RMA in due?

[Black Panther]

I'm baffled.

I had bought a Corsair Flash Voyager 16GB approx 10 months ago. I had a problem with it, as explained in this thread. Consequently I sent it back to OcUK for RMA and they sent me a new one immediately.

Now.... this is about the new one. I've had it for around 8 months or so now... but hey it's got a 10 year warranty!

This time I can't even check the pendrive out in any manner.

As soon as I stick the drive I get a BSOD - check out video of me inserting pendrive and getting BSOD immediately.

Either the BSOD, or else my pc just stops responding with the blue circle vista cursor going on forever until I pull the pendrive out - as in other video here.

What do you think?
Can I do some checking in some way, avoiding the freezing/bsod'ing, before I contact OcUK?
Admit I'm feeling a bit awkward making the 2nd RMA for the same object...

[qubit]

Don't feel awkward, it's not your fault that you've been sold junk.

I don't understand why it kills Windows like that, but hey that's likely to be bugs in Windows being unable to handle an exception like this. Have you tried it in a second computer - if that falls over too, then it's the stick 100%.

I'm surprised you're seeing this with Corsair however, as they have such a good reputation and I have recently bought a Corsair HX850W PSU.

[Flyordie]

lulz- at least SanDisk has nothing to do with this. Controller on the pendrive = crapped out. Not very common, but hey... as Forrest Gump would say... "Shit Happens".

[Black Panther]

Originally Posted by qubit

Have you tried it in a second computer - if that falls over too, then it's the stick 100%.

I tried it on both pc's at work which have XP x86 instead of Vista x64.

These XP pc's didn't freeze or BSOD, but the name of the drive shows up as "Removable Disk" instead of "Corsair" as it used to be before.
Clicking on the drive shows it up as empty (no files/folders inside).
Right-clicking for Properties of the drive shows it up as 100% full.
And in Disk Management the drive doesn't show up as if it's not inserted at all.

This afternoon I'll try it on my rig at home which has Vista x64 as well. I'm not very optimistic though...

[tigger]

Thats annoying but,maybe dont buy a corsair one again.

[qubit]

Originally Posted by Black Panther

I tried it on both pc's at work which have XP x86 instead of Vista x64.

These XP pc's didn't freeze or BSOD, but the name of the drive shows up as "Removable Disk" instead of "Corsair" as it used to be before.
Clicking on the drive shows it up as empty (no files/folders inside).
Right-clicking for Properties of the drive shows it up as 100% full.
And in Disk Management the drive doesn't show up as if it's not inserted at all.

This afternoon I'll try it on my rig at home which has Vista x64 as well. I'm not very optimistic though...

hmmm... sounds like an fkd unit for sure. Time for that RMA.

In fact, thinking about it, I've got a Corsair stick as well. However, I have no idea if it works or not, because I'd lost it ages ago and forgot I had it until now.

[Mussels]

RMA it.


at this stage i'd be wondering if something was up with my USB ports causing them to fry.

[Black Panther]

Originally Posted by Mussels

at this stage i'd be wondering if something was up with my USB ports causing them to fry.

I'd think so too, were it not that I have a couple of other cheap no-brand pendrives which have been going on steady for a couple of years now...
lol one of them is a 1GB given free with mentos chewing-gum!

[Black Panther]

Hmmm I just remembered something kinda important...

Is there a way I can somewhat format this drive or something? Or get the files off it?
Before RMA?
I mean there's some... uhh... private stuff...

Edit:

I just tried it now on my home desktop rig - got identical results as described for laptop in first post.

Edit again:

Correspondence to OcUK -

Dear Sir/Madam,

this relates to a 16GB Corsair Flash Voyager which I had already rma'd (rma no xxxxxx) and you had sent me a new replacement.

Drive functioned fine since then... then suddenly upon inserting it I either started getting a blue screen (BSOD) or my pc froze and stopped responding. I got these results whenever I plugged it either in my home computer or my laptop, both of which run Vista 64 bit.

I also tried it on 2 pc's at work using XP x86. On those I don't get a BSOD or freezing, but the drive's name appears as "Removable Drive X" instead of "Corsair", and when I double click on it it shows as empty, which it shouldn't be.
Right-clicking on the drive and selecting 'Properties' (always on XP since Vista either BSOD's or freezes) it says the drive is 100% full (which it shouldn't be). Trying to access it from Disk Management under Computer Management it doesn't show up at all, as if it had not been inserted.

Other pendrives (unbranded) still function fine on all pc's I tried the Corsair on.
I used the Corsair mainly to backup from work pc to my laptop, and to transfer family videos and photos from one pc to another. Always took good care of it, never even dropped it.

For your convenience, I took two videos trying to get it to work (apologies for the quality since video was taken by mobile phone):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPZjXCCvc60
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY3btx_G-5s

What do you suggest please?
Kindly don't hesitate to contact me should you require further information.

Regards,
xxxxxx

[Black Panther]

17 days later....................

Hmmm.

The first time they replaced it immediately.

This time.... I just received an email from them that it

has been sent back to manufacturer for repair or replacement. It will be returned to you as soon as we receive it.

[KainXS]

I wish I had a 512mb pendrive like that, I would stick it in every computer I saw lol

when no-one was watching

[Black Panther]

Originally Posted by KainXS

I wish I had a 512mb pendrive like that, I would stick it in every computer I saw lol

when no-one was watching

Do those still exist?

[Mussels]

Originally Posted by Black Panther

Do those still exist?

i still use my 128MB flash drive on a regular basis its got bootable DOS on it.

[ste2425]

Originally Posted by Mussels

i still use my 128MB flash drive on a regular basis its got bootable DOS on it.

i remember when 128mb mp3 players were like the best thing ever, little of toppic tho lol

[PVTCaboose1337]

I had this problem with the Corsair Voyager pen drives. I have had a 2gb, 4gb, and 16gb. The 2gb and 4gb both had the same problem, they did the BSOD like yours. The issue is with the 4 connectors on the inside of the metal shell. Over time, they move around and contact the metal casing. When 2 connect to the metal casing it causes a short circuit. This is the problem with this design Corsair has. Best way to fix is to use superglue and put the prongs back "down" in place.

[Black Panther]

Originally Posted by PVTCaboose1337

The issue is with the 4 connectors on the inside of the metal shell. Over time, they move around and contact the metal casing. When 2 connect to the metal casing it causes a short circuit. This is the problem with this design Corsair has. Best way to fix is to use superglue and put the prongs back "down" in place.

And so this happens through normal use...
Not if.... for example... you happen to run over the drive with your SUV...


Seriously though, you mean it's that simple? I admit not looking at the prongs before sending it for RMA...
Isn't the superglue fix risky though? If one messes up.... bye-bye rma....

[PVTCaboose1337]

Originally Posted by Black Panther

And so this happens through normal use...
Not if.... for example... you happen to run over the drive with your SUV...


Seriously though, you mean it's that simple? I admit not looking at the prongs before sending it for RMA...
Isn't the superglue fix risky though? If one messes up.... bye-bye rma....

I carry my Voyager in my pocket DAILY. It gets more use than you might think! The thing has to stand up to daily use in my pocket. Now granted I live in a humid and hot climate which I think has something to do with it, but really, I have had the same problem 2 times, and the third one I did a "pre-fix" to, ripped off the prongs, glued em down, and has worked fine for a long time. Here is what I carry in my right pocket:



EDIT: I opened the knife so you can see the abuse, same with everything else. This is normal wear for me.

[PVTCaboose1337]

I found a great image here:

(O BTW it is USB 3.0, so kinda ignore that and imagine with your minds)



See the USB prongs? Those contact the metal casing (I think the clear thing in this pic) and them short circuit. And now my theory: Overloading of the 5v rail. I have experimented by making a "USB" crashy thing" by soldering all four prongs together and plugging it into a computer. The computer promptly BSOD'd. Please use this info for educational purposes only. I believe pins 1 and 3 are the power, 2 and 4 are data*, but I am not sure, have not messed with USB for a while.

*Well duhr it was in the picture which pins were which, I got it wrong FUUUUUU

[Black Panther]

Wow thanks PVT for the little tutorial! That explains it so clearly.

Now I wonder whether it's the weather factor after all. I had 2 different Corsairs ending up rma'd within a couple of months, and here in Malta the weather's hot and very humid too - small island only 37 km at its longest part, surrounded by the sea and temperatures in high 30's in summer and low 20's in winter... humidity above 80% most days.

I also carry the pendrive on me daily, in my hand-bag... with plenty of keys, wires and stuff. Though I think the rubber casing is enough to protect against jolts... even in your case.

[qubit]

It sounds like you are having to work around a design fault in these sticks, with the glue. If I were you, I'd buy another brand (make it a quality one) and sell the replacement stick when you get it. These are obviously not made for anything other than ideal conditions.

I've seen "rugged" sticks being sold, one of them is ironically, another Corsair, the Flash Survivor which comes in a round can. That should stand up a lot better than your one.

[Black Panther]

Originally Posted by qubit

If I were you, I'd buy another brand

I had been thinking of emailing OcUK and asking them if I can get another stick instead of my replacement, and pay the price difference.... I don't think they'll accept but it won't hurt to try.

[Black Panther]

24 days later...

I'm still stuck with their reply that the pendrive:

has been sent back to manufacturer for repair or replacement. It will be returned to you as soon as we receive it.

Excuse me, but this hardly appears to be great customer care?

They acknowledged that the drive was faulty - if it weren't they'd have sent it back charging me their shipping and a further 10 sterling for the trouble.

Since it's faulty why do I have to wait for them to receive their replacement?
Item is still in stock according to their website... and it's around half the price I originally bought it - adding insult to injury the fact that I spent over €6.50 just to ship it back to them.... TWICE!

If this pendrive continues to quit on me twice every year it'd end up costing me €100 in total! Not to mention the inconvenience of having to go without it, now for nearly a whole month!

Sure... I shipped it to UK, they saw it was faulty so they ship it to China...the Chinese would spend a couple of weeks testing it.... then from China back to UK and from UK to Malta... duh

And there I was making my plans to buy my new PSU and 5870 from OcUK... I'm thinking about it now...

[qubit]

Originally Posted by Black Panther

24 days later...

I'm still stuck with their reply that the pendrive:

has been sent back to manufacturer for repair or replacement. It will be returned to you as soon as we receive it.

Excuse me, but this hardly appears to be great customer care?

They acknowledged that the drive was faulty - if it weren't they'd have sent it back charging me their shipping and a further 10 sterling for the trouble.

Since it's faulty why do I have to wait for them to receive their replacement?
Item is still in stock according to their website... and it's around half the price I originally bought it - adding insult to injury the fact that I spent over €6.50 just to ship it back to them.... TWICE!

If this pendrive continues to quit on me twice every year it'd end up costing me €100 in total! Not to mention the inconvenience of having to go without it, now for nearly a whole month!

Sure... I shipped it to UK, they saw it was faulty so they ship it to China...the Chinese would spend a couple of weeks testing it.... then from China back to UK and from UK to Malta... duh

And there I was making my plans to buy my new PSU and 5870 from OcUK... I'm thinking about it now...

I've had them pull that "We're waiting for the replacement" trick on me too. However, when I pointed out that they were providing poor customer service and should be swapping it with a stock item, they did actually send me a badly spelled apology from some illiterate monkey and a stock swap a couple of days later, which worked fine.

They've had quite a significant re-org lately, employed more customer service staff and moved into larger premises, so I had hoped that their customer service would have improved. It's crap like this that I only buy stuff from them that I can't buy anywhere else. Examples include b-grade specials (graphics cards only) and unusual items only they stock, such as the Coolermaster Elite 334 Nvidia Edition Case (I think others stock it now too, only OCuK when it came out a while back). Their prices usually aren't even especially competitive.

In the end, you just want a working drive and this situation is highly frustrating and causes a lot of anxiety. It might be a good idea to just buy another one from a better shop and then you won't be on tentahooks for this replacement. When you do eventually get it, just sell it for whatever you can and try to minimise your business with OCuK - certainly don't buy the PSU and graphics card from them. They really don't deserve your money and I wish bad retailers like this would go bust unless they improved their customer service.

[Black Panther]

I sent them a complaint and just found an email saying that they received their replacement and are going to ship it to me "as soon as there's stock".... (hmm there is stock....)

And hmmmm.... wow my pendrive really travelled at the speed of light from the UK to China and back?

Qubit you're right about them not being particularly competitive -

have a look at the thread I started in their forums....

[qubit]

I read your thread - seems that OCuK have loaded the prices up quite high now, wiping out the price advantage you enjoyed. Also, interesting how elpedro just couldn't get it and you had to explain it to him s-l-o-w-l-y. Is he staff, I wonder? Their annoyingly restrictive forum policies (especially about not mentioning competitors; try giving a better deal instead?) and habit of abusing their users was why I didn't sign up for that forum.

You may want to compare OCuK with their UK competition, even if it may not be possible to buy from them. I often find expensive items at OCuK go for more by £10 - £20 but not everything.

Here's the main sites I compare them with:

www.ebuyer.com
www.scan.co.uk
www.microdirect.co.uk
www.amazon.co.uk