USB Flash drive accidentally went on a bike ride with me

[Beef Boss]

I thought my flash drive, I always carry this with me, was not in my pocket in my pants.. but I was wrong. I felt it just now, and i took it out with condensation around the USB c cover. The actual USB C male port had moisture on it... SO how long does it take for a flash drive to dry out? This drive is very small, its about half the size of an iPod shuffle. I haven't plugged it in BTW. yes, I sweat on bike rides because i go for 4-5 miles on a hill 

[limegorilla]

1 minute ago, BadluckBrian said:

I thought my flash drive, I always carry this with me, was not in my pocket in my pants.. but I was wrong. I felt it just now, and i took it out with condensation around the USB c cover. The actual USB C male port had moisture on it... SO how long does it take for a flash drive to dry out? This drive is very small, its about half the size of an iPod shuffle. I haven't plugged it in BTW. yes, I sweat on bike rides because i go for 4-5 miles on a hill 

Stick it in something like rice or cat litter in a dry enviroment - kitchen cobaards work best, and leave it for about a day

[Beef Boss]

3 minutes ago, limegorilla said:

Stick it in something like rice or cat litter in a dry enviroment - kitchen cobaards work best, and leave it for about a day

Dang, my favorite games are on this drive(Solitare and 2048)... and also about 1k pictures of strudels...

[Beef Boss]

10 minutes ago, RandomGuy13 said:

If just the connector got wet, then I would leave it like 12 hours before plugging it in. If water got inside the device some how, I would give it a day or two. If you have any 99% isopropyl alcohol, you could dip the connector in that to get rid of any minerals that the evaporated water would leave.

Well it was only about five miles so its not that much sweat. I know first hand how much damage salt brings to electronics and connectors...

[Loot]

just blow innit like an old Nintendo cartridge .. good as new !

[manikyath]

as long as no power touches it, nothing can go wrong, just be patient for it to dry out. (which if it was just sweat, probably not talking "dunk in the sea" here)

[Beef Boss]

3 minutes ago, Loot said:

just blow innit like an old Nintendo cartridge .. good as new !

I'd be blowing a lot of things if it would make them good as new.

[IgorM]

take it apart, clean the connector and board then let it dry.

[Beef Boss]

Just now, IgorM said:

take it apart, clean the connector and board then let it dry.

[IgorM]

3 minutes ago, BadluckBrian said:

So I guess an alcohol bath is the way to go.

[Beef Boss]

2 minutes ago, IgorM said:

So I guess an alcohol bath is the way to go.

But don't storage devices have electricity in them? Can't that cause a short?

[NumLock21]

Your name fits this topic perfectly.

 

[Beef Boss]

Just now, NumLock21 said:

Your name fits this topic perfectly.

 

Don't get me started... But this is my nickname IRL. Also I've killed another drive by putting linux on it. Voiding warranties the game, bad luck's the name. I hate saying this, but yes things barely ever work in my favor. But I love it, in the bad luck i've found enjoyment and laugh at my misfourtune. This either makes me insane or making the best of what i've got. 

[Arika]

I mean... you could always just summon Zafkiel and try shooting it?

 

Alternatively if you're unable to open the casing, dunk it in isopropyl alcohol a leave it on a windowsill for a few days. As long as you don't leave it in there it will be fine.

[Beef Boss]

38 minutes ago, Sierra Fox said:

I mean... you could always just summon Zafkiel and try shooting it?

 

Alternatively if you're unable to open the casing, dunk it in isopropyl alcohol a leave it on a windowsill for a few days. As long as you don't leave it in there it will be fine.

Oh yes, how could i forget. but okay thank you!

[ProjectBox153]

As long as you completely dry it out it will be fine. I recently washed my 128GB USB 3 drive and accidentally sent it through the dryer. Works like new. 

[Beef Boss]

7 minutes ago, Jamiec1130 said:

As long as you completely dry it out it will be fine. I recently washed my 128GB USB 3 drive and accidentally sent it through the dryer. Works like new. 

Yeah I guess you could say, you cleaned your drive eh. 

[ProjectBox153]

2 minutes ago, BadluckBrian said:

Yeah I guess you could say, you cleaned your drive eh. 

Ha, yeah. It looks like it did when it was brand new, and still has my copy of Windows 10 on it. 

[Zodiark1593]

I would go with the isopropyl route, reason being that even if drying occurs, the time that the water remains can cause corrosion and damage the drive. That's assuming water actually got into the drive. Otherwise (like condensation), just dry and use.