Flash drives, jump drives, memory sticks, travel drives... These things:
How many times did you leave one in your pocket and sent it through the laundry?
I'm probably up to 20 times with a SanDisk 256meg. Often, it makes it through the dryer. Usually, I'll find it at the bottom of the washer tub. I lay it on the top of the monitor for a day to dry out and it's been working fine.
Any horror stories?
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| USB Flash Drives... how many times through the wash? |
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AlienEeeter
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Jun 1 @ 12:57AM
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I was walking across campus in early march and noticed a set of keys in the parking lot. Now we had some rough snow Jan/feb/march this year, and these keys had been under the snow (that had just melted) for so long the keyring was rusted. I wouldn't have picked them up at all if there hadn't been a jump drive attached to it.
I wiped the mud off it and plugged it into the computer, and it worked! I was able to find out whose keys they were by the files and return them to her dorm.
Now, I got myself this little MP3 player--not an expensive one. It only held 30 songs. That thing died after one washing and I was really annoyed.
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Injuneer
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Jun 1 @ 1:43AM
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Oh yeah, my jump drive has survived a number of washings and at least two visits through the dry cleaners (that one amazed me) and it keeps on chugging. Funny thing is it's a 2GB "no name" that I got from MicroCenter. On the other hand, my stupid Apple Shuffle went through the washer and promptly died so I won't be buying any high end stuff from them again. My only worry .... somehow I have managed not to do anything to my laptop. I hope I don't get too creative any time soon on that one!
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Monsterboy
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Jun 1 @ 6:59AM
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Hmm, I'm seeing a pattern. Flash cards/drives - washer-safe. mp3 players, not washer-safe.
With this knowledge I will rule the Universe! 
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chatillion
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Jun 1 @ 7:44AM
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Monster, there are a few technical articles that suggest cellphones, 2-way handheld radios PDA's and MP3 players can be retrieved from 'the drink' usually if they were off at the time of submersion. Sometimes, they have to be dunked again in distilled water to remove any salts (from saltwater) or residue of laundry soap/softeners. The more compact devices could easily trap water inside with no means of escape. Those need to be opened to allow proper drying.
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etobin45
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Jun 1 @ 9:25AM
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So, just how does water get into a place with no escape? If there is no way out, just how is there a way in?
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chatillion
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Jun 1 @ 9:35AM
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It's not a trick. The components are very close together. Dropping the device in water allows the air to escape and the water to displace the air. Letting it sit for days doesn't dry the device. Instead, it remains inside the case and corrodes the electronics... especially if it's salt water. The water is trapped between the components and the case. It can't evaporate without forced warm/dry air blowing through it.
An example of this:
Many wristwatches will show condensation on the inside of the bezel when they are cold. After you put them on, the condensation goes away... it's still trapped in the watch and will reappear when the watch becomes cold.
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