<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)">Hello all,<br> <br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)">I have had a wipout of 3 Kingston DataTraveller 16 GB and one Duracell 32 GB USB flash memory sticks. Not only is the data lost, they can't even be reformatted! (The data loss is no calamity - it was a duplicate backup.)</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)"> <br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)">The one misbehaviour I had thoughtlessly done: For about 9 months long, these sticks were stored in an above-counter kitchen cabinet, on the bottom level, and that cabinet has an under-the-cabinet 24-inch fluorescent fixture (tube and ballast) for illuminating the countertop. I switched it on and off a few times a day. The USB sticks were stored about 8 inches / 20 cm away from one end of the fluorescent fixture, i.e., not quite directly above the fixture (otherwise the separation would only have been 1 inch / 2.5 cm).</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)"> <br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)">So, does anyone know whether USB flash memory sticks (and presumably flash memory camera cards too) are particularly sensitive to electro-magnetic or other disturbances?<br> <br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)">And what about smartphones? My smartphone was in a similar position for about 6 months, but is still working perfectly. (It's not there anymore!)<br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)"> <br clear="all"></div><div><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><font><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Hartmut W Sager - Tel +1-204-339-8331, +1-204-515-1701<br></span></font><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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