The End

Сергей · Joined: 26 Aug 2005 Posts: 20282 Flash-Extractor developer

Flash-Extractor software development is closing

Last year I think many times to do it. It was very hard for me to take this decision. Now time is come

I'm very scared to do this. I've been doing this for 20 years. For me, it's like retiring. Stay without a permanent good income. But it's time to do it

Past several years, only very complex cases have been received by tech support. For example, FC controllers. They have a new XOR every time. You have to cut out pages and bytes, and sometimes even bits, to get 50% good result. Or SM3281 where even and odd blocks have a different Layouts (sector size, ECC)

I am very tired of such tasks

Many cases looks like solved, we see file tree, all file headers are green. But alot of files are damaged. This often happens with Sector_Number_Slow assembler

I don’t like make a bad product. It's hard for me emotionally. I feel that i can't handle it. I can't make software that make such cases automatically

Because of conflict between Russia and Ukraine, I have a lot of problems with the purchase of electronic components, with the delivery of hardware to customers, with money transfer

I decided to close the Flash-Extractor project
I’m sorry if i don’t meet your expectations

Important:

All purchased / activated licenses will be supported same as before until their expiration date

Last support day will be 23.09.2023 (1 year from this post)

Mike · Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 205 Location: UK

Hi Serg

I am very sad to hear about your decision. I remember buying the first tools you had back in the early 2000s - the DOS days when configs were made manually, Smile

they were the good days!

I really hope you reconsider this decision. The models you mention and a lot of new ones are so complex, that I rarely offer recovery as customers expect perfect recoveries with little cost, they just don't understand that modern devices are made with dirt cheap flash NAND and unnecessary complex wear levelling, to accommodate these bad chips makes recovery impossible.

Personally, I would concentrate on the ones where there is some hope, and ignore the others.

If you stand by your decision to stop, then I wish you and your family a long, healthy and happy retirement.

Сергей · Joined: 26 Aug 2005 Posts: 20282 Flash-Extractor developer

Thank you very much, Mike

Of course i remember you as one of first my customers :)

pepe · Joined: 12 Jun 2009 Posts: 82 Location: Hungary

Hi Sergey,

i understand (at least i think i do) your decision and it's a sad moment even though Hungary has just won against Germany in Leipzig. I haven't had many flash jobs lately and even less recoverable due to crap NANDs, so i haven't used SC for the past decade or so, but honestly i will miss it a lot. You did a great job with this tool and i wish you would continue!!!
Sometimes we have to make hard decisions, especially in though days like these. I hope the best for you and your family

pepe

armadillo · Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 1066 Location: Germany

Dear Sergey,
You have done a great job, I will miss you. I can understand the reasons for your decision. All the best for you and your family.

DiskTuna · Joined: 10 Dec 2020 Posts: 9

Sad news. All the best to you.
Is selling the business / source code not an option?

Сергей · Joined: 26 Aug 2005 Posts: 20282 Flash-Extractor developer

Visok · Joined: 11 Jun 2020 Posts: 107 Location: 537061696E

I am very sorry to hear this news, I do not know if we can support you in any way so that you do not leave the project, I know that these are difficult times but I support you so that you do not leave it and continue this great battle, you have all my help for what you need

Thk

arvika · Joined: 18 Nov 2009 Posts: 2586 Location: Poland

I still hard believe that you change your mind and will continue the FE project as the super solution for flash recovery. i talk with many friends and everybody is sad that it could finish. I write you more at skype, no need remind that your model solutions are perfect, read retry, combine, layouts and so on... are unique. Sometimes I was skeptical about some solutions, but time shows that you have right Smile

I want write more, but hard to find correct words.

DiskTuna · Joined: 10 Dec 2020 Posts: 9

rcz · Joined: 08 Apr 2009 Posts: 727 Location: FRANCE

Sad news for every member of the forum. But your decision is highly understandable.
I use your tools for more than 13 years. I'll keep using the devices and software for a bunch of cases I guess, even without support. I'll keep using the indestrudible plastic box where were sent the reader too, my wife and me love them ^^
I wish you all the best

- Rodney

Сергей · Joined: 26 Aug 2005 Posts: 20282 Flash-Extractor developer

Сергей · Joined: 26 Aug 2005 Posts: 20282 Flash-Extractor developer

DiskTuna · Joined: 10 Dec 2020 Posts: 9

sorlaw · Joined: 27 May 2010 Posts: 141

Hello Sergey,

i was kind of shocked and speechless, when i read that.
I got my first license (*.LIC) in 2010 and i‘m really pleased with the development and the solved cases.
The work you provided deserves my greatest respect and i also understand, that you put an end to your flash-extractor project, now that everything becomes more difficult.
Not having your know-how anymore is a huge loss.

I wish the best for you and your family and i hope that times will become completely peacefull again.

Stay healthy and best regards.

Clemens