[ITDept]

We recently had a new card access system installed on our building. The system requires that you carry a key FOB with you to be swiped in proximity to the reader mounted on the wall to gain access. Without thinking, I put the key FOB on my key chain with my flash drive, and I have been waving my keys with the FOB (and flash drive) in front of the wall mounted reader. All of a sudden my flash drive appears to be corrupted. My hunch is that either the FOB, reader, or a combination of the two has caused the problem, but I have been unable to find any documentation to confirm the equipment could have caused the problem. I assume the equipment uses an electromagnetic field. Is it possible this is powerful enough to corrupt a drive? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

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assume the equipment uses an electromagnetic field. Is it possible this is powerful enough to corrupt a drive? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

this is probably the case...i doubt that it's the FOB unless it's an active device (i.e. has batteries in it)....the reader is probably the culprit....it initiates the electromagnetic field and could very well screw up a flash drive...i keep my flash drive on my badge hanging from my neck with my keycard...but i haven't experienced this issue yet...granted...i don't usually come in early enough in the day to require me to use the access system...or i use my key to go through the door that doesn't have one..hehe.

[dsenette]

assume the equipment uses an electromagnetic field. Is it possible this is powerful enough to corrupt a drive? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

this is probably the case...i doubt that it's the FOB unless it's an active device (i.e. has batteries in it)....the reader is probably the culprit....it initiates the electromagnetic field and could very well screw up a flash drive...i keep my flash drive on my badge hanging from my neck with my keycard...but i haven't experienced this issue yet...granted...i don't usually come in early enough in the day to require me to use the access system...or i use my key to go through the door that doesn't have one..hehe.

[ITDept]

Well I did some testing with a floppy and another flash drive. I waved them both at the reader for an exteneded period of time, also rubbed the FOB over them for a bit (no the fob doesnt have a battery) just to be sure, but fortunately (or unfortunately) both where unaffected. I am thinking about sending this into Myth Busters!

[dsenette]

did you rub the floppy across the reader WITH the fob in proximity? the reader USUALLY won't emit it's signal untill the fob is present (at least...to my understanding)