SSD failures differ from hard disk failures and typically occur very quickly. Unlike HDDs, there are no audible warnings (clicking), so when an SSD fails you can expect it to be undetectable the next day as opposed to failing over time. In nearly all of these types of failures, the cause is either the controller’s inability to communicate properly with the drive’s firmware or the failure of the drive’s controller, rather than the loss of a single memory chip. The data is frequently still intact behind the failed chip but inaccessible due to the failure of communication by the controller. Whether it’s SATA, M.2 or NVMe, the SSD data recovery diagnosis is free and in most cases you only have to pay us if we successfully recover your data.
If the drive continues to mount but sporadically, do not run any repair tools or allow the OS to TRIM the SSD, as this will erase the physical blocks containing your files. Do not copy anything, do not write anything. Allow us to create an exact bit-for-bit image of the device.
The most common reason for an SSD to fail is when the controller fails to respond. This causes the drive to become unresponsive (the drive is no longer available) or show only a fraction of the actual size of the flash memory. In both cases the problem is with the controller, not the flash memory that stores your data. Firmware failures are typically caused by unexpected power loss, sometimes causing a “bricked” state (a “safe mode” that reports zero bytes, whereby the firmware prevents access to all areas of the flash memory). Other reasons include physical damage, flash memory worn out due to excessive wear and tear, as well as faulty power circuitry. The least helpful thing you can try is using a consumer file recovery program. As long as the controller is dead, there is no way to access the drive via the OS so that it may be scanned.
Recovery will depend on the nature of the failure. If it’s just the firmware failing, then we can restore the controller using manufacturer-level tools, to allow us to read the controller, then clone the images prior to the controller dropping again. If, however, the controller has died completely (or appears to have), then the process is much more involved. The flash memory is read and the information is reconstructed around the drive’s wear levelling and encryption. This is an extremely difficult task as most modern solid-state drives do not store the information sequentially or unencrypted; instead it is typically scattered across multiple memory chips and encrypted. However, this process is commonly successful. As with every job, we image first and recover from the copy, so the drive is never put at further risk.
We can recover from 2.5″ SATA SSDs (solid state disks), mSATA, M.2 SATA and M.2 NVMe drives. In order for us to recover data from your drive you will need to send the entire drive, taken out of the laptop or PC, as we don’t accept complete machines. If your SSD uses encryption via the controller, include your password or key where you have it. If your laptop has an SSD soldered to the motherboard, it can’t be removed, and unfortunately we can’t recover it.
Typically no. Any time a drive goes missing, there are typically issues with the controller or firmware and not usually with the flash memory which contains your files/data. Therefore, when this happens, we will attempt to recover the drive by getting the controller working again so that we can read the contents. However, if the controller has died completely, we may be able to recover the contents of the flash memory without going through the controller.
Usually, it doesn’t help, and can even hurt things. If the controller has failed, the OS is not able to see the drive to attempt a scan, and in the event that the OS can mount the drive, allowing it to TRIM will destroy the blocks you are attempting to recover. Please refrain from continuing use of this device until we can take an image of your drive.
Most modern solid state drives store their data across multiple flash storage chips through “wear levelling” and also encrypt the data with an on-board controller. To convert the raw flash into something usable when the on-board controller fails, our team reconstructs the original mapping of the flash as well as decrypting the data. This process is time-consuming, but is routine for our recovery specialists.
No, unfortunately. We only work on drives that can be taken out of the machine, and we don’t accept complete laptops or computers, so an SSD that is soldered to the motherboard is something we can’t recover.
Generally speaking, yes; “dead” SSDs are usually due to a failed controller while all the NAND flash chips themselves may be good. The process involves recovery of the controller first, followed by chip-level recovery if needed, to read directly off the flash and rebuild from there. Odds are greatly reduced with repeated power cycles and running of scan tools. Please stop both.
A free assessment every time, followed by a firm written quote for all of that work before we start working with your data, as well as there being no charge to you on most jobs when the data does not come back. We generally set an upfront fixed price for firmware and controller level SSD recoveries; however, chip level recovery of a completely dead controller is quoted after the free assessment. After you have received a quote, simply drop off your device at our Leeds address, which is located at The Pinnacle (we do not require appointments), or post it to us from anywhere in Yorkshire and fully insure it. Whichever route it takes, it’s handled in-house by our own engineers and never outsourced.
An SSD missing overnight requires an expert at the controller level, which is way beyond a simple scan; therefore, when looking for SSD data recovery near me you are literally just trying to find the closest team with access to chip level equipment. As far as a physical address goes, for Leeds & Yorkshire we have a walk-in facility, but otherwise a padded envelope will do the exact same thing.
Once you have received a price quotation from us, you may either leave your device at The Pinnacle, Albion Street in the city centre (no appointment is required) or you can send it to us insured and tracked as part of our data recovery UK-wide service, with the same free diagnostics as well as the same fixed written quote, and in most cases, you do not need to make payment unless we successfully recover your lost data. Each project will be completed by one of our own engineers.
We offer free diagnoses of all potential lost data, a fixed written quote for every job, and no fee on most jobs unless your data is recovered. Stop writing to your drive, and if it continues to mount from time to time, don’t run any fix/repair programs on it.