Solid-State Drives (SSDs) offer significant advantages over traditional hard drives due to their fast data processing and operating system loading speeds. However, they can still fail, leading to data loss, system startup issues, or complete PC failures.
To mitigate severe data loss, it is crucial to stop using the device immediately upon noticing any signs of malfunction. This proactive approach enhances the chances of successful data recovery.
Signs of SSD Failure
Several indicators may suggest that an SSD is failing:
- Frequent Application Freezes: Error messages and application freezes can signal bad sectors on the SSD.
- File System Errors: Issues in the file system may arise due to bad sectors, leading to lost connections between ports.
- Operating System Startup Failures: If the OS cannot start, this may indicate a broken boot sector.
- Read-Only Access: In rare cases, users may only be able to read documents without making changes.
Case Study: Recovery of a Silicon Power SSD A55
Recently, our data recovery team received a request for an internal Silicon Power SSD A55. The client experienced a power surge while transferring old backups, resulting in the failure of both the hard drive and the PC.
After learning about the risks of self-recovery potentially damaging vital files, the client chose to entrust the device to our specialized company, known for its advanced labs and positive reviews.
Upon receiving the device, our engineers conducted a thorough diagnostic. They discovered that the power surge had damaged the memory controller and formulated an appropriate recovery strategy.
The Role of the Memory Controller
The memory controller manages the SSD’s operations and communicates with the computer via interfaces such as SATA, PCI-E, USB, and SAS. It oversees data writing processes, cache management,
write speed optimization, and overall drive longevity.
SSD Memory Recovery Process
To restore the files, our technician first extracted data from the NAND chips using a hardware programmer, which is designed for reading and writing information to storage devices. After extracting the data, the technician assembled it using algorithms corresponding to the same controller chip model.
The key objective at this stage was to create a coherent data sequence from the extracted information. This transformation is not cryptographically secure, but understanding the algorithm enabled our technician to retrieve the original data efficiently. In this case, the client’s file system was encrypted and could not be directly transferred to a new SSD.
Decrypting the SP A55 File System
For encrypted files, simply knowing the algorithm is insufficient; the decryption key is also necessary. If the drive employs hardware-based data encryption, these settings are crucial for recovering data from read dumps.
With extensive experience in various data storage systems, our engineers successfully restored the file system, recovering 98% of all files and 100% of priority documents.
After the customer confirmed the recovery results through a remote file verification session, we shipped the data back on a new hard drive.
Commitment to Excellence
At PITS Global Data Recovery Services, our engineers participate in ongoing training to stay updated on modern techniques for effectively addressing a wide range of storage media issues.
