Knowing how to recover an SSD is an increasingly common concern as more and more devices use this type of storage. SSDs ushered in a new era of file storage, offering higher speed, better shock resistance, lower power consumption and other advantages over the hard drives that used to be standard in desktops and laptops.
If, after this guide, your SSD still won’t give access to the files, see our SSD data recovery service, which starts with a free diagnosis.
But, just like hard drives, SSDs can also suffer failures, malfunctions and accidental formatting. When that happens, you need specific SSD recovery procedures, which we’ll explain below.
What is an SSD?
An SSD is a storage device, like an HDD (hard disk drive), but with faster read and write speeds, lower power consumption, silent operation and greater resistance to shocks. The acronym stands for Solid-State Drive.
These advantages come from the way it works: while HDDs store data on spinning platters and use a mechanical arm to read and write it, SSDs store data on memory chips (flash memory), with no moving parts.
Very high-performance SSD solutions, such as the AORUS Gen4 AIC, reach transfer rates of up to 15,000 MB/s (around 15 GB/s), and even simple, inexpensive models exceed 500 MB/s. Meanwhile, even the fastest hard drives only reach a few hundred MB/s.
What types of SSD are there?
There are several types of SSD on the market:
SATA SSD
This is the most common type. It has the same 2.5″ form factor as laptop hard drives and uses the same SATA connectors, so it can be installed in their place.
SSD Add-in Card (AIC)
These cards can be much faster than other models, because they connect directly to a PCI Express (PCIe) slot.
They plug into the same slots used for graphics cards or RAID controllers on the motherboard, which means they are designed for desktops, not laptops.
M.2 SSD
Similar in shape to RAM modules but even smaller, M.2 SSDs have become the standard in laptops, especially thin ones, and are also widely used in desktops.
Many high-performance motherboards also have two or more M.2 slots, which means SSDs can be set up in RAID.
U.2 SSD
Although it looks like a 2.5″ SATA SSD, the U.2 SSD has a different connector that links it to the PCIe bus. It uses the same 2.5″ form factor, but it is often thicker (up to 15 mm) and more expensive.
U.2 SSDs are mainly designed for servers and are rarely found in ordinary desktop computers.
It’s important to know that data can be recovered from every type of SSD in many cases, although the techniques and procedures vary from one type to another.
SSD data recovery is a set of procedures that aims to restore access to data and files that have become inaccessible for different reasons.
How do I know if my SSD is starting to fail?
As with other hardware components, an SSD often shows warning signs before a more serious failure. Look out for signs such as these:
- Problems saving, moving or opening files;
- Freezes and crashes when the system starts up;
- Unusual slowness;
- Frequent blue or black error screens;
- Files can be opened but not saved or moved (the drive has switched to read-only mode);
- Having to restart the computer all the time.
If you notice any of these signs, back up your data as soon as possible so you don’t lose it.
What is SSD data recovery?
SSD data recovery is a set of procedures that aims to restore access to data and files that have become inaccessible for reasons such as:
- Power surges;
- Power outages;
- Forced system shutdowns;
- Failure of one or more NAND flash memory chips;
- Human error;
- Physical damage, among others.
With SSD recovery, it’s often possible to regain access to the data stored on the drive, which is a huge relief for anyone facing a problem that stops the device from working properly.
If your SSD has failed, Bot can help: we have more than two decades of experience and have handled more than 200,000 cases. Data recovery from SSDs and other storage devices is what we do every day.
Can deleted files be recovered from an SSD?
Sometimes, yes, it’s possible to recover deleted files from an SSD. However, it’s much harder than recovering data from a hard drive.
When a file is deleted from a hard drive, the operating system simply marks the space it occupied as free. The data itself stays on the disk until it is overwritten by other files.
On an SSD, things are different. Flash memory cells can’t be overwritten directly: to store new data, the SSD either uses free cells or first has to erase the old data from the occupied cells, which is a slow process.
When the user, a program or the operating system deletes a file on an SSD, the system usually sends the TRIM command, telling the SSD that this data is no longer needed. The SSD then marks those cells for erasure, and its garbage collection wipes them in the background, often within minutes.
If a program or the operating system then tries to read those cells, the SSD usually returns zeros or meaningless data.
On top of that, the SSD constantly moves data between cells to spread wear evenly (wear leveling). Only the SSD’s controller knows where each file’s data is physically stored at any given moment; the operating system has no control over this and can’t know the files’ physical location.
That’s why recovering deleted data from an SSD with TRIM enabled is very difficult, and often impossible.
For the best chance of recovering data from a damaged, corrupted or formatted SSD, stop using it and power it off as soon as you notice the loss, so that TRIM and garbage collection don’t erase more data. Disabling TRIM in advance improves the chances of recovering deleted files in the future, but it reduces performance and increases wear, since TRIM is what keeps the SSD’s free space ready for new writes. Disabling it after the files have been deleted doesn’t bring them back.
Remember: because of wear leveling, only the SSD itself knows where the data is stored at any given time.
Types of SSD recovery
SSD data recovery aims to regain access to files that were stored on the drive and are no longer available to the user. This can happen in different situations, as you’ll see below.
Internal SSD recovery
Internal SSD recovery is the most common case and concerns SSDs installed inside a laptop or desktop computer, connected directly to the motherboard.
External SSD recovery
External SSD recovery, on the other hand, concerns SSDs that are connected to a laptop or desktop through a USB port rather than installed on the motherboard, just like external hard drives.
NVMe SSD recovery
NVMe is a protocol designed specifically for fast storage over the PCI Express bus. Most NVMe SSDs use the M.2 form factor, the same as M.2 SATA SSDs, but they are considerably faster at reading and writing.
Just like other M.2 SSDs, NVMe SSDs can also be recovered.
Apple SSD recovery
Apple SSD recovery is a complex procedure that depends on the device model.
On some 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pro models, for example, data can be recovered through a dedicated connector on the logic board using a special tool (which we have at Bot) that copies the data to another device. More recent models don’t have this kind of access.
Even so, data can be recovered from the SSDs of many MacBooks and Macs, but the device’s condition must be analyzed in detail to decide which method or procedure is best.
SSD bad block recovery
Bad blocks are the SSD equivalent of bad sectors on hard drives. When an SSD has bad blocks, it can’t read or write data in those blocks, which can corrupt data or cause the device to fail. At Bot, we carry out SSD data recovery from drives with bad blocks.
Recovering an SSD in RAW mode
When the SSD becomes corrupted, after a power failure for example, the partition may appear as RAW, meaning the operating system can’t recognize its file system.
Deleting the partition and creating a new one, or formatting it, would make the drive usable again, but it erases the files on that partition, and on an SSD, TRIM can wipe them for good. Don’t do it if you need the data.
The best option is to turn to professional SSD recovery at Bot, where we use every available resource and tool to recover data from an SSD in RAW mode safely.
How do you recover data from an SSD?
There are a few things you can do when an SSD is damaged, formatted, corrupted or burned out.
In general, the best SSD data recovery results can only be achieved in a professional lab. It’s worth asking a specialized company like Bot to assess the chances of recovering data from your SSD.
Here are the options for each situation:
Recovering files from a corrupted SSD
A corrupted SSD is sometimes called a dead SSD, because the device no longer boots or crashes while in use, so the stored data can no longer be accessed.
However, you may be able to recover files from a corrupted SSD in one of two ways: using data recovery software or hiring a specialized company.
Using recovery software on an SSD is only advisable if you have some experience with this kind of procedure. If you don’t know these tools well, you may do something that makes data recovery permanently impossible. Never save the recovered files to the same SSD.
That’s why the safest option is to turn to an experienced, specialized company with the right professionals, tools and environment for the job, giving you a better chance of recovering your data from the corrupted SSD.
Recovering a formatted SSD
Formatting an SSD deletes all its files, whether it was done on purpose or by accident.
If you format the SSD or permanently delete files, you can’t restore them from the Windows Recycle Bin. And if TRIM is enabled (the default on modern systems), formatting usually triggers TRIM across the whole drive, so the data may become unrecoverable, even in a lab. Stop using the SSD immediately.
If you want to get back the data that was stored on the drive, contact us and we’ll assess what can be done to recover files from the formatted SSD.
Recovering data from a damaged SSD
A damaged SSD has usually suffered a knock, a fall or another kind of physical damage that is affecting how it works.
Here, too, it may be possible to recover data from a damaged SSD. In this case, however, the only viable option is professional help. A data recovery company can safely open the device, analyze the damage and carry out the necessary repairs.
If you try to repair the SSD at home without the right equipment, there’s a high risk of burning out its flash memory and making data recovery impossible.
Recovering a burned-out SSD
When an SSD burns out, its electronics stop working, so the data stored on it can no longer be accessed.
In that case, you need a data recovery company to assess the burned-out SSD and work out what can be done. Never attempt this at home: the procedures require a controlled environment, advanced equipment and the experience to analyze and repair the device.
Is there software to recover data from an SSD?
Yes, there are programs for SSD data recovery, but they must be reliable, and you need to know how to use them so you don’t make things worse.
If you search online, you’ll find programs that claim to recover data from SSDs. Many of them do work and are used by professionals.
The problem is that these programs require solid technical and practical knowledge of SSD recovery. Otherwise, instead of recovering your data, you may cause further damage and lose access to it for good.
So if you run into any problem with your SSD or notice it behaving strangely, contact Bot right away. We’ll carry out a full analysis of the device and recommend the best option for your case.
General tips to prevent data loss on SSDs
Although SSDs are resistant to mechanical shocks and use more advanced technology, they can still fail. As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure.
To avoid ever having to recover a dead SSD, put the following tips into practice:
And if you run into a problem with your SSD or notice it behaving strangely, contact Bot right away. We’ll carry out a full assessment of the device.
1. Always leave some free space on the SSD
Free space is important for the drive’s wear-leveling and garbage collection algorithms to work properly. They redistribute data to minimize wear and keep the SSD performing at its best.
Manufacturers usually recommend keeping between 10% and 20% of the capacity free.
2. Back up regularly
This tip applies to avoiding data loss on SSDs and on any other storage device. With regular backups, your files stay safe even if something goes wrong.
3. Consider disabling the operating system’s indexing service
If your operating system has an indexing service, as Windows does, you can choose to disable it.
Indexing speeds up searches on the computer, but SSDs are so fast that the gain is often small. Disabling it slightly reduces the number of writes to the drive, although on modern SSDs the impact on lifespan is minor, so this step is optional.
4. Don’t defragment the SSD
Defragmentation is useful on hard drives because it rearranges fragmented files into contiguous areas, so the read heads move less and the drive reads faster. On SSDs, this brings no performance benefit and only adds unnecessary writes that wear out the memory.
Recent versions of Windows recognize SSDs and run TRIM instead of defragmenting them in “Optimize Drives”, so make sure your drive appears there as a solid-state drive. If you use third-party defragmentation software, exclude the SSD from it.
What equipment is used in SSD recovery?
When an SSD needs physical repairs, it’s essential to use top-quality, reliable, high-performance equipment and tools to improve the chances of success.
All the work has to be done in a specialized, well-equipped lab, because static electricity or a single slip during micro-soldering can destroy the memory chips.
As well as extensive experience in recovering corrupted, burned-out and damaged SSDs, Bot has a Class 100 (ISO 5) cleanroom with strict particle control under ISO 14644-1, used whenever drives need to be opened. Your device is in good hands.
Whenever physical repairs are needed on an SSD, top-quality equipment and tools are essential.
How much does SSD recovery cost?
There’s no single answer, because the price depends on how complex the SSD recovery is.
To get an idea of costs, check our SSD recovery prices. The final price depends on the complexity of each case.
The price isn’t related to the amount of data on the SSD, but to the time and work required.
That’s why a thorough analysis of the SSD’s electronics is essential to identify the root cause of the problem.
Recover your SSD with Bot
If you need SSD recovery and want to rely on experts in the field, choose Bot, with a 96% success rate. You’ll be entrusting your SSD data recovery to people who really know the subject!
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