How to Safely Retrieve Data from a Corrupted SSD

Introduction:

The way we store and access data has been change by Solid State Drives (SSDs). As a favored storage solution, speed, durability and efficiency are some factors that make them preferred for laptops and desktops, gaming consoles and smartphones. But like all technology, SSDs don’t escape failure. A corrupted SSD can lead to your data being inaccessible: either due to power surges, physical damage, file system corruption or all of the above. Safely retrieve data from a corrupted SSD

But if you find yourself in a situation where your SSD is corrupted, don’t panic. You have some steps you can take in order to get your important files without risk. In this guide, I’ll first explain to you the process of safely retrieve data from a corrupted SSD without damaging the drive further.

Do Not Use the Drive and Stay Calm

The first thing you do when dealing with a corrupted SSD is stay calm. Typically, after your drive fails or becomes corrupted, people’s natural inclination is to repeatedly try and access it, which is definitely not good for your device. The important part is to stop using the SSD as soon as possible.

Disconnect the SSD: The first thing you should do if your SSD is connected to a computer or any device is safely disconnect it. If it’s an external SSD, plug it out on the USB or SATA port. If it’s an internal SSD—shut down the computer, remove your drive from the system.

Avoid Overwriting Data: But whenever you try to read the drive, there’s a chance to overwrite the data. After it’s disconnected, don’t plug it back in or use it until the recovery process is complete.

Process of safely retrieve data from a corrupted SSD

Check for Physical Damage

Before we launch ourselves into the world of software based recovery methods for the SSD, make sure the SSD has not received any physical damage. It is also much harder to work with physical issues and you have to get professional help to solve it.

Inspect the SSD for Physical Issues: Will look for cracks, burn marks or evidence of physical trauma on the drive. If you can see blatant damage like burnt parts, a broken connector, you need to get in touch with a professional data recovery service right away.

Test the SSD on Another Device: If the SSD is not visible with any other physical issues then try plugging it into another computer or device and see if it is recognized. It will help us to find out whether the problem is with SSD itself or if it’s a problem with your computer’s connection.

Use Built-in Repair Tools

If the SSD seems software related (such as file system corruption) and there is no physical damage, the next to try is to see if built in tools can be used in order to repair the SSD.

For Windows Users:

CHKDSK Utility: If you’ve only created a hard drive for yourself (and not someone else), Windows lets you utilize CHKDSK (Check Disk), a built-in tool that can help you fix minor storage device issues. Here’s how to use it:

Start Open Command Prompt in Administration mode.

Type chkdsk X: / f (replace X: with the letter of your corrupted SSD drive).

Hit Enter, allow the tool to scan and repair the drive.

Disk Management: But if the drive is still not recognized, well you can attempt to see if its status is display using Disk Management in Windows.

Select Manage on This PC and right click.

Go to Open Disk Management and look for the SSD.

It can appear, right click to see if there are any error or reformat if necessary (knowing that reformatting will delete all data).

For macOS Users:

Disk Utility: If you are using a Mac you can use Disk Utility to check and repair the SSD.

To launch Disk Utility from Applications > Utilities folder.

From the left sidebar, choose the corrupted SSD.

Select the First Aid tab and Run it. This will scan and attempt to repair any logical errors.

While these tools are a good thing for instances of minor corruption, they won’t completely eradicate problems like file system corruption and physical damage.

Use Data Recovery Software

If built in tools did not fix the SSD or you cannot access it, third party data recovery software can be a good option. Specifically, these tools are meant to extract data from wrecked or harmed storage devices.

Recuva: If you have a damaged or corrupted SSD, and are looking for a tool that’s free and user-friendly to recover files, this free and user friendly tool is perfect. The best thing is to use this method when we accidentally delete or lose files due to corruption. Additionally, you may download it, scan your SSD and recover files from other.
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard: One of the best data recovery tools used in the market is EaseUS. Even if the drive does not show up on your computer, it will support SSDs and it can recover lost or corrupted files. Its free version can do a basic recovery of your data, or you can go for a paid version to enjoy extra features.
Disk Drill: Disk Drill is available for both Windows and Mac, and as a full recovery solution for all types of storage devices including SSDs. Features includes deep scan and lost partition recovery.

Steps to Use Data Recovery Software:

Install the software on a separate drive or computer and download.

Corrupt SSD are connect to the system.

Open the recovery software, select the SSD that we want to scan and allow the scanning process to kick in.

Once you’ve scanned, preview and select the files you want to recover.

Once done, save the recovered files to some other storage device (don’t save to the corrupted SSD unless it’s under backup conditions, which will overwrite data).

Seek Professional Help

When your SSD is physically damage or your files have not been recover with data recovery software, it makes sense to seek professional help. Having the right tools and know how, data recovery specialists are able to recover data even from the most damaged SSDs.

Data Recovery Services: The function of professional recovery services is to deal with damaged storage devices. They need cleanroom environments, and sophisticated equipment to actually piece together a physical issue and recover some data from some hardware. Prices start at $100 and can go up $1,000 or more depending on how bad the problem is.

Avoid DIY Hardware Repair: Of course, there are a few DIY ways to potentially fix a damaged SSD by swapping components, but it will most definitely lead to permanent data loss. It was always best to leave hardware repair to the experts.

Prevent Future Data Loss

When you do manage to recover the data, it is important to take steps towards prevention to stop data loss happening in the future. Here are some tips:

Regular Backups: Keep your important data always backed up. To create a backup we have the option of cloud service, external hard drive, or NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices.
Monitor SSD Health: With their limited life span, it is extremely important to monitor a SSD board’s health using software like CrystalDiskInfo or Smartmontools. An application of these tools can warn you of impending failure so that you can back up your data before it’s too late.
Avoid Overloading the SSD: To prevent your SSD’s storage from continually wearing down, keep it at a reasonable level (normally below 80% of its total capacity).

Conclusion:

It may seem that retrieval of data from a corrupted SSD is a tough process but if you know the right processes the chances of a successful recovery become high. Whether you rely on inbuilt tools, third party recovery software, or pro help. You should act quickly and stop using the drive to write data to other places protecting important data. If you take control and follow the right recovery process, you can restore your vital files, and at the same time protect your data in the future.