How to Recover Data from a Dead SSD in Windows: Guide

Quick Answer: Can You Recover Data from a Dead SSD?

Yes, dead SSD data recovery is possible if the SSD can still be detected and accessed by Windows or data recovery software. If the SSD has severe physical damage or is completely undetectable, software-based recovery may not work, and a professional recovery service may be necessary.

Issue: An SSD Becomes Dead/Failed/Crashed

SSDs are widely used for their fast speed and good reliability, but like all storage devices, they can fail due to physical or logical issues.

When an SSD fails, it may become unresponsive, stop showing on your computer, or prevent access to your important files.

Many users have encountered the dead SSD problem and are asking for help:

“Old SSD randomly died, and so I’ve upgraded to a new one. I have a lot of very valuable files on that drive that I stupidly haven’t backed up. Is it at all possible for me to recover those files myself? Or is this the kind of procedure that an expert is required for?”reddit.com

Before moving on to data recovery solutions, let’s take a brief look at SSDs and the common causes that can make them appear dead.

Overview of an SSD

An SSD is a type of solid-state storage device that utilizes integrated circuits for data storage.

It offers enhanced speeds for data reading and writing (up to 7000 MB/s), reduced data latency, improved resistance to physical impacts, and minimal power usage.

Data Storage Management in an SSD

Data on SSDs is kept in NAND flash cells as electronic signals, and it is written and read electronically. This structure allows efficient data access and management under normal conditions.

However, when an SSD becomes dead or corrupted, the data inside can become completely inaccessible in File Explorer. Some data blocks may remain recoverable, but doing this often requires professional recovery software.

When an SSD fails, there are often signs.

Symptoms of a Corrupted or Dead SSD

The common signs for a dead SSD include:

• Poor Performance: Significant delays can occur during data read/write tasks, application launches, or system startup.
• Inaccessibility: Files or directories may become unreachable or completely vanish.
• Unrecognized Drive: The SSD is not recognized by the operating system or within the BIOS/UEFI settings.
• System Errors: Frequent system crashes, unexpected computer restarts, or Blue Screen of Death on Windows sometimes indicate disk problems.

This brings up some crucial questions: What causes an SSD to become dead, and what are the steps to recover data from a dead SSD? Read on to get the answer.

Why Does SSD Become Dead/Failed/Crashed

SSD corruption or failure can occur from various factors. Below are some common reasons for SSD failure:

• Wear and Tear of Hardware: SSDs rely on NAND flash memory, which has a limited number of write cycles. As time passes, this can lead to issues with wear-leveling and data corruption.
• Unexpected Shutdowns: Sudden power interruptions during data transmission can cause files or partitions to become corrupted.
• File System Issues: Improper formatting, malware infections, or system crashes can lead to errors in the file system.
• Firmware Problems: Outdated or faulty firmware can impair SSD performance or cause detection issues.
• Controller Malfunction: If the SSD controller fails, the drive becomes unusable.
• Overheating: Excessive temperatures can harm the internal components of the SSD, resulting in poor performance or failure.
• Bad Blocks: Bad blocks are sections of the SSD that can no longer store data. Damaged NAND cells result in read/write problems.
• Physical Damage: Drops, water exposure, or electrical shorts can render the SSD unusable.

Without further ado, let’s talk about how to recover data from a dead SSD in Windows.

How to Recover Data From a Dead SSD

The right recovery method depends mainly on whether Windows can detect the SSD.

In general, you can recover dead or failed SSD data with data recovery software when the drive is still accessible to the computer. If the SSD has serious physical damage or remains undetected, professional recovery may be necessary.

If you prefer following a video to recover data from a failed SSD, you can watch this video:

Recover Data From a Logically Failing SSD

If Windows can detect the SSD, data recovery software is usually the first option to try because it can scan the accessible storage and locate lost, deleted, or inaccessible files without requiring you to format the drive first.

MiniTool Power Data Recovery can scan SSDs and recover files when the drive remains accessible to the computer.

MiniTool Power Data Recovery FreeClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

Connect the failed SSD using a SATA to USB adapter or connect the SSD internally to your computer, and recover files on the crashed SSD using MiniTool Power Data Recovery by following these steps:

Step 1: Open the software to access its main interface, where you can view all partitions that it can recognize under Logical Drives. Hover over the SSD partition and click Scan to start scanning.

If you want to scan the whole SSD, go to the Devices tab.

Wait for the entire process to complete to achieve optimal SSD data recovery results.

Step 2: By default, all discovered files are organized by their paths under the Path section. You can navigate through each path to locate the files you need.

If there is a large number of scanned files, you can switch to the Type tab. In this section, you can view files sorted by file type.

Utilize Filter or Search to quickly locate your desired files, and use Preview to verify their contents.

Step 3: Choose the files you wish to recover. After that, click the Save button to proceed.

Step 4: Select a location to store the recovered files.

Step 5: Click OK to begin saving the selected files.

Now, you can go to the save location to find your recovered files.

Recover Data From a Physically Damaged SSD

If the SSD is not detected by Windows or BIOS/UEFI, software-based recovery may not be possible. The problem could be related to hardware, firmware, connection, power, or controller issues.

If the SSD has suffered physical damage or contains highly important files, stop repeated repair attempts and consider contacting a professional data recovery service.

Special Situation: PC Won’t Boot Due to a Dead SSD

When your SSD is the system disk and has failed, the computer may not start in the usual way.

There’s no need to panic. MiniTool Power Data Recovery Bootable Edition can assist you in retrieving files from a non-booting computer.

You can use the MiniTool bootable edition to create a bootable USB drive, and then change your computer settings to start from that bootable USB disk.

Once that’s done, you’ll be presented with the main interface of MiniTool Power Data Recovery. It allows you to scan the malfunctioning SSD and recover data following the universal steps detailed in the earlier section.

How to Fix a Dead SSD in Windows

After rescuing your data, you can utilize the following techniques to repair the dead SSD.

These solutions apply to various scenarios. If you’re unsure about the cause of your SSD problem, you can simply try each of these methods until you discover the one that works for you.

Method 1. Run CHKDSK

If your SSD has become corrupted and unreadable, CHKDSK might be able to identify and fix the problem. It is used to check and repair file system errors on your disk.

Here’s the breakdown on how to run CHKDSK:

Step 1: Run Command Prompt as administrator.

Step 2: Type the following command: chkdsk /f /x H:, replacing H with the actual drive letter of the SSD. Then, press Enter to run the command.

Step 3: Allow the process to complete fully. This tool is capable of detecting and automatically resolving the issues it finds.

If this tool doesn’t find any file system issues, jump to the next method.

Method 2. Update the SSD Firmware

If the SSD firmware is outdated, your SSD may not function properly. You can follow these steps to update the SSD firmware:

Step 1: Press Windows + X to open the WinX menu, then select Device Manager.

Step 2: Expand Disk drives, right-click the target SSD, and choose Properties.

Step 3: In the pop-up window, switch to Details, expand Property, and select Hardware Ids. Note one value for the SSD.

Step 4: Open your web browser, such as Chrome or Edge, and search for the hardware ID. Then, visit the manufacturer’s official firmware update page.

Step 5: Download the firmware and run the setup to install the latest version for your SSD.

After completing these steps, check whether the SSD is functioning properly.

If there are no improvements, try updating the SSD driver.

Method 3. Update the SSD Driver

Similar to firmware, faulty or outdated SSD drivers can also trigger SSD failure or corruption. Follow these steps to update your SSD drivers:

Step 1: Search for Device Manager in the Windows search box and press Enter.

Step 2: Expand the Disk drives category, then right-click the target SSD and select Update driver.

Step 3: In the following interface, click Search automatically for drivers and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the driver update.

After updating the SSD driver, you can check if the drive can run normally. If not, you can try the next solution.

Method 4. Use the Power Cycle Method

If your SSD is corrupted or fails due to a sudden power outage, a power cycle can help restore it to normal operation.

Many Reddit users have reported this method as particularly useful for fixing a dead SSD, as it essentially resets its internal components.

Here’s how to fix a dead and undetected SSD:

Step 1: Unplug the SSD’s data cable, but do not unplug the power cable.

Step 2: Turn on the power for at least half an hour. After half an hour, turn off the power for about 30 seconds.

Step 3: Now, turn the power back on for another half an hour.

Step 4: Turn the power off again for 30 seconds. After turning the power back on, reconnect the data cable.

You can try this method several times. If it still doesn’t work, consider formatting your SSD to fix it.

Method 5. Format the SSD

If all else fails, you can try repairing the dead/failed SSD by formatting it.

Formatting is inherently a data-destructive process, so before proceeding, you should confirm that all data has been recovered.

The simple way to format a hard drive is using the File Explorer:

Step 1: Press Win + E to open the File Explorer, then go to This PC.

Step 2: Locate and right-click your problematic SSD, then select Format.

Step 3: Assign the parameters like the file system and volume label. You can select the Quick Format option to format it quickly. If you want to perform a deep format, deselect it.

Step 4: Click the Start button to continue.

To Sum Up

You may be able to recover data from a dead SSD if Windows can detect it. Use data recovery software before trying repairs. If the SSD is not detected or has physical damage, consider professional recovery.

After securing your files, try CHKDSK, update the firmware or driver, power cycle the SSD, or format it. If Windows cannot boot, MiniTool Power Data Recovery Bootable Edition can help recover your files.

If you encounter issues while using MiniTool software, contact us via [email protected].