With their lightning-fast speeds and exceptional durability, solid-state drives (SSDs) are quickly replacing traditional hard disk drives (HDDs) in many applications. In fact, the SSD market is projected to reach a valuation exceeding $125 billion by 2026, though the market for HDDs is also growing thanks to skyrocketing demand in data centers.
Of course, no data storage technology is perfect. Below, we’ll discuss how certain aspects of SSD architecture can impact data recovery efforts — and provide a basic overview of the techniques that engineers can use to restore data.
If you’ve lost data from an SSD, hard drive, or any other device, schedule a risk-free evaluation or call 1-800-237-4200 to speak with an expert.
SSD Architecture and Data Recovery
With a conventional HDD, data is typically recoverable after files are deleted. The data still exists on the magnetized platters; engineers simply need to restore access and reconstruct the file.
SSDs are inherently more complex, and they employ sophisticated techniques to optimize performance and longevity. Unfortunately, those same techniques can create challenges for data recovery engineers:
- Wear Leveling: SSDs distribute data evenly across all memory cells to prevent premature wear and tear. This process, while beneficial for the drive’s lifespan, can scatter data fragments, which makes file recovery more difficult.
- TRIM Command: When a file is deleted on an SSD, the TRIM command informs the drive to erase the associated data blocks, making them available for reuse. This can lead to the permanent loss of deleted data, complicating recovery efforts. Learn more about the TRIM command.
- Encryption: Many SSDs utilize hardware-based encryption to protect data. Without the correct encryption keys, accessing and recovering data becomes virtually impossible.
- Controller Chip Failures: The controller chip manages all operations on an SSD. If it fails, the entire drive can become inaccessible. Data recovery requires specialized tools in these instances.
Technologies for SSD Data Recovery
While they’re relatively reliable, SSDs can fail due to sudden power loss, firmware issues, and normal wear and tear. And while SSDs are durable, their memory cells have a finite lifespan; too many write cycles can lead to cell degradation (and data loss).
Recovering data from SSDs demands specialized expertise and tools. Except in highly specific circumstances, commercial data recovery software isn’t effective. SSDs need to be treated with specialized processes designed for their architecture.
Those processes might include:
- Firmware Analysis and Repair: Examining and potentially fixing the firmware to bypass access barriers or address corruption issues.
- NAND Flash Chip-off Recovery: If the controller or firmware is badly damaged, directly accessing the NAND flash chips and extracting data using special equipment.
- Metadata Reconstruction: Rebuilding essential metadata that may have been lost or damaged, helping to organize and access the data.
- Advanced Data Mapping and Carving: Analyzing raw data patterns and structures to identify and extract files even in the absence of complete file system information. This is most commonly associated with forensic data recovery.
If you encounter data loss on an SSD, avoid do-it-yourself attempts (learn why DIY data recovery is generally a bad idea).
Expert Resources for SSD Data Recovery
At Datarecovery.com, we maintain high success rates for SSDs, and our engineers have developed proprietary techniques for handling common failure scenarios. If you’ve lost data due to an SSD failure, we’re here to help.
Call 1-800-237-4200 to speak with an expert or submit a case online for a free estimate.
