SSD repair - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: karamba
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2020, 06:37:22 pm
content: Someone brought me an eSATA SSD from Dell XPS laptop that stopped being recognized by BIOS. They replaced it with a new SSD but want to save the data. It is mainly family photos so do not grant $2000+ fee that a business that specializes in data retrieval wants. I myself do not have the experience and equipment to try to move the chips to another board. What are the options ? Maybe someone knows a shop that does not charge a hand and a leg for this ?

author: Jeroen3
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2020, 06:54:28 pm
content: Impossible. For $2000 you can't even buy the software required. NAND recovery is very difficult.

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2020, 07:00:16 pm
content: and everything almost inside is encrypted. even if you move the chips, you won't be able to read anything but garbage.

author: rmel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2020, 08:03:03 pm
content: Quote from: kripton2035 on June 08, 2020, 07:00:16 pmTheoretically speaking, would it be possible to transplant the chips to a drive of the same model and be able to access the data? Just thinking out loud, if all the data needed to decrypt the data (encryption keys, etc) on the chips is located on the chips themselves and nothing is left on the old drive (in the controller perhaps or some kind of support ram/eeprom), it might be possible to extract that data?

author: Rasz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2020, 08:14:47 pm
content: Sure, if all the chips, including controller, are fully operational. This would happen if:- drive failed mechanically, bad connector, cracked solder balls- fuse, and only the fuse blew (haha)- one of the caps on the drive shorted

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2020, 08:24:38 pm
content: Quote from: kripton2035 on June 08, 2020, 07:00:16 pmAs far as I'm aware, most models don't encrypt data unless instructed to do so. That being said, desoldering chips and such is an absolute last resort.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2020, 08:26:04 pm
content: Does it being an eSATA SSD mean it's an external SSD? Does it respond to other systems at all? Did you try removing it from its case?

author: Syntax Error
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2020, 09:02:50 pm
content: Do you have the original SSD that was - I assume - inside the external eSATA case? If so, what is the make and model? A photo of the SSD to help answer your question?

author: rmel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2020, 09:06:37 pm
content: Quote from: Rasz on June 08, 2020, 08:14:47 pmWith my luck, I would only discover this after I transplanted the chips...

author: karamba
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2020, 09:15:38 pm
content: Quote from: rmel on June 08, 2020, 08:03:03 pmAs far as I know the encryption keys are stored in the controller. So of course if I tried to move the chips that would involve moving the controller too.

author: karamba
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2020, 09:18:41 pm
content: Quote from: Syntax Error on June 08, 2020, 09:02:50 pmWhy would you assume that a laptop ssd would be store in an external storage, See the OP

author: fzabkar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2020, 09:25:11 pm
content: Quote from: Mr. Scram on June 08, 2020, 08:24:38 pmAIUI most models now encrypt the data by default. The encryption key is stored within the controller. The data are decrypted transparently on the fly without the user realising that this is happening. The only time the user gets involved is when they set a password. This password encrypts the key. The SSD can be cryptographically erased in an instant by throwing away the original key and creating a new one.

author: fzabkar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2020, 09:31:47 pm
content: Quote from: karamba on June 08, 2020, 06:37:22 pmYou need to determine whether the problem is at the hardware or firmware level. Most SSDs become unresponsive as a result of firmware corruption (Flash Translation Layer), or a bad NAND chip. Since the FTL is stored in NAND, there is no point in transferring chips to another board. The best you can hope for is that the SSD has an easily solvable power fault, either in the protection circuitry or in the DC-DC converters or load switches.If you can upload detailed photos of each side of the PCB, I can help you to measure the voltage test points.I have compiled a database of ICs:http://www.users.on.net/~fzabkar/Datasheets/DATAURLS.HTM

author: Syntax Error
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2020, 09:32:55 pm
content: I thought byeSATAthe disk was connected via anexternalSATA port?So it's just the SSD drive. What kind? M2.5 / M2 drive?Anyway, good luck hot-air desoldering those chips. What ever they are.

author: rmel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2020, 09:46:48 pm
content: Quote from: fzabkar on June 08, 2020, 09:25:11 pmSeems that's not a reliable assumption:https://www.stationx.net/think-your-ssd-offers-rock-solid-encryption-heres-why-its-time-to-think-again/Here's a quote from the article:QuoteQuote

author: Rasz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2020, 04:26:22 am
content: Quote from: rmel on June 08, 2020, 09:46:48 pmNAND management involves data whitening, scrambling to get rid of bad patterns (like in Ethernet, or PCIE). Nowadays maybe to cut costs [you already have AES block in silicon] most controllers simply encrypt all data all the time to ensure fully random distribution.https://joshuawise.com/projects/ndfrecoveryhttps://superuser.com/questions/986387/why-does-my-ssd-internally-encrypt-data-even-without-a-password-set

author: rmel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2020, 04:51:31 am
content: Thanks for the link. I've added that to my reading list.