Early SSD data recovery

First and second-generation solid-state drives, from about 2008 to 2014.

Ask about data recovery Call 020 7237 6805

About these devices

The first consumer SSDs were fast, expensive and, in several cases, unreliable in ways their makers had to fix with firmware updates. Many are still in use, or sit in a drawer with the only copy of something on them.

Unlike most current SSDs, many drives of this period do not encrypt their contents internally. That leaves more recovery routes open when the controller has failed.

Known faults of the period

Wrong capacity after power loss

Some Intel 320 series drives report a size of 8MB after an unclean shutdown.

Failure at a set running time

Some Crucial m4 drives stop responding after a fixed number of hours until the firmware is updated.

Controller lock

Drives built on SandForce controllers can stop being detected without warning.

Slow-down with age

Certain drives read old data slowly, which looks like a failing drive but is a firmware matter.

Where the controller is supported, PC-3000 can access the drive in a service mode and rebuild the data. Do not run a firmware update or a secure erase tool on a drive you need data from.

Sending older storage

Do not power it up "to see if it still works". Old drives often have one start left in them.
Send any cables, power supplies, enclosures or cartridges that belong with it.
Tell us what computer and system it was used with: Windows 98, Mac OS 9, a server, a camera.
If there are several disks or drives, number them and keep them in order.

Recovery starts with a professional evaluation, charged at £94.80. It tells you what has failed and what can be recovered, and you then receive a fixed price for the recovery itself.

We collect drives and devices by insured courier from anywhere in the UK, or you can post yours tracked and insured, or bring it to the workshop in London SE1. See how to send a drive safely.

Common questions

My old SSD shows as 8MB. Is the data gone?

Not necessarily. That symptom is a known firmware fault, and the data behind it can often be recovered.

Is recovery from an old SSD easier than from a new one?

Sometimes. Older drives are less likely to encrypt their contents, but each controller family is different. The evaluation tells you.

Get a price from a technician

Tell us the make, the model and what has gone wrong. A technician replies with a price and the quickest way to get your laptop to us – normally the same working day.

020 7237 6805

Creative IT workshop
Unit 1, 80 Willow Walk, London SE1 5SY
Monday to Saturday, 9am–6pm