A customer contacted our laboratory after their 1TB NVMe SSD suddenly disappeared from the BIOS and was no longer detected by Windows 11. The drive contained several years of business accounts, CAD drawings and customer records, but showed no signs of life when connected to multiple computers.

1. Our Initial Assessment

Our engineers performed a full diagnostic examination and confirmed the SSD had suffered an electronic controller failure. The NAND memory chips were undamaged, but the failed controller prevented access to the stored data.

• SSD not detected by BIOS or Windows.
• Controller failure confirmed during diagnostics.
• NAND flash memory chips remained physically intact.
• Conventional imaging methods were not possible.

2. JTAG and Chip-Off Recovery

Because the SSD controller could no longer communicate with the NAND memory, our engineers used specialist JTAG and chip-off recovery techniques. After documenting the PCB layout, the NAND flash chips were carefully removed using professional BGA rework equipment.

Each memory chip was cleaned, tested and read individually using specialist NAND programmers. The raw memory dumps were then analysed using dedicated recovery software to identify the flash translation layer (FTL), error correction data, wear levelling and page order used by the SSD manufacturer.

3. Reconstructing the Data

Recovering data from flash memory is considerably more complex than reading a hard drive. Once the raw NAND data had been extracted, our engineers reconstructed the logical structure of the SSD before rebuilding the customer's file system.

• NAND memory chips read individually.
• Flash translation layer reconstructed.
• Wear levelling and ECC algorithms decoded.
• File system rebuilt using specialist recovery software.
• Recovered data verified before delivery.

4. Recovery Results

Despite the complete controller failure, the NAND flash memory remained intact, allowing the majority of the customer's files to be recovered successfully.

• Fault: SSD controller failure requiring JTAG and chip-off recovery
• Recovery Success: 98% of user data recovered
• Turnaround: 5 working days
• Recovery Cost: £895
• Recovered Data: CAD drawings, financial records, customer databases, emails and project files

5. What We Learned

Unlike traditional hard drives, SSDs often fail without warning. When the controller becomes damaged, the NAND memory chips may still contain all of the data, but specialist equipment is required to access it. JTAG and chip-off recovery are highly specialised laboratory procedures that should only be attempted by experienced engineers using professional recovery hardware. Attempting DIY repairs or applying heat to an SSD can permanently damage the NAND chips and significantly reduce the chances of a successful recovery.

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Further reading

SSD Not Detected in BIOS?

What Causes the UNEXPECTED_STORE_EXCEPTION Error?

Signs Your Hard Drive Is Failing