X25-E 32GB not accessible. Can I revive it?

JThys — Fri, 13 Dec 2013 15:29:11 GMT

Bought this SSD somewhere in 2008; https://docs.google.com/a/driebit.nl/file/d/0B_N7iUO937DDSXEwRmVYVlFsVlU/edit CameraZOOM-20131210145440400.jpg - Google Drive

Has been in use for a desktop machine as its main boot/system drive, dual-booting Windows XP x64 and Linux Xubuntu x64. Was a pretty expensive SLC SSD back then, I expected it to be longer lasting than any of my other HDDs because of that. Seems to be a huge misconception:

A week ago it suddenly froze my OS. Had to do a power-cycle reboot, and then this PC halted with "Verifying DMI Pool Data" and showed nothing after that. Took me quite a while to figure out it was just the Intel SSD, and not the BIOS, controller, mainboard or OS/installation that was at fault, but I'm no novice (fixing drives and PC/server troubleshooting is part of my job), so drive failures are not new to me. I know how to try and access them, I'm a paying spinrite user ( https://www.grc.com/sr/spinrite.htm GRC | Hard drive data recovery software ).

What *is* new to me is that I'm simply entirely locked out of accessing the SSD. The BIOS does see the name, still, and also did so in another system with a different BIOS/mainboard etc.

I tried accessing the SSD using the Intel SSD Tools, tried updating firmware, but it shows what is seen in these screenshots:

https://docs.google.com/a/driebit.nl/file/d/0B_N7iUO937DDZlUzeVYzV0Mxa1k/edit CameraZOOM-20131210171905513.jpg - Google Drive

https://docs.google.com/a/driebit.nl/file/d/0B_N7iUO937DDekg3eW11c3VaU1k/edit CameraZOOM-20131210171324085.jpg - Google Drive

Even SpinRite does not see anything more on it, which is quite exceptional indeed.

Sure, I have a backup of the most important data that was on it, but it's still really annoying to have to just consider the SSD to be fatally broken.

To be perfectly honest, I have NOT experienced a 100% inaccessible disk EVER BEFORE in my 30 years computer experience. I could always at least get some data back from it, or in extreme cases replace parts on it and get data back that way. In this case I have no idea where to even start.

I'm at a total loss here. Anything else I can attempt to revive the SSD without entirely destroying the hardware? (Warranty is already expired anyway.)

What is mostly disturbing to me is the fact that it has only lasted this long. I have really NEVER seen a HDD fail on me this soon. The PC it was in has not been used that often. It was powered on for only 24 hours a week, maximum. (S.M.A.R.T. data from a HDD in the same system, bought at the same time, proves that..)

OK, Intel, for your sake, I hope this *is* exceptional, but for now I'm not inclined to buy any SSD made by Intel again.

I'm also blogging this publically, because honestly, in my opinion, the SSD hype is a little too positive with regards to reliability and MTBF.

Re: X25-E 32GB not accessible. Can I revive it?

Jose_H_Intel1 — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 19:06:34 GMT

I am really sorry for the issue.

At this point we can only suggest taking the drive to a data recovery service. Below we have two options but you may choose any other one.

http://software.intel.com/partner/search-detail?companyguid=80ade2e2-0a7d-e111-a1da-001a4b33b648 http://software.intel.com/partner/search-detail?companyguid=80ade2e2-0a7d-e111-a1da-001a4b33b648

http://software.intel.com/partner/search-detail?companyguid=1f3707f6-b3bc-e111-ab57-001a4b33b648 http://software.intel.com/partner/search-detail?companyguid=1f3707f6-b3bc-e111-ab57-001a4b33b648

NOTE: These links are being offered for your convenience and should not be viewed as an endorsement by Intel of the content, products, or services offered there.

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X25-E 32GB not accessible. Can I revive it?

Re: X25-E 32GB not accessible. Can I revive it?