How To Fix a Corrupted SSD and Recover Data

SSDs (Solid-State Drives) are the upgraded versions of traditional hard drives. These modern data storage solutions are increasingly outperforming HDDs regarding power efficiency, reading/writing capabilities, speed, and durability.

However, like their predecessors, SSDs aren't resilient to common computer problems like data loss and file corruption. Don't worry if you suspect that your SSD might be malfunctioning, damaged, or corrupted.

You can still recover your data from a corrupted SSD, but only if you take timely action. This article will introduce you to signs of SSD corruption and the top methods to help you fix your corrupted SSD and retrieve your data.

How To Recognize a Corrupted SSD

SSDs are storage media (flash devices) that rely on integrated circuits to operate. Because of that, they aren't immune to malfunctions due to power fluctuations and surges. Though more durable than traditional hard drives, SSDs aren't resilient to corruption or physical damage. A corrupted or damaged SSD will render your data inaccessible.

It can also prevent your PC from booting due to file corruption and other factors. Since a corrupted SSD can cause you to lose precious data, here are the most common symptoms of SSD malfunction that might indicate that you should repair your hard drive.

Symptom 1. Different Error Messages

Your SSD may need intervention if you keep seeing error messages such as:

• No bootable medium;
• No bootable device;
• Your PC won't boot.

Your PC will prompt you with these messages when something is wrong with your SSD. These messages clearly indicate SSD malfunction, telling you it's time to repair your corrupted SSD and create data backups.

Symptom 2. The Formatting Message Keeps Showing

The “You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it” error prompt is a common sign of a failing SSD or SSD corruption. If you keep seeing messages like this one, take action as soon as possible.

Symptom 3. The Device Does Not Recognize the SSD

If your PC can't recognize the SSD, its structure has probably become unreadable due to SSD corruption, physical damage, or hardware failure. In such situations, the Windows BIOS can't detect the SSD.

Check your SSD connection with your PC. If the SSD still doesn't show up in Disk Management, File Explorer, and This PC, it needs immediate repairs.

Symptom 4. The File System Is Corrupted

SSDs use default file systems like FAT32 and exFAT. If they become RAW (your PC can't recognize the file structure on your SSD) or corrupted, your PC won't be able to read the information on your hard drive and will prompt you with an error message.

Symptom 5. The SSD Is Read-Only

SSD corruption can cause your hard drive to enter a locked read-only mode. The corruption tampers with critical sectors on your SSD, forcing it to exceed its lifetime write cycles. When your SSD becomes read-only, it prevents you from modifying or accessing your files and saving new data.

Symptom 6. System Crashes

Unexpected system crashes, sudden freezes, and frequent appearance of blue or black screen errors are common signs of an impending SSD failure. Either you're dealing with SSD corruption, or your drive is failing.

Symptom 7. Disappearing or Corrupted Files

If you can't find your files in their location or some of your data has suddenly disappeared, you're probably dealing with SSD corruption and failure.

Symptom 8. Performance Issues

A corrupted SSD will become excessively slow. Your SSD needs repair if you start noticing significant performance issues and slowdowns.

How To Recover Data From a Corrupted SSD

Recovering data from a corrupted or damaged SSD can be challenging due to the complex architecture and technology used in these drives. SSDs use NAND flash memory to store data, which has a limited number of write/erase cycles and can cause data corruption over time. Additionally, the TRIM function in SSDs helps maintain the drive's performance by marking unused data blocks for deletion, making data recovery even more difficult.

However, it is still possible to recover data from a corrupted SSD with the help of professional data recovery software. Wondershare Recoverit is among the most recommended software for corrupted SSD data recovery. Whether you lost your files due to a system crash, virus attack, SSD corruption, unintentional formatting, or accidental deletion, this program will help you restore your storage medium and retrieve your data.

Here are the steps to recover data from a corrupted SSD using Wondershare Recoverit:

Case 1: The SSD is corrupted but the PC still works

1. Download, install, and launch Wondershare Recoverit on your PC.
2. Choose the Hard Drives and Locations from the main interface.
3. You will see a list of available storage devices. Click the corrupted SSD from the list to initiate the scanning process.

   

4. Recoverit will scan the SSD to find all recoverable files. This process may take some time depending on the size and condition of the drive.

   

5. Once the scan is complete, you can preview and select the files you want to recover. Click on the Recover button to save the selected files to a safe location on your computer or another storage device.

   

Note:Do not save the recovered files back to the corrupted SSD as it may cause further data loss.

Case 2: The SSD is corrupted, and the PC becomes unbootable.

How To Fix a Corrupted SSD: Top 7 Methods

After a successful corrupted SSD data recovery, you can try the following methods to repair your SSD and regain its usability.

Way 1. Connect SSD to Another Device or Port

You can fix an unreadable, undetectable, or corrupted SSD by connecting it to another port or PC. Power off your PC and disconnect the SSD cable. Connect your hard drive to another port and turn your PC back on. If your device can't detect or read your SSD, connect it to another PC.

Way 2. Update the SSD's Drivers

Outdated or defective SSD drivers can cause problems, including corruption, failure, and unresponsiveness. Here's how to update your SSD drivers:

1. Go to the Windows search bar and type Device Manager.

   

2. Double-click Disk drives to expand the section.

   

3. Right-click your SSD and click Update driver.

   

Restart your PC to complete the process and apply the modifications.

Way 3. Update the SSD's Firmware

The corrupted SSD firmware can render the drive inaccessible and tamper with its read/write functionality. You can solve SSD issues by updating your firmware. Follow the steps below:

1. Type Device Manager in the Windows search bar to open it.

   

2. Click Disk drives to expand the tab, right-click your SSD, and choose Properties.

   

3. Navigate to Details > Hardware Ids.

   

4. Click OK to save your changes and run the SSD firmware update wizard to update your SSD firmware.

Way 4. Check and Repair Bad Sectors on SSD Using CMD (CHKDSK)

SSD corruption can occur due to drive failure, unknown file system errors, and bad SSD sectors. Command Prompt (CMD) can help you fix these problems. Follow the steps below.

1. Go to the Windows search bar, type cmd, and select Run as administrator.

   

2. In the Administrator Command Prompt window, type the chkdsk / f c: command and press Enter (replace “c” with your SSD drive letter).

   

3. Allow Command Prompt to scan your SSD and fix bad sectors.

After CMD finishes the scan, your SSD should be accessible.

Way 5. Repair the Corrupted SSD Using the Open-Source TestDisk Tool

TestDisk is an excellent open-source SSD corruption recovery tool that can help you repair your hard drive, fix lost partitions, and turn non-booting disks into bootable media.

Follow the steps below to repair your corrupted SSD partitions using TestDisk:

1. Download, install, or extract the tool, and click the testdisk_win file to launch TestDisk on your PC.
2. In the terminal home screen, select Create and press Enter. Find your SSD on the device list and select Proceed.

   

3. Select the Intel partition table to instruct TestDisk to scan and analyze your system partition (SSD). Press Enter to confirm.

   

4. Select Analyze to analyze your SSD and search for lost partitions. Press Enter to confirm.

   

5. TestDisk will display the detected partitions. Select the one you wish to restore and hit Enter.

   

6. Select Deeper Search to scan, analyze, and repair the selected SSD partition.

   

7. When TestDisk completes the scan, choose the partition you want to fix and recover and follow the instructions.
8. Hit the P key to browse all the files on the partition.
9. Copy the files you want to restore by hitting the C key.

Your lost files are available if you see the Copy Done message.

Way 6. Repair the Corrupted SSD Using a Third-Party Tool

If these methods don't work, use a third-party SSD repair tool like AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard to fix a damaged or corrupted SSD. AOMEI is a hard disk repair tool you can download for free.

Pro tip: If you can't run Windows on your PC due to the corrupted or damaged SSD, load AOMEI from a bootable USB drive or external disk. Follow these steps to fix your SSD using AOMEI:

1. Download, install, and run AOMEI on your computer.
2. Right-click your SSD and choose Advanced > Check Partition.

   

3. AOMEI offers three ways to inspect the selected SSD partition for errors. Select the “Check partition and fix errors in this partition by using chkdsk.exe” option to check and fix bad SSD sectors.

   

4. Wait for AOMEI to complete the repair process.
5. You can also test your SSD for bad sectors by navigating to Test > Disk Surface Test.

In addition to this option, AOMEI can rebuild the MBR (Master Boot Record) on your SSD drive, reformat damaged SSDs, or completely erase all data on your hard drive.

Way 7. Reformat the Corrupted SSD

Finally, Reformatting can fix a corrupted SSD by erasing and organizing the data on the drive, addressing issues such as bad sectors, file system errors, fragmentation, viruses or malware, and software conflicts. By creating a new file system and marking bad sectors as unusable, reformatting can help avoid further corruption, improve overall performance, and restore the drive to its original state.

However, reformatting will erase all data on the SSD, so it's essential to recover and back up important files before proceeding. Additionally, reformatting does not guarantee a fix for a corrupted SSD, as hardware issues or other factors may not be resolved through this process.

Here's how to reformat your SSD on Windows PC:

1. Type Disk Management in the Windows search bar and click Open.

   

2. Right-click the SSD drive or partition you wish to format and click Format.

   

3. Tick the Perform a quick format checkbox and click OK to format your SSD.

   

Conclusion

Though SSDs use superior technology that makes them faster, more durable, and more efficient storage media than traditional hard disks, they aren't immune to SSD failure, damage, or corruption. Though fixing corrupted or damaged SSDs sounds like rocket science, trust us when we say it isn't.

All you need to recover data from dead or corrupted SSDs is a bit of tech-savvy knowledge and proper guidance. With that in mind, this article should help you fix a corrupted SSD drive and recover your files without breaking a sweat.

In addition, you can resort to using third-party data recovery tools like Wondershare Recoverit and AOMEI to fix corrupted SSDs, recover your files, and create data backups.