i have a complex issue, anyone with knowledge on SSD components?

[aerosmiths]

this is just my last shot, not sure if there are hardware engineers lurking around in this subforum, but just trying all means on this complex issue.

my sis has this acer s7-392 laptop. it has been confirmed that the ssd suddenly spoilt and pc cannot boot. there is critical data in the ssd.

the ssd is called kingston smsr150s3/256g. it is a very interesting and special ssd because it is proprietory to this acer laptop. it is a 256gb mSATA ssd, but it is made with 2 x 128gb subunits on a single PCB, one on each side. both the 128gb subunits are in RAID 0 from the manufacturer.

in bios, it is suppose to detect 2 ssd (128gb each) if it was working well. but now it is detecting only 1 of the 128gb ssd. since the other is missing, the raid array fails and thus we cannot boot.

i dismantled the laptop and plug out ssd and clean it. i then realised the battery was bloated, (take note the battery is working fine) thus i suspect the battery partially damaged state might have caused some capacitors in the ssd PCB to blow or something. anyway, i took out the battery and plug back the ssd, now i boot the laptop without the battery, but still only detect 1 of the ssd subunit.

i googled about this special ssd, if you want to see more info, here, here and here.

basically, from the link, some tried to mount the ssd using an external msata adapter to usb, but they only can see 1 ssd due to some port multiplying thing used by this special ssd.

my guess is that since 1 ssd can still be detected, there might be still some way to salvage the other spoilt side. because usually when an ssd or hdd dies, at least bios can detect it but not use it. this one is cannot detect thus might be something on the board spoilt and not the flash memory itself. i tried to look for capacitors on the pcb but i can't seem to identify which are the capacitors. could anyone with the knowledge help me identify which are the capacitors or other possible components on the ssd board that might have been damaged such that the ssd could not be detected by bios. i have placed the ssd back in the laptop so i did not get a picture but the one in this link is very similar. perhaps you guys would be able to decipher it.
https://www.techpowerup.com/177578/lite-on-develops-strange-new-msata-ssd-design-for-acer

anyway, i know the chances of repairing the ssd is almost 0 but just wanna try one last shot here before i break the news to her.

thanks.

 

[wwenze]

Go into a very very cold room. Like 15 degrees if your aircon allows. With your laptop cover off and have a fan blowing at the SSD to keep it cold. Then power on.

 

[aerosmiths]

Go into a very very cold room. Like 15 degrees if your aircon allows. With your laptop cover off and have a fan blowing at the SSD to keep it cold. Then power on.

ok, i will try that tmr when i get a fan from office. i did hear of such tricks like putting hard drive in freezer or baking GPU in oven etc... hehehe, didn't know ssd have a temperature trick too. thanks.

 

[hexanol]

do you need the data in the ssd or do you need to repair the ssd?

 

[jtjt00]

do you need the data in the ssd or do you need to repair the ssd?

TS mentioned critical data in first post. This job is best suited for the data recovery pro.

 

[aerosmiths]

do you need the data in the ssd or do you need to repair the ssd?

TS mentioned critical data in first post. This job is best suited for the data recovery pro.

yup, data is what i want. this is just my last attempt.
if nothing works, then i just keep it till one day i can get experts to recover it.

 

[ZrE0_Cha0s]

but im wondering if acer side have anyone that can help u on this matter?

 

[hexanol]

if you plug it as a secondary device in a PC, does it get detected? you may need converter or adapter for it.

 

[aerosmiths]

but im wondering if acer side have anyone that can help u on this matter?

acer side is u know la, template kind of reply from oem. they say no more warranty. then they say ssd must replace.

if you plug it as a secondary device in a PC, does it get detected? you may need converter or adapter for it.

well, i don't mind trying but i think it is useless cause some already tried it and said only one side will get mounted.

 

[concept_fuel]

Your ssd is indeed a speacial one and is raid 0 in the hardware level. Pls do not mount it on other external msata to usb dive as that can corrupt the ssd.
Replace with a new battery for your acer laptop and try below....my guess is not a hardware issue but seems to be the laptop not reconizing it due to an unexpected shutdown.

"After an unexpected shutdown on a system with Solid State Drive (SSD), you may see a message No bootable device -- Please restart system. This problem occurs when the table of content of the SSD is corrupted due to the unexpected shutdown. It can be corrected automatically by the SSD using the backup of its table of contents.

SOLUTION

Use the following steps to synchronize the tables of the SSD:

Restart the system. As soon as the first logo screen appears, immediately press the F2 key, or the DEL key if you have a desktop, to enter the BIOS.
Leave the system running for approximately 15 minutes.
After 15 minutes, arrow over to the Exit menu and then select Exit Saving Changes and press Enter.
Note: Do not use the power button to exit the CMOS.
Press Enter again to save changes and exit.
If the tables have resynchronized, Windows will start the next time the system is powered on.

 

[aerosmiths]

Your ssd is indeed a speacial one and is raid 0 in the hardware level. Pls do not mount it on other external msata to usb dive as that can corrupt the ssd.
Replace with a new battery for your acer laptop and try below....my guess is not a hardware issue but seems to be the laptop not reconizing it due to an unexpected shutdown.

"After an unexpected shutdown on a system with Solid State Drive (SSD), you may see a message No bootable device -- Please restart system. This problem occurs when the table of content of the SSD is corrupted due to the unexpected shutdown. It can be corrected automatically by the SSD using the backup of its table of contents.

SOLUTION

Use the following steps to synchronize the tables of the SSD:

Restart the system. As soon as the first logo screen appears, immediately press the F2 key, or the DEL key if you have a desktop, to enter the BIOS.
Leave the system running for approximately 15 minutes.
After 15 minutes, arrow over to the Exit menu and then select Exit Saving Changes and press Enter.
Note: Do not use the power button to exit the CMOS.
Press Enter again to save changes and exit.
If the tables have resynchronized, Windows will start the next time the system is powered on.

must this be done with battery? cause my new battery still shipping. can i try without battery and just wall charger?

 

[concept_fuel]

must this be done with battery? cause my new battery still shipping. can i try without battery and just wall charger?

If your laptop can still be powered on with wall charger why not.

 

[Encrypted11]

Most laptops with removable batteries can be powered with AC only mode. You don't need the battery in if it isn't sealed.

 

[concept_fuel]

Most laptops with removable batteries can be powered with AC only mode. You don't need the battery in if it isn't sealed.

For his acer laptop it won't work without the battery in but there is a battery reset button, which has been built in by Acer.
You can find it on the backside on the left. It is a little hole with a battery symbol next to it.
Use a paper clip or something like that and push the button for about 4 seconds.

 

[Encrypted11]

For his acer laptop it won't work without the battery in but there is a battery reset button, which has been built in by Acer.
You can find it on the backside on the left. It is a little hole with a battery symbol next to it.
Use a paper clip or something like that and push the button for about 4 seconds.

Hm. You seem quite familiar with this system. Haven't owned an Acer so.

 

[aerosmiths]

For his acer laptop it won't work without the battery in but there is a battery reset button, which has been built in by Acer.
You can find it on the backside on the left. It is a little hole with a battery symbol next to it.
Use a paper clip or something like that and push the button for about 4 seconds.

i removed the internal battery already since it is bloated (but still working). the system can power on with no batteries inside, just using the power brick.

i tried in a cold room but to no avail.

i may try a freezer.