SSD stopped working, need to retrieve data!

[BlackLab]

Hi everyone, need some help here.

My Samsung 840 EVO 250GB SSD that was running Windows 7 x64 on my desktop unexpectedly died on me this week. It had only been in use for 8-9 months, and not even extensively.

Computer can't boot off it anymore (shows "BOOTMGR is missing" at startup), and it is not detected in BIOs either (tried different SATA ports to same result).

Connected it as an external drive to another computer, and even though it showed up as a generic USB device in Device Manager and in the taskbar notification area, it did not appear as a drive in Explorer.

Went into Disk Management, where it is listed as Disk 1, which is Unknown and Not Initialized. However, the disk space doesn't even show as unallocated space.
(This isn't mine, but basically it looks like the screenshot here.)

Tried a few programs like Partition Wizard and EaseUS recovery tool, but because there's no partition, the drive cannot even be detected by these tools.

Really need to retrieve some files off the drive, so some help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Failing that I might be desperate enough to go to a data decovery service, although it's really only a few documents I need, so not sure how worth it that will be. But any recommendations would be helpful too.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Entry Level PC]

Heng I backup my important stuff on raid 1 and external USB hdd.

You going to spend how many thousand to recover your files?
Also not guarantee they able to recover the files you need.

 

[Kennedy]

remember a forummer disabled the SMART on BIOS, booted up with new hdd as Windows and "spoilt" hdd as Secondary and then transferred all his data out.

 

[yusoffb01]

You know how to use disk management but dont know how to use backup.

Next time use Dropbox, it auto saves your work

 

[tmfwy]

remember a forummer disabled the SMART on BIOS, booted up with new hdd as Windows and "spoilt" hdd as Secondary and then transferred all his data out.

Disabling safeties is a good idea

I would do the above AFTER trying the below-mentioned:

Use a few data recovery software to scan the drive ( but only initiate repairs after you can confirm beyond reasonable doubt, what the problem is ). If you are lucky, it is just the partion table being corrupt. you ought to be able to copy out the data through the data recovery software.

If

 

[BlackLab]

You know how to use disk management but dont know how to use backup.

Next time use Dropbox, it auto saves your work

I know about Dropbox, and most of my data is actually on separate HDDs which are backed up regularly.

Just that I realised I had a handful of documents saved to this SSD which I don't have latest versions of. They're not worth thousands to me, but if I can save some time from having to rework them, I don't mind trying out some programs or paying a bit.

 

[tmfwy]

remember a forummer disabled the SMART on BIOS, booted up with new hdd as Windows and "spoilt" hdd as Secondary and then transferred all his data out.

Disabling safeties is a good idea

I would do the above AFTER trying the below-mentioned:

Use a few data recovery software to scan the drive ( but only initiate repairs after you can confirm beyond reasonable doubt, what the problem is ). If you are lucky, it is just the partion table being corrupt. you ought to be able to copy out the data through the data recovery software.

This is a one shot deal.

If you "REPAIR" yourself, data recovery just became alot harder if the sector containing data got overwritten.

if scared and data is valuable enough, get help from the professionals

 

[BlackLab]

remember a forummer disabled the SMART on BIOS, booted up with new hdd as Windows and "spoilt" hdd as Secondary and then transferred all his data out.

Disabling safeties is a good idea

I would do the above AFTER trying the below-mentioned:

Use a few data recovery software to scan the drive ( but only initiate repairs after you can confirm beyond reasonable doubt, what the problem is ). If you are lucky, it is just the partion table being corrupt. you ought to be able to copy out the data through the data recovery software.

Thanks Kennedy and tmfwy for the helpful suggestions. Will give those a try.

tmfwy, do you have any recommendations for data recovery software?
I've tried a few (Parition Magic, PhotoRec, WonderShare Data Recovery) but my drive doesn't even show up on them, unfortunately.

 

[wwenze]

Spoilt SSD lol. Gg no re. There is no hope with recovery software that you can download.

Even if you go recovery shops, better make sure they don't charge you exorbitant prices for diagnosis and then tell you it cannot be done.

The only thing you can do - SSD initialization failures can be temperature sensitive. So throw some ice onto your SSD and try to start your com. If it doesn't work go the other extreme and use hairdryer (try to hit 70 degrees). Then pray.

 

[yusoffb01]

Recuva also works if the computer can detect it

The last time I had a similar problem the ssd suddenly cannot even be detected in bios. After leaving it powered on for 1hour it can be detected but have to reformat. Still works fine now.

U can try updating the firmware using Samsung magician. 840 evo had problems on older firmware

 

[hlots123]

very very long shot, diff drive but jus try try to see... http://forum.crucial.com/t5/Crucial...-that-wouldn-t-detect-in-the-BIOS/td-p/110964

 

[tmfwy]

Spoilt SSD lol. Gg no re. There is no hope with recovery software that you can download.

Even if you go recovery shops, better make sure they don't charge you exorbitant prices for diagnosis and then tell you it cannot be done.

The only thing you can do - SSD initialization failures can be temperature sensitive. So throw some ice onto your SSD and try to start your com. If it doesn't work go the other extreme and use hairdryer (try to hit 70 degrees). Then pray.

Wwenz - Long time no see.

Temperature is also a ONE SHOT deal.
I tried it before to recover my outlook PST from a failed hdd
You only have like 5-10mins before condensation kicks in and fries the drive electronics
If doing temp stuff, do take measures to avoid condensation as much as possible..

 

[tmfwy]

Spoilt SSD lol. Gg no re. There is no hope with recovery software that you can download.

Even if you go recovery shops, better make sure they don't charge you exorbitant prices for diagnosis and then tell you it cannot be done.

The only thing you can do - SSD initialization failures can be temperature sensitive. So throw some ice onto your SSD and try to start your com. If it doesn't work go the other extreme and use hairdryer (try to hit 70 degrees). Then pray.

Wwenz - Long time no see.

Temperature is also a ONE SHOT deal.
I tried it before to recover my outlook PST from a failed hdd
You only have like 5-10mins before condensation kicks in and fries the drive electronics
If doing temp stuff, do take measures to avoid condensation as much as possible..