SanDisk Extreme Portable SSDs offer high-speed storage for personal and professional use, but sudden power loss during a write operation can cause severe issues, including file system corruption, firmware failure, and complete data inaccessibility.
This case study details how we successfully recovered personal data from a SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD that appeared completely blank after a power failure during a file transfer.
As Ireland’s oldest and most experienced data recovery company, we used chip-level NAND extraction and SSD firmware repair techniques to restore the lost data.
The Challenge: SSD Appears Blank After Power Loss During Write Operation
A client contacted us after their SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD became unreadable following an unexpected power failure. The reported issues included:
- Drive appearing empty or unallocated in Windows/macOS.
- No files visible, despite the SSD showing as detected.
- SSD not allowing new data to be written.
- Critical personal documents, photos, and backups missing.
Since power loss during a write operation can lead to NAND-level corruption, a chip-level recovery approach was necessary.
Diagnosis & Evaluation
When the SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD arrived at our cleanroom facility, we conducted a full diagnostic scan. Our findings:
- Firmware corruption – The sudden power failure caused the SSD controller to lose track of stored data, making it appear blank.
- Corrupt file system metadata – The partition table was missing, preventing normal file access.
- No physical damage – The NAND memory chips were intact, meaning data recovery was highly possible.
Since standard recovery tools could not detect lost data, we used chip-off NAND extraction to retrieve it.
The Recovery Process
1. Cloning & Imaging the SSD to Prevent Further Data Loss
To ensure a safe recovery, we:
- Created a sector-by-sector clone of the SSD.
- Used specialized imaging tools to bypass firmware-level errors.
2. Extracting Data from NAND Flash Chips
Since firmware corruption was preventing normal file access, we:
- Accessed raw NAND memory using chip-off recovery techniques.
- Rebuilt the file system structure manually.
- Recovered lost partition tables and indexed missing files.
3. Verifying & Restoring Personal Data
Once data extraction was complete, we:
- Checked all recovered documents, photos, and backups for integrity.
- Rebuilt partially corrupted files using forensic-level data recovery tools.
- Transferred the restored data to a secure external drive for the client.
The Results: 100% Data Recovery Success
Thanks to our chip-level NAND extraction and firmware repair techniques, we successfully recovered 100% of the client’s personal data, including:
✅ Family photos and videos
✅ Personal documents and work files
✅ Backup archives and digital records
The client was relieved to have all their files restored, avoiding permanent data loss.
Why Choose Us?
With 25 years of experience and tens of thousands of successful recoveries, we are the leading SSD data recovery specialists in Ireland and the UK. Our expertise includes:
✔ Power failure SSD recovery & NAND flash extraction
✔ Firmware repair for SanDisk, Samsung, and WD SSDs
✔ Corrupt file system & partition table restoration
✔ Secure & confidential personal data retrieval
If your SSD appears blank, has lost data after a power failure, or is not being recognized, stop using it immediately and contact us for professional data recovery.