Crucial SSD Drive Failed - Can we save data.?

Alex. Here’s a tip when it comes to data recovery. Whenever you get the system to recognize the drive, immediately begin copying the files off it. The chances of the drive permanently failing are high and your goal should be to copy the files as soon as possible. It may only recognize the drive once or fail when it heats up. This is especially true for mechanical drives.

Excellent fault finding. We didn't have thermal cameras 40 years ago - but we did have freezer spray. A quick freeze and then look for what melted 🙂 And no, I can't believe it was 40 years ago either (Apple iis) 🙄

Just wanted to say thank you. I lost 2 2TB drives back in like 2016 to an unknown failure (One wouldn't spin up, another would spin up, but wouldn't mount). I kept them around hemming and hawing at the idea of sending them in, but wasn't sure what to expect in terms of success rates or cost. Today, as I am packing to move, I brought them out again and took another look into recovery when I found this video. You said "sometimes visual inspection is enough to figure it out." So I did just that and found the contacts on the board for the head and motor were conspicuously corroded. I gave them a very light and careful scrub, and the drives came back up and I am currently moving the data to a RAID setup. You just saved me a boat load of money, and allowed me to get my data back. Thanks.

Just found this channel this week and the reaction at the end when you saw that you recover the data was pure gold, you love what you're doing and it show !

Good job Alex. A quick note though, a cap is not always connected to ground. Here's a few examples: DC blocking cap for amplification input, bootstrap capacitor, cap in MOSFET snubber network, etc...

That satisfaction when things get fixed must feel incredible. Excellent video.

Good video. You have 2 x AKJ regulators on board as per your microscope inspection. The parts (cap & inductor) are symmetric in the placement. You can compare between the non-blown side of the PCB layout. L502 = L501, C514 = C507, C517 = C511.

Nice freaking work, troubleshooting and diagnostics at its best right there. The feeling in your eyes and voice when you solved it was great.

Who'd have thought a drive repair could have that much suspense?

Hi Alex, you didn't realize that there are 2 exactly the same ICs there and the schematic around them is the same but just mirrored. the value of C507 capacitor should be the same as C520. Timing (18:27) you can see well both ICs and mirrored schematic around them.

As an electronic engineer with over 30 years of experience, I can tell you - this is a great job, buddy! A thermal camera is truly a magical tool!

Love your videos! Nice to see you recover files in the end. I'm sure that's not always the case. Good work!

That screw hole not being a ground is the plot twist lol

There are 2 identical circuits right next to each other. Measure C514 to compare to C507.

Excellent video, sir! - Was hitting a wall with a customer's Crucial MX500 1TB - Drive was not recognized and would heat up very similarly as your example - With no schematics available, I was about to give up and send him to DriveSavers. But after watching you hunt down your shorted cap (C72) - I replicated your tests and bingo! - I found that C118 (on the flip side of the board) was indeed shorted to ground! - I pulled the bad cap and the drive mounted! - THANK YOU!

That smile when it worked, its the same i have when fixing my electronics. Love your work, always learning something new. Thanks.

As always, its awesome to be along for the ride in searching for what the problem is and then seeing the big smile on Alex's face when its a fix, Brilliant job! :)

That moment When you succeed at something is a moment of pure joy 21:51 is one of those moments where success is always measured by your patience

Brilliant work, Alex...you persisted when others would have just old the customer, "Sorry, the drive is dead and a dud." I salute you!

Wow, great job. After the visual inspection if it wasn't for the thermal cam I wouldn't have guessed the problem would be at the opposite side of the board. Bravo.