Crucial MX500 M.2 2280 Data Recovery

Crucial MX500 SSD data recovery service by Zero Alpha. We are experts in solving all kinds of problems related to this SSD. The mx500 is a very common and popular SSD so we are use to seeing them come in for data recovery service. Below is a list of problems we see.

1. Firmware Corruption

Firmware corruption is a frequent issue with SSDs, including the Crucial MX500. Firmware acts as the SSD's operating system, managing data storage and retrieval. If the firmware becomes corrupted due to an update failure or sudden power loss, the SSD can become unresponsive, rendering the data inaccessible.

2. Physical Damage

Despite being more robust than traditional hard drives, SSDs like the Crucial MX500 can still suffer from physical damage. This can occur due to mishandling, dropping the device, or exposure to extreme temperatures. Physical damage to the NAND chips or the controller can make data recovery a challenging process, often requiring professional intervention.

3. Bad Blocks

Bad blocks are another common problem. NAND flash memory, which is used in SSDs, has a finite number of write/erase cycles. Over time, blocks of memory can wear out and become bad. When the number of bad blocks reaches a certain threshold, it can lead to data loss and the need for recovery.

4. Electrical Issues

Electrical problems, such as power surges or fluctuations, can damage the Crucial MX500's components, leading to data inaccessibility. An SSD exposed to such issues might show signs of malfunction, such as being undetectable by the BIOS or the operating system, necessitating data recovery efforts.

5. Software Corruption

Software corruption can also pose significant problems for SSDs. Malware or viruses can corrupt the data stored on the Crucial MX500, making files unreadable or causing the entire drive to become unresponsive. Additionally, improper software updates or installations can lead to corruption of the file system, necessitating complex data recovery procedures.

6. Controller Failure

The controller is the brain of an SSD, managing how data is read, written, and erased. A failure in the controller of the Crucial MX500 can result in the drive becoming inaccessible. Controller failure is particularly problematic as it can often mean that data is effectively trapped within the SSD, requiring specialized techniques to recover.

7. TRIM Command Issues

The TRIM command is intended to improve SSD performance by enabling the operating system to inform the SSD which blocks of data are no longer in use and can be wiped internally. However, if not properly implemented, TRIM can inadvertently delete or render data unrecoverable. Issues with TRIM can complicate data recovery efforts on the Crucial MX500.

8. Wear-Leveling Problems

Wear-leveling is a process that extends the lifespan of an SSD by distributing writes and erases evenly across the memory cells. If the wear-leveling algorithm malfunctions, it can lead to uneven wear, with some cells wearing out faster than others. This can result in data being lost or becoming inaccessible, requiring data recovery procedures.

9. S.M.A.R.T. Errors

Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.) is used to monitor the health of SSDs. S.M.A.R.T. errors on the Crucial MX500 can indicate impending failure. If these errors are ignored, the SSD might fail completely, making data recovery more complex and urgent.

MX500 M.2 2280 CT1000MX500SSD4 LDO Bypass Data Recovery Case Log

 MX500 M.2 2280 CT1000MX500SSD4

Case Log 29 Jun 23

This ssd has sata and pci-e capability. The main chip uses SM2258H AB. The problem with this ssd was a short circuit on the voltage input side. Chip marked as 51A FL51 was dead shorted to ground, removed and solved the short circuit. However this chip is of unknown origin and is probably a DSBGA-6 package 1.41mm x 0.91mm and may possibly be a logic gate unable to be bypassed. Replaced with same one from donor ssd. 1.8v and 3.3v chip Vin had dead capacitors.

Every single manufacturer who is dealing with SM2258 controller is writing its own firmware for SSD. As the result, we should develop a new utility for every single SM2258 case. Right now, we can work with Plextor S2C and ADATA SU800. Other models are not listed. Probably we will add them in the future, but I don't have any estimated time for now.

At the same time, SM2258XT-based drives are fully supported without any limitations. We can work almost with all existing drives, no matter who is the manufacturer and what is the model name. SM2258XT drives are using very similar firmware, which makes our Utilities to be Universal.

Anyway, I could think that this drive could still have a hardware problem with the electronic scheme. As the result, drive stays in SAFE MODE permanently (no access to NAND chips). But then I checked the NAND CHIP test and found that all NAND reads fine.

Fixed this problem but it only detects in safe mode:

Model : SM2258AB-80-10000000
Serial : (03)5526888-20080228
Firmware : 20141211
Capacity : 1 GB (2 096 640)

Power Off
Power On
Ready state waiting..................... : Ok
Safe mode............................... : Ok
 
SSD status:
SSD is in ready state................... : Yes
Firmware mode........................... : ROM
SSD error code.......................... : 0x00 (No errors)
SSD is locked........................... : No
SSD is in Safe Mode..................... : Yes
Logical access is possible.............. : No
Physical access is possible............. : No
 
Chips id................................ : 2CA40832A100
Vendor.................................. : Micron
Type.................................... : 64L(B16A) TLC

All sectors have safe mode output of:

@. .7È....@.?.......0()3556288-802802082......SM2258AAMS2285BA8--001000000                    ..............ð...?.O<ì....þ........x.x.x.x.......................ð....p.@.@.p....?

Crucial MX500 Data Recovery SM2258H-AB CT1000MX500SSD Case Log

12Jul24: The Crucial mx500 ssd stopped detecting after being moved to a new pc. The customer tried putting it back into the old pc and even tried 2 different caddies but it refuses to show up. This ssd does not detect at all and shows all random lights on the ata status register. It has a short circuit problem. You can see a problem with 51A. FK30. We did check the capacitors and some of them showed very light activity but this was a red herring and the fault was purely the ldo. Data recovery speed was good at 100mb/s and all files were copied to a new portable hdd.