A client using an Acer laptop with a Samsung M.2 SSD encountered a critical issue where the drive was no longer detected by the BIOS or operating system. Symptoms included:
- Laptop unable to boot into Windows.
- M.2 SSD not recognised by BIOS, making it completely inaccessible.
- No physical damage to the laptop, indicating a potential firmware, electrical, or logical failure.
Since the SSD contained important work documents, financial records, and personal files, the client sought professional data recovery services from Manchester Data Recovery, a company with over 25 years of experience in SSD data recovery, including Samsung SSD recovery and complex M.2 SSD cases to retrieve lost, deleted, and inaccessible data.
Challenges
- M.2 SSD Not Detected by BIOS or OS – Possible causes included:
- Firmware corruption causing the SSD to remain undetectable.
- NAND chip degradation or controller failure.
- Power surge damage affecting SSD components.
- No Physical Signs of Damage – The SSD appeared intact, but internal electronic failure was suspected. This is a common problem in advanced SSD data recovery UK cases.
- Data Inaccessibility – Without BIOS detection, conventional software recovery methods were ineffective.
- Urgent Business Data Recovery Required – The client needed fast data recovery from SSD to regain access to essential files.
Solution by Manchester Data Recovery
Upon receiving the Acer laptop and Samsung M.2 SSD, Manchester Data Recovery’s engineers implemented a structured forensic recovery process to perform Samsung SSD data recovery. The steps included:
✅ SSD Removal & Hardware Testing –
- The SSD was carefully extracted and tested in a controlled cleanroom environment.
- Engineers checked power circuits, NAND flash, and controller chips for faults, a critical step in SSD drive data recovery.
✅ Advanced SSD Firmware Repair & PCB Analysis – - Using specialized SSD diagnostic tools, engineers rebuilt the firmware to restore SSD functionality.
- The controller chip was repaired to enable NAND flash access.
✅ Chip-Off Recovery (If Needed) – - In cases of severe damage, data was directly extracted from NAND memory chips using a chip-off recovery technique. This method is often used in data recovery from SSD with controller failure or heavy damage.
✅ Data Extraction & File System Repair – - Engineers reconstructed the damaged file system, allowing full file recovery.
✅ Secure Data Transfer – - Successfully recovered data was verified for integrity and transferred to a new external storage device.
Results & Client Impact
- Over 98% of important business and personal files successfully recovered
- SSD firmware repaired, allowing BIOS to detect the drive again
- Client regained access to critical work and financial records
- Recommendations provided on SSD health monitoring and backup strategies
The client was extremely relieved, as Manchester Data Recovery successfully restored all lost data, preventing operational disruptions.
Conclusion
This case demonstrates the complexity of M.2 SSD data recovery, especially when the SSD is not recognised by BIOS. Firmware corruption, NAND degradation, and power surges are common causes, but professional firmware repair and NAND chip recovery techniques can often restore lost data.
For individuals experiencing SSD detection failures, unrecognized drives, or inaccessible files, Manchester Data Recovery provides expert forensic data recovery solutions for successful SSD Data Recovery to retrieve critical files efficiently and securely.
👉 M.2 Samsung SSD Not Recognised? Contact Manchester Data Recovery Today!