File Recovery from Faulty SSDs Based on Silicon Motion (SMI) Controllers
Starting with version 6.0, the Professional Edition of the multifunctional utility Easy Disk Checker introduced data recovery for SSDs that are not detected by the BIOS or recognized by the operating system. In other words, it supports solid-state drives with firmware problems. In everyday speech, people say the SSD firmware has "crashed" or "bricked".
There are quite a few types of microcontrollers used in SSDs. Research into them is ongoing, and as new findings emerge, the list of controllers supported by Easy Disk Checker will keep expanding. This note announces software version 6.1.0, which adds support for file recovery from failed SSDs built on Silicon Motion chips. The SM2244LT, SM2246EN, SM2246XT, SM2256, SM2256K, SM2258, SM2258H, SM2258XT, SM2259, SM2259H, SM2259XT, SM2259XT2, SM2260, SM2261, SM2262, SM2262EN, SM2262ENG, SM2263, SM2263EN, SM2263XT, SM2264, SM2265, SM2267, SM2267XT, SM2268XT, SM2269XT, SM2320, SM2508, SM8266, and SM8366 controllers can be found in Crucial (Micron) drives, certain revisions of Western Digital's budget lines, various batches of SK Hynix, ADATA, Kingston, Transcend, HP, Lexar, and Patriot (PNY) drives, and in almost all Faspeed, Netac, KingSpec, Goldenfir, Somnambulist, XrayDisk, Walram, Digma, AGI, Biwin, and Fanxiang drives.
This video demonstrates the data recovery process from a SATA SSD, using an SM2259XT2 controller as an example. On a normal power-up, this drive hangs in the BSY (busy) state, meaning it does not initialize and is not detected by the system.
The procedure is performed using an adapter board with external power control and a USB relay connected to the Safe Mode contacts on the drive's PCB. Both components are mandatory, because gaining access to user data on a faulty Silicon Motion SSD requires power cycling the drive and toggling Safe Mode, sometimes repeatedly.