SanDisk is everywhere flash storage is — portable SSDs, USB sticks, SD and microSD cards. They fail in their own ways, from sudden disconnects to cards that simply stop being recognised. In most cases the data can still be reached.
Whether it's a SanDisk SSD, USB stick or SD card, stop using it the moment it fails and don't reformat — that's what gives the best chance of recovery.
From portable SSDs down to microSD cards.
The portable USB SSDs — known for sudden disconnects and data loss on some models.
Cruzer and Ultra USB sticks — not recognised, write-protected or physically damaged.
Camera, drone and phone cards that have become corrupt, RAW or unreadable.
SanDisk and WD-branded internal SSDs (SanDisk is part of Western Digital).
Flash storage fails differently to hard drives. USB sticks and SD cards often fail at the controller or develop bad memory cells, leaving them undetected, write-protected or asking to be formatted; physical damage — a snapped USB connector or cracked card — is also common. On the Extreme and Extreme Pro portable SSDs, a well-publicised firmware fault caused some drives to suddenly disconnect and lose data, so if yours has dropped off unexpectedly, you're not alone — and the data is often still recoverable. Portable SanDisk SSDs also use hardware encryption when a password is set.
We match the method to the device — controller, NAND or monolith. For SSDs we work around the controller or read the NAND directly. For USB sticks and many SD cards, which are often a single monolithic chip with no separate parts, recovery can mean reading the memory at chip level and rebuilding the data — specialist work we handle in-house.
Quick answers to what people ask most.
Often, yes. Some SanDisk Extreme and Extreme Pro portable SSDs were affected by a firmware fault that caused sudden disconnects and data loss. The data is frequently still recoverable — stop using the drive and don't reformat it, and we'll assess it for free.
Usually. A 'needs formatting' or RAW card normally means a corrupt file system, not erased data. Don't format it — that can overwrite your photos. We recover from the card directly, including corrupt and unreadable cards.
Not necessarily. Undetected USB sticks usually have a controller fault while the memory still holds your data. Because most sticks are a single chip, recovery can mean reading the memory directly — specialist work we do in-house.
Memory cards and USB sticks start at £250 + VAT, and SSDs at £300 + VAT, each with a free diagnostic first and no fix, no fee on most jobs. Chip-level work is more involved; your exact price is confirmed in writing before anything begins.
Stop using it and send it in for a free diagnostic — from portable SSDs to microSD cards, we'll tell you what's recoverable.