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Devices · ssd & nvme recovery

SSD data recovery in Bristol.

Dead, not detected, showing the wrong size or stuck read-only? We recover data from failed SSDs and NVMe drives of every make — Samsung, Crucial, WD, Kingston and more — at the controller, firmware and NAND level. SATA, M.2 and PCIe.

£300 + VAT per drive
Most jobs — no fix, no fee
SATA · M.2 · NVMe
~ ssd_2026-001 — live RECOVERED
$ bdr diagnose /dev/nvme0
 Device: Samsung 990 PRO (2 TB, NVMe)
 Status: NOT DETECTED — controller in safe mode
 Client: Hayes, M. · Fishponds BS16

$ bdr engineer-working
 Controller: reached · garbage collection halted
 Translation layer: rebuilt from NAND
 Imaging: 1.9 TB / 2 TB · 99.6% read

$ bdr verify
 ✓ documents — 19,400 files
 ✓ photos — 22,800 files
 ✓ drive recovered — data back
!

Don't keep powering a failing SSD.

If your SSD has stopped being detected, shows the wrong size or has gone read-only, switch it off and unplug it. Leaving a failing SSD powered lets the controller keep running garbage collection and TRIM in the background, which can permanently wipe the very data we need to recover. Don't keep rebooting, don't reformat and don't run repair tools — the sooner the drive is powered down, the more we can save.

// faults we recover from

SSD faults we fix.

From a drive that simply vanishes to one stuck read-only, these are the SSD and NVMe failures we recover from most often — controller, firmware, NAND and logical.

Not detected or deadAn SSD that suddenly disappears from BIOS or your computer usually has a failed controller, often after a power surge. The NAND is normally fine, and we recover it.ControllerSudden deathShows wrong size or 0 GBA drive that reports the wrong capacity, 0 GB, or a name like SATAFIRM is in firmware safe mode. We rebuild the translation layer and read your data.FirmwareSafe modeStuck read-onlyAn SSD that has gone read-only, so you can copy off it but not write to it, is usually protecting failing firmware or NAND. We image it before it locks up completely.FirmwareRead-onlyWorn out or bad blocksAfter years of writes, NAND cells wear out and throw read errors. We read the surviving cells gently on specialist hardware and recover what is there.NANDWear-outWon't boot or freezingAn SSD that hangs at boot, freezes or throws blue screens is often failing at the firmware or NAND level. We image it read-only before it gets worse.DegradingBoot failPower surge or dead boardA power surge or a bad power supply can kill the controller or the board outright. We repair the board and reach the NAND to recover your files.ElectronicPCBDropped or physical damageA drop or a cracked board can break the connector or controller while the NAND survives. We repair the board or read the chips directly.PhysicalImpactWater or liquid damageLiquid damage often kills the board but leaves the flash intact. We clean and dry the drive, repair the board and recover the data from the NAND.PhysicalLiquidDeleted or formattedDeleted files or a formatted SSD can sometimes be recovered, but TRIM erases deleted data fast — stop using the drive immediately and contact us.LogicalTRIM
// ssds we recover

Every make. Every model.

We recover every make and model of SSD and NVMe drive — SATA, M.2, mSATA, U.2 and PCIe, current and old. The brand rarely changes whether your data can be saved.

SamsungCrucialWestern DigitalSanDiskKingstonSeagateKioxiaToshibaSK hynixIntelSolidigmMicronADATAXPGCorsairSabrentPNYTranscendTeam GroupPatriotLexarMushkinPlextorOCZ

Including SATA, mSATA, M.2 SATA, M.2 NVMe, U.2 and PCIe drives · Samsung, Phison, Silicon Motion, Marvell and SandForce controllers · internal, external and add-in card SSDs.

// our recovery process

How we recover an SSD.

SSD data recovery means reaching the drive without letting it erase itself, then reading the NAND and rebuilding your files. We halt the controller's background activity first, repair the controller or firmware, then image and recover.

01

Free diagnostic

Tell us what happened — not detected, wrong size, read-only, won't boot. We diagnose the fault and send a written quote, usually within 48 hours.

02

Halt the controller

We connect the SSD on specialist hardware and stop its controller running garbage collection or TRIM, so it cannot erase your data while we work.

03

Controller and firmware repair

Where the controller has failed or the firmware is corrupt, we repair or bypass it and rebuild the translation layer that maps your files across the NAND.

04

Board and NAND-level work

For a dead board we repair the PCB; where the controller cannot be revived, we read the NAND flash directly and reconstruct the data. This work needs 50% of the fee upfront.

05

Image read-only

Once we can reach the drive, we take a read-only image on specialist hardware, reading weak NAND gently so nothing is stressed further.

06

Rebuild and recover

We rebuild the file system from the image and recover your files and folders, including data from worn or hard-to-read areas.

07

Backup drive or download

We return your data on a new external drive, or you can download it free for recoveries up to 75 GB.

// what we recover from

Every make. Your data back.

We recover every make of SSD and NVMe drive — Samsung, Crucial, WD, Kingston and the rest — working at the controller, firmware and NAND level.

Every make
Samsung, Crucial, WD +
Read-only
source never altered
Controller & NAND
in-house repairs
48 hr
Diagnostic turnaround
£300
Fixed per drive + VAT
25 yrs
Recovering drives
// get a custom quote

Get a custom quote

Tell us what happened and we will get back to you, usually within one working day.

Prefer to call? 0117 332 1137 · Mon–Fri 9am–5:30pm

// pricing

Clear, fixed pricing.

One fixed price to recover a single SSD or NVMe drive — with a free diagnostic and a written quote before any work starts.

SSD & NVMe data recovery
£300 + VAT
Fixed price to recover one SSD or NVMe drive. Most jobs are no fix, no fee.
  • Free diagnostic and a written quote first
  • Fixed £300 + VAT to recover one SSD or NVMe drive
  • Controller or firmware failure: 50% of the fee upfront
  • Board or NAND-level work: 50% of parts and labour upfront
  • Your recovered data back on a new drive, or a free download up to 75 GB
// recent recoveries

Failed drives. Real recoveries.

A snapshot of recent SSD and NVMe recoveries across controller, firmware, NAND and physical failures. Names redacted, results verified.

// CASE 2026-047recovered
Samsung 990 PRO 2 TBNVMe SSDNot detected

NVMe drive that vanished from the PC overnight.

The controller had failed but the NAND was intact. We reached the drive in safe mode, rebuilt the translation layer and recovered the data.

// CASE 2026-041recovered
Crucial MX500 1 TBSATA SSDRead-only

SATA SSD that suddenly went read-only and stopped booting.

The firmware had dropped into safe mode. We repaired the modules, imaged the drive read-only and recovered everything.

// CASE 2026-035recovered
WD Blue SN5000 1 TBM.2 NVMeWon't boot

M.2 NVMe drive that hung at boot and showed the wrong size.

Corrupt firmware and weak NAND. We rebuilt the translation layer and imaged the chips gently to recover the files.

// CASE 2026-028recovered
Kingston A400 480 GBSATA SSD0 GB

Budget SSD reporting 0 GB and a SATAFIRM name.

Classic firmware safe-mode failure. We rebuilt the firmware, the drive reappeared and we imaged it clean.

// CASE 2026-022recovered
Samsung 870 EVO 2 TBSATA SSDPower surge

SSD killed by a power surge during a storm.

The board and controller were damaged. We repaired the board, reached the NAND and recovered nearly all of the data.

// CASE 2026-016recovered
SanDisk Extreme 1 TBExternal SSDDropped

Portable SSD that died after being knocked off a desk.

The impact had cracked the board but the flash survived. We read the NAND directly and rebuilt the data in full.

// client reviews

Drives recovered. Customers relieved.

Reviews from real Bristol and South West clients whose SSDs and NVMe drives we recovered.

★★★★★
My Samsung NVMe drive just disappeared from my PC and I thought my whole photo library was gone. They rebuilt it and recovered everything. I cannot recommend them enough.
M
Michael H.Fishponds, Bristol · March 2025
★★★★★
My SSD went read-only and then would not boot. They got every photo of my kids back off it. Worth every penny and lovely people to deal with.
S
Sarah J.Bath · November 2024
★★★★★
A power surge killed the SSD in my work machine. They repaired it and recovered my whole business off it. Fast, fair and completely honest.
D
David T.Keynsham · August 2023
★★★★★
The SSD was not being recognised by anything and two other places said it was dead. These got the data off it. Genuine experts.
P
Priya K.Clifton, Bristol · May 2022
★★★★★
Quoted a clear fixed price up front, no fix no fee, and kept me updated the whole way. Got my dissertation back off a dead SSD. Brilliant service.
T
Tom W.Bristol · January 2021
★★★★★
I knocked my external SSD off the desk and it never came back on. They recovered all of it. Honest, skilled and reassuring.
L
Linda M.Portishead · September 2019
// sending your device in

Two simple steps.

Send us your device for a free diagnostic, and tell us a little about what happened — an engineer will review it and confirm your exact quote in writing before any work begins.

1

Send us your device

Recovering your data starts with getting the device to us. Pack it safely, add your contact details, and send it over — after we run a free diagnostic, we’ll confirm your exact price in writing before any work begins.

How to pack it
  • Package the device into a small, sturdy box or padded envelope.
  • Leave out caddies, cables and power supplies — we won’t need them for the recovery.
  • Include your details inside the package: name, address, phone and email — on a slip of paper, or use our shipping form — then seal it up.
Post toBristol Data Recovery
Castlemead, Lower Castle Street
Bristol BS1 3AG
Shipping formPDF · print & include with your devicePDF ↓

Posting it in? We recommend a tracked, insured service. Prefer to drop it off? You’re welcome Monday–Friday, 9am–5:30pm — please still package the device as above.

2

Need more information?

If you need more information on our data recovery service, fill out the form with more detail about your issue and an engineer will review it and give you a custom quote.

An engineer reviews every enquiry personally — we usually reply within 30 minutes during the day. Prefer to call? 0117 332 1137.

Thanks — your message is in.

We’ll be in touch shortly. For anything urgent, call 0117 332 1137.

// frequently asked questions

SSD recovery, answered.

The questions we are asked most about recovering a failed SSD or NVMe drive.

Usually, yes. An SSD that has disappeared from BIOS or your computer most often has a failed controller, while the NAND flash holding your data is intact. We reach the drive on specialist hardware, repair or bypass the controller and recover your files.

It usually means the firmware has dropped into safe mode, sometimes showing a name like SATAFIRM. The data is still on the NAND. We rebuild the firmware and the translation layer, then image the drive and recover your files.

Yes. We recover NVMe and M.2 drives — SATA and PCIe — the same as 2.5-inch SSDs. Controller, firmware and NAND failures on NVMe drives are some of the most common cases we see.

Often, yes, and you should act quickly. A read-only SSD is usually protecting failing firmware or NAND. Copy nothing new to it, stop using it and send it in so we can image it before it locks up completely.

It is a fixed £300 + VAT to recover a single SSD or NVMe drive, with a free diagnostic and a written quote first. If the drive needs controller or board-level work we take 50% of the fee upfront, so most jobs are no fix, no fee.

On most jobs, yes. For controller or board-level work we take a 50% deposit upfront and the rest is only due if we recover your data — so if we can't, you are not left with the full bill.

Every make — Samsung, Crucial, Western Digital, SanDisk, Kingston, SK hynix, Seagate, Kioxia, ADATA and the rest, SATA, M.2, mSATA, U.2 and PCIe. The brand rarely changes whether the data is recoverable.

Sometimes, but SSDs are different from hard drives here. The TRIM command erases deleted data from the flash within seconds to minutes, so if it has run the files are usually gone for good. Stop using the drive immediately and contact us — the sooner we see it, the better the chance.

No. Every time a failing SSD is powered on, the controller can run garbage collection and TRIM in the background and erase your data. Recovery software cannot fix a controller, firmware or NAND fault and only adds risk. Switch it off and talk to us first.

Most logical and firmware recoveries are done within 3 working days. Controller and NAND-level recoveries usually take a little longer — 3 to 4 working days — depending on the drive. The free diagnostic is normally finished within 48 hours, and urgent cases can often be prioritised.

You can drop it off at our Bristol location Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm, or post it to us fully insured. Package the SSD in a small box or a padded envelope, seal it, and include your name, address, phone number and email inside the package so we can book it in. We will run the free diagnostic and send a written quote before any work begins.

// ssd failed?

Dead, not detected or read-only? We'll recover it.

Free diagnostic, a fixed £300 + VAT per drive, and no fix no fee on most jobs — every make of SSD and NVMe drive recovered at the controller, firmware and NAND level in Bristol. Start your recovery today.

Call us — 0117 332 1137
Mon–Fri · 9am–5:30pm · No fix, no fee
Start a free diagnostic →