How to Recover Data from SATA SSD? 4 Quick Methods

Recovering data from SATA SSD is possible but difficult because of the TRIM command, which automatically clears the deleted data. To recover your files, you must stop using the drive immediately to prevent permanent erasure. If the drive is still functional, you should use data recovery software to scan NAND flash cells, but if the SSD is dead, seek professional SSD data recovery services.

In this data recovery article, we will break down the exact steps to recover data from a SATA SSD using possible methods.

Quick Answer: 
Recovering data from a SATA SSD needs a specific approach based on the failure type. A universal solution that works in almost any logical situation is Notchox data recovery software. You can use it to recover data from SATA SSD by scanning the corrupted drive and restoring files through its deep scan technology.

Can You Recover Data From SATA SSD?

Recovering data from a SATA SSD is possible, but a little more challenging than the standard Hard Drive (HDD) recovery. SATA SSDs work based on flash memory and a background process called TRIM (erases deleted data to keep the drive fast). On HDDs, deleted data stays on physical platters until overwritten.

While you might have also heard about NVMe SSDs that are faster and plug directly into the motherboard, SATA SSDs use the older cable-based connection style. Both use the TRIM command to manage storage cells, which permanently wipes off your files shortly after deletion.

How to Recover Data From SATA SSD?

While modern SSDs use complex flash memory structures that make manual retrieval difficult, automated extraction tools can bypass file system corruption to rebuild damaged directories. Now we will discuss the step-by-step process of the most effective recovery methods available. Following these structured procedures will guide you through safely retrieving your lost files from the drive.

Method 1: Using Notchox Data Recovery Software

If your SATA SSD is still recognized by your computer but your files are missing due to accidental deletion, formatting, lost partition, etc., specialised SSD data recovery software is your best chance for recovery. Because of the TRIM command, it is important to recover the files ASAP. The longer the drive is powered on, the higher the chance the software will find nothing but zeros.

Step 1: Connect the SSD as an External Drive

Connect your SATA SSD to a different and healthy computer to prevent background processes like TRIM that can permanently delete the data. Use a SATA-to-USB adapter to connect the SSD to the computer.

Step 2: Choose a Reliable SSD Data Recovery Software 

Select a tool that supports SSD file systems (like NTFS, exFAT, or APFS). A tool that uses sophisticated techniques to recover data without affecting the drive’s health.

Notchox is the best software to recover data from SATA SSD as it is designed to handle flash-based storage. Whether you want to recover deleted JPG/JPEG files, ZIP files, or any type of file, Notchox offers recovery of a wide range of file types.

• Uses advanced algorithms to run a Deep Scan.
• Capable of recovering 1000+ file types.
• Operates strictly in a read-only, non-destructive environment.
• Allows you to preview recoverable files in real-time before full recovery.

Download the Notchox data recovery software from the official website and install it on your device to retrieve the data from the SSD.

Step 3: Run a Deep Scan

Open Notchox and select your SATA SSD drive from the list of available drives. Choose the Deep Scan option. This process may take a while as the software looks past the drive’s logical pointers to find the data.

Step 4: Preview and Recover to a Different Location

Once the scan is complete, preview the files to verify that they are intact. Once verified, you can save the files to a completely different storage by clicking Save to Vault, so that the recovered data is safe. Saving them back to the SATA SSD will overwrite the very data you rescued with the SSD data recovery software.

Method 2: Using Automated Cloud or Local Backups

If the TRIM command has already wiped the data from your SATA SSD, your only remaining option is to recover data from SATA SSD from a source outside the drive. In case you have an automated backup system running in the background, you can recover the data from there.

Cloud Storage (OneDrive/Google Drive/Dropbox)

1. Log in to your cloud provider’s web interface.

   

2. Check the Trash or Recently Deleted folder.

   

3. Select the files and click Restore to sync them back.

   

Windows File History

1. Type “Restore your files with File History” in the Windows Search bar and open it.

   

2. Browse through the saved versions of your folders using the left and right arrows.

   

3. Once found the files, select them and click on the green Restore button to put them back in the original location.

   

macOS Time Machine Backup

1. Connect the Time Machine backup drive to your Mac.

   

2. Open the folder where your files used to be and click the Time Machine icon in the menu bar.

   

3. Click Enter Time Machine.

   

4. Use the timeline on the right to find a date before data loss, select the files, and click Restore.

   

Disclaimer: These methods will work only if you have previously enabled these features. If Cloud Sync, File History, or Time Machine were not active before the data loss occurred, a backup will not be available.

Method 3: Using the Power Cycle Method

Sometimes a SATA SSD is not actually “broken,” but its firmware is actually stuck. This happens after a sudden power failure or unsafe ejection of the drive. The “Power Cycle” method gives the SSD enough power to fix its internal mapping disturber without the interference of data requests.

How to perform the Power Cycle method to recover data from SATA SSD?

1. Connect the SSD to a power source (desktop/PC). Do not connect it to the motherboard.
2. Turn the computer on. Let the SSD sit idle for 20-30 minutes. During this time, the SSD controller will attempt to repair its internal lookup tables and clean up firmware errors.
3. Turn off the power or unplug the SSD. Let it be completely unpowered for about 30 seconds.
4. Repeat the process. Power it back on for another 20-30 minutes.
5. After the second cycle, power down again.
6. Boot your computer and enter the BIOS settings. If the firmware has successfully re-synced, you will be able to see the drive in the list of detected devices.

Note: If the drive is detected after this method, back up your data immediately.

Method 4: Using Professional SSD Data Recovery Service

If your SATA SSD is physically broken, or if the power cycle method fails to revive your drive, your last option is a professional data recovery lab. These experts work in a specialised environment to recover physically damaged drives using hardware tools that aren’t available to users.

This is the most expensive option. Also, the only way to recover data from SATA SSD that have suffered severe electrical or physical damage that software can not fix.

How Does TRIM Affect SATA SSD Data Recovery? 

The TRIM command is a background process that tells your SSD which data blocks are no longer in use, which are then eventually erased to maintain high speed. This keeps your SSD working fast, but also the biggest obstacle to data recovery.

If you have lost data, every second the SSD remains powered on gives the controller a chance to run its “Garbage Collection” and finish the TRIM process. By immediately disconnecting the power, you can stop this from happening.

How to Disable TRSSIM Support?

For Windows:

1. Right-click Start and select Terminal (Admin).

   

2. Type the following command and press Enter.

   fsutil behavior query DisableDeleteNotify

   If you get 0, it means TRIM is currently Enabled.

   If 1, TRIM is Disabled.

   

3. To disable TRIM, type this command and press Enter.

   fsutil behavior set DisableDeleteNotify 1

   

4. After recovery is done, change the 1 back to 0 to re-enable it and keep your SSD fast.

   

For Mac:

1. Press Command (⌘) + Space, type “Terminal” and hit Return.

   

2. Type the following command to disable TRIM and press Return.

   sudo trimforce disable

   

3. You will need to enter your admin password and type Y to confirm the system reboot.

   

Data recovery from Dead SSD: 4 Easy Steps

SATA SSD is said to be dead when a computer can no longer communicate with the drive’s controller, or the firmware has crashed completely. A dead drive shows one of three symptoms:

• No power
• Not initialised
• BSOD/freezing

Follow these steps to know if you can perform a DIY recovery or if you need professional help:

Step 1:Verify Hardware Connections

Before assuming the drive is dead, always check for faulty cables or ports.

• Swap Cables: Replace both the SATA power and data cables with the known working ones.
• Change Ports: Plug the SSD into a different SATA port on your motherboard.
• External Enclosure: Remove the SSD from the computer and place it in a USB-to-SATA enclosure or use an adapter.

Step 2:Attempting to load the drive in BIOS/UEFI

If the drive doesn’t appear in your file explorer/finder, check if the system sees it.

• BIOS/UEFI:
  1. Click the Start button on the taskbar, and click the Power button. Now hold the Shift key and click on Restart.

     

  2. Your computer will restart into safe mode. Click Troubleshoot.

     

  3. Select Advanced options.

     

  4. Click on UEFI Firmware Settings.

     

  5. Click on Restart again.

     

  6. Now your computer will restart into BIOS. Now check for your SATA SSD recognition.

Shortcut: When your PC restarts or loads, you see little text at the bottom like:

Press <Del> to run BIOS, or <F11> to run boot menu

Press <Ctrl+F5> to activate M-Flash for Bios Update

You can follow this to enter the BIOS.

Step 3: Attempt the Power Cycle Method

If the SSD is not detected, its controller might be stuck. This trick can sometimes “Reset” the firmware.

1. Plug in the SATA power cable, but leave the data cable unplugged.
2. Turn on the PC and let the SSD sit idle for 30 minutes.
3. Turn off the computer and unplug the SSD power for 30 seconds.
4. Repeat the cycle.
5. Fully reconnect and check if the drive is recognized in the BIOS.

Step 4: Use Specialised Recovery Software

If the drive is detected but unreadable, use a dedicated tool like Notchox data recovery software to pull data. Because SSDs use the TRIM command to permanently wipe the deleted data, you must act fast and run a deep scan immediately to find file signatures before permanent deletion.

For the safest results, connect the SSD to a computer using a SATA-to-USB adapter and run the software in a read-only mode. Now, recover your files to a separate, completely healthy drive to avoid further data loss.

Common Causes of SSD Data Loss

So why do these things actually fail? Unlike old-school hard drives that have moving parts that can physically break, SATA SSDs are all electronic.

Here are the usual causes for SSD failure and data loss:

• TRIM Command: It’s a background process that permanently wipes the “deleted” space so the drive stays fast.
• Controller Failure: The controller is the basic “brain” of your SSD. If it gets fried by a power surge or a firmware glitch, your SSD may get corrupted.
• Too Much Heat: The heat can damage the delicate parts of the SSD when there is no good airflow.
• Low Free Space: SSDs have a “mileage” limit. When your SSD is over 90% full, it will lose its performance.
• Firmware bugs: A single coding error can cause the drive to lock up.

To Summarise

The bottom line is that SSDs are tricky because they are always trying to clean themselves in the background. If you have lost your files or deleted them, stop using the drive right now and follow Notchox, the professional SSD data recovery software method first, and if the drive is totally dead, give the power cycle method a try. Moving forward, just keep a backup running so you never have to deal with such a situation again.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)