According to a data recovery expert based in Austria, the current problems afflicting SanDisk portable SSD products are attributed to “construction weakness.” This encompasses issues related to the solder material utilized and the improper sizing of components.
SanDisk portable SSDs have faced significant reliability issues, leading PetaPixel and others to withdraw their recommendations. Users have reported various problems, spanning from data loss to complete drive failure. Despite the widespread issues, the cause has not been explicitly clarified. One of the few public statements from SanDisk came in the form of a firmware update, where the company claimed to have addressed the problems.
On their website, SanDisk acknowledges, “We have identified a firmware issue that can cause SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD V2, SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable SSD V2, and WD My Passport SSD products to unexpectedly disconnect from a computer.” This suggests that the reported problems may be linked to a firmware issue that has been identified and addressed by the company.
To tackle and resolve the reported issue, SanDisk has introduced a firmware updater tool designed to facilitate the installation of the necessary firmware. This tool aims to enable users to continue using the SSD on both Windows and macOS devices. According to a data
Despite PetaPixel’s repeated requests for comment, SanDisk has not responded. The statement regarding the firmware update appears to be the company’s latest public communication on the matter, suggesting that, outside of pending lawsuits, SanDisk considers the issue addressed and concluded.