I have a 2TB Kingston NVMe M.2 SSD that's less than a year old, and it suddenly stopped working. It contains all my important photos and videos. This issue started after a recent Windows update, and now, every time I boot my PC, it asks to scan for disk changes but only detects my C drive. I even tried using a Type-C to NVMe connector to rule out problems with the M.2 slots on my motherboard, and I've switched around the drive connections, but the D drive still doesn't appear. I also updated my motherboard's BIOS, but it still isn't recognized in the boot menu. What can I do to recover my data?
5 Answers
Have you thought about trying a live Linux USB? Booting from one could let you access your NVMe drive and see if it recognizes anything without Windows interfering. Mint is a good option if you need an easy setup. Just a thought!
It’s possible that your Kingston drive might have encountered a hardware issue. Often, SSDs can fail unexpectedly without warning. I recommend checking if the drive shows up in Device Manager first. If you have any backups, definitely use them, but for future storage, consider things like cloud backups or even different types of drives for important files.
Remember, whether it's NVMe or a traditional hard drive, any storage type can fail. Always prioritize backing up important files—especially photos and videos!
Since this is a hardware issue, consider making a warranty claim if it’s still within the warranty period. Contacting Kingston directly would be your best bet there.
Just to clarify, Windows likely didn't break the SSD, but the timing of the update might be a coincidence. SSDs can fail independently, and while Kingston drives are generally reliable, you should always have your data backed up on multiple devices. If recovery is a concern, services are available, but they can be quite pricey—around $3500 for a typical lab recovery.
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