Why data recovery might seem impossible: SSD, Cloud, and More

Is data recovery really impossible with SSD, Cloud, and online services? We uncover the truth behind this myth. In this Article, we delve deep into the reasons why data recovery might seem impossible and explore potential solutions. First part of the article.

Why data recovery might seem impossible: SSD, Cloud, and More

Solid-State Drives (SSD)

Solid-state drives are often used in place of traditional hard disks. SSD drives offer smaller capacities but much higher speed, especially when random access speed is concerned. With no moving parts, SSD drives are more robust mechanically. They can withstand higher shocks, which makes them particularly great for portable applications. Another laptop-friendly feature is a much lower power consumption compared to magnetic hard drives.

SSD drives do come with their share of issues affecting data loss and data recovery situations. These issues are highly dependent on the ways SSD drives record information. With SSD drives, recovering a file deleted a few minutes ago is far from a given. Same goes for formatted disks; however surprisingly, corrupted SSD’s may be recovered just as well as traditional hard drives. But let’s elaborate.

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⚕️ Recovering Data from SSD After File Deletion or Disk Formatting in 2021

⚕️ Recovering Data from SSD After File Deletion or Disk Formatting in 2021

Feature 1. Why Recovering Deleted Files from SSD Drives May Not Work

All fairly recent SSD drives implement a special set of procedures allowing them to optimize their writing performance. These procedures include background garbage collection and TRIM.

Why do SSD drives need garbage collections and magnetic hard disks don’t? Because flash chips have much faster clear writes compared to erase-then-write times. In other words, flash cells that contain information need to be erased (emptied) before new information can be written in, and that erase process is very slow compared to plain write operation. In order to speed up the writes, solid-state disks erase flash cells occupied with deleted information in background. When the system needs to write anything on the disk, the write operation then has enough empty cells to complete quickly.

How does the disk know a particular sector becomes available? The operating system tells the drive via the TRIM command. The TRIM command is issued every time the system deletes a file or formats a volume. The drive will then add released sectors into the garbage collection queue, wiping their content with zeroes slowly but inevitably.

Remember why data recovery works? Windows itself does not wipe or erase the content of a file being deleted, but simply marks its disk space available. Well, this is not the case with SSD drives anymore: SSD drives will wipe available disk sectors in just a few minutes after a file is deleted.

Feature 2. When SSD’s Can Be Recovered

SSD recovery may still work if the TRIM command was not issued. This could be the case if any one (or more) of the following is true:

  • Old version of Windows. Windows versions before Vista did not support TRIM, so SSD’s behave pretty much like magnetic hard drives, and can be recovered.

  • Corrupted data. In a case of corrupted data, damaged file system and similar things, the TRIM command is not issued, and the files remain recoverable.

  • External SSD drive. SSD drives connected via a USB, FireWire or Ethernet port do not support the TRIM command, and can be recovered with data recovery software.

  • RAID arrays. TRIM is not supported in RAID configurations.

  • File system other than NTFS. At this time, Windows only supports TRIM on NTFS-formatted SSD drives. If your SSD drive uses a different file system, the TRIM command is not issued, and the drive remains recoverable.

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SSD Diagnostics: Programs to Find and Fix SSD Errors 🛠️🔎👨‍💻

SSD Diagnostics: Programs to Find and Fix SSD Errors 🛠️🔎👨‍💻

Feature 3. Tools for Recovering Data from SSD Drives

In order to recover information from an SSD drive, you can use data recovery tools such as Hetman Uneraser, Hetman Partition Recovery, depending on your exact needs. Try Hetman Uneraser if you’re recovering from a healthy drive that has not been formatted or repartitioned. If you did format or repartition your SSD drive, or if you have an inaccessible device with corrupted file system, use Hetman Partition Recovery.

Partition Recovery™ 5.0
The tool recovers data from any devices, regardless of the cause of data loss.
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Criterion Hetman Partition Recovery Hetman Uneraser
Purpose Recovery of deleted files, partitions, data from damaged or formatted disks, and virtual machine disks. Quick recovery of accidentally deleted files from any devices.
Supported File Systems FAT/exFAT, NTFS/ReFS, APFS/HFS+, Ext2/3/4, ReiserFS, Btrfs, VMFS, Hikvision, XFS/UFS/ZFS. FAT/exFAT, NTFS/ReFS, APFS/HFS+, Ext2/3/4/ReiserFS, XFS/UFS.
Supported Devices HDD, SSD, USB drives, memory cards, external drives, virtual machine disks. HDD, SSD, USB drives, memory cards.
Deep Analysis Yes, for complex cases. No, only basic recovery.
Compatibility Windows, Linux, macOS. Windows, Linux, macOS.
Target Audience IT specialists, advanced users, companies. General users, photographers, enthusiasts.

Cloud Storage and Online Services

Cloud storage systems are gaining popularity among all kinds of users. Online backups, online photo albums (Flickr, Picasa), online file sharing and online document processing (Google Docs) are all over the place.

They are great as “Desktop”, “Mobile phone” or “My Documents” backups, perfect as redundant storage, and absolutely irreplaceable for sharing information and socializing. However, cloud storage systems are not exactly great as your primary storage. In other words, if you want to replace a big hard drive with an Amazon cloud storage account – take a second look:

  • Granted, cloud storage systems are not susceptible (or much less susceptible than single-hard-drive solutions) to hardware faults and virus attacks. They are usually quite redundant and have excellent self-backup facilities. Your data may be safe there… for a while.

  • Relying exclusively onto a cloud-based storage means giving up complete control over your information. Your data will be subject to someone else’s policies (which may change without notice). The amount of storage space available may be limited, while plans allowing larger than a single hard drive’s worth storage space may cost you more than the cost of a similarly sized hard drive, per month.

  • Finally, if you delete a file, or if your entire account is compromised and wiped by a hacker, there is no recourse. No data recovery tool can restore deleted information from the cloud. This is a classical case where data recovery tools do not help.

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Windows Back Up (OneDrive, File History, System Image, Recovery Disk) 💻⚙️🛡️

Windows Back Up (OneDrive, File History, System Image, Recovery Disk) 💻⚙️🛡️

Oleg Afonin

Author: , Technical Writer

Oleg Afonin is an expert in mobile forensics, data recovery and computer systems. He often attends large data security conferences, and writes several blogs for such resources as xaker.ru, Elcomsoft and Habr. In addition to his online activities, Oleg’s articles are also published in professional magazines. Also, Oleg Afonin is the co-author of a well-known book, Mobile Forensics - Advanced Investigative Strategies.

Vladimir Artiukh

Editor: , Technical Writer

Vladimir Artiukh is a technical writer for Hetman Software, as well as the voice and face of their English-speaking YouTube channel, Hetman Software: Data Recovery for Windows. He handles tutorials, how-tos, and detailed reviews on how the company’s tools work with all kinds of data storage devices.

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Questions and answers

  • How do solid-state drives (SSDs) differ from traditional hard disk drives (HDDs) when it comes to data recovery?

    SSDs are much more difficult to recover data from than HDDs. This is because the data is stored differently on an SSD than it is on an HDD. With an HDD, the data is stored on magnetic platters, which can be accessed directly by a data recovery specialist. On an SSD, the data is stored in memory chips, which require specialized hardware and software to access. Additionally, SSDs use a process called wear-leveling, which can make it difficult to identify where data is stored on the drive.

  • What are some of the challenges associated with recovering data from SSDs?
    • Wear Leveling: SSDs use wear-leveling algorithms to distribute data evenly across the entire drive, making it difficult to recover data from a specific location.
    • Data Fragmentation: SSDs have a limited number of program/erase cycles, which can lead to data fragmentation and make it difficult to recover all the data from a single block.
    • Lack of Standardization: There is no standard interface for SSDs, making it difficult to connect them to data recovery software and hardware.
    • Encryption: Some SSDs are encrypted, making it impossible to access the data without the encryption key.
  • How do cloud and online services impact the possibility of data recovery?

    Cloud and online services can make data recovery easier, as cloud-based data storage is often backed up and stored in multiple locations, meaning that if a user experiences data loss, the data can be recovered from another location. Additionally, cloud and online services often provide users with the ability to access their data from any device, making it easier to recover lost data.

  • What are some of the risks associated with storing data in the cloud or on online services?
    • Security Risks: Storing data on the cloud or online services can put your data at risk of being exposed to cyber-attacks such as malware, ransomware, and phishing scams.
    • Privacy Risks: Cloud and online services can potentially expose your data to unauthorized access by third-parties.
    • Compliance Risks: Cloud and online services may not be compliant with certain regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
    • Data Loss: Storing data in the cloud or online services can lead to data loss due to hardware or software failures.
    • Vendor Lock-in: Storing data in the cloud or online services can lead to vendor lock-in, where you are tied to a particular vendor for a long period of time.
  • Is it possible to recover data that has been deleted or overwritten in the cloud or on online services?

    In some cases, it is possible to recover data that has been deleted or overwritten in the cloud or on online services. Depending on the service provider and the type of data, there may be options for recovering the data. For example, some cloud storage providers offer a feature that allows users to restore deleted files from a previous version or time period. Additionally, some data recovery companies specialize in recovering data from online services.

Comments (11)

  • Дмитрий Иванович
    Дмитрий Иванович 21.06.2016 11:51 #
    Solid state SSD drives are the traditional means of storing data, have the management controller and storage NAND Flash memory. Today there are drives already on the base of DRAM, with extra batteries. SSD drives can be used as drives, several pieces can be embedded in a single platform with magnetic hard disks getting hybrid hard drives. Flash memory can be used as a cache or as a separate drive information. This combined mechanism enables you to take advantage of access to Flash memory when storing large amounts of data.
    Reply
  • Mello
    Mello 15.06.2016 12:30 #
    Near a year ago, I lost the necessary files. Now I seriously worried about their recovery thats why I moved important docs in a cloud. There were no problems. Hope for my strong password. After the article I think it will be better to transfer all information on the SSD. Rather it is more suited to me than cloud storage because I have a lot of necessary files and should to protect it.
    Reply
  • Kermit Tregonwell
    Kermit Tregonwell 5.09.2009 01:09 #
    What are some of the most effective data backup strategies for ensuring data can be recovered in the event of a loss or corruption?
    Reply
    • Hetman Software
      Hetman Software 5.09.2009 01:29 #
      • Regular Backups: Back up your data regularly and consistently to ensure that you have multiple copies of the same data. This will help protect your data in the event of a loss or corruption.
      • Cloud Storage: Utilize cloud storage solutions to store your data in an offsite location. This will provide an additional layer of protection in case of a disaster or data loss.
      • RAID: Implement RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) technology to provide data redundancy and protection from disk failure.
      • Backup Verification: Periodically verify the integrity of your backups to ensure that the data can be recovered in the event of a loss or corruption.
      • Automation: Automate your backup process to ensure that backups are taken regularly and efficiently.
      • Encryption: Encrypt your backups to protect them from unauthorized access.
      Reply
  • Archie Newey
    Archie Newey 4.09.2009 20:54 #
    How can individuals and businesses protect their data in light of these challenges?
    Reply
    • Hetman Software
      Hetman Software 4.09.2009 21:28 #
      • Regularly back up data: Backing up data regularly is one of the best ways to protect it. This ensures that if the data is lost or corrupted, it can be restored from the backup.
      • Use encryption: Encryption is a process of encoding data so that only authorized parties can access it. This makes it difficult for hackers to access the data even if they manage to breach the system.
      • Use strong passwords: Passwords are one of the most common security measures used to protect data. Using strong passwords with a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols is a great way to make sure that only authorized people can access the data.
      • Monitor for suspicious activity: It is important to monitor for suspicious activity on a regular basis. This includes monitoring for unauthorized access attempts, unusual network traffic, and other suspicious activities.
      • Implement two-factor authentication: Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide two pieces of evidence when logging into an account. This could be something like a password and a code sent to their phone.
      • Educate employees on cybersecurity: Educating employees on cybersecurity best practices is essential in order to protect data. This includes teaching them about the importance of using strong passwords, monitoring for suspicious activity, and other security measures.
      Reply
  • Charlton Fairchild
    Charlton Fairchild 4.09.2009 17:55 #
    Are there any data recovery techniques that can be used for SSDs, cloud, or online services?
    Reply
    • Hetman Software
      Hetman Software 4.09.2009 18:10 #
      Yes, there are data recovery techniques that can be used for SSDs, cloud, or online services. For SSDs, data recovery techniques include physical repair, logical repair, and data recovery software. For cloud or online services, data recovery techniques include restoring from backups, using built-in recovery tools, and using third-party data recovery services.
      Reply
  • Denzil Phipson
    Denzil Phipson 4.09.2009 13:56 #
    How does encryption impact the possibility of data recovery?
    Reply
    • Hetman Software
      Hetman Software 4.09.2009 14:18 #
      Encryption impacts the possibility of data recovery by making it much more difficult. Encryption scrambles data, making it unreadable without a key. Without the key, it is nearly impossible to decrypt the data and recover it.
      Reply
  • Hetman Software: Data Recovery
    Hetman Software: Data Recovery 23.01.2018 12:34 #
    Read about situation when data recovery is impossible and recommend it to friends. If you do have any questions, don't hesitate to contact our technical support service - we will be happy to help you.
    Reply
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