Sandisk SSD: Do not under any circumstances buy the Sandisk SSDs, especially the 4tb ones, especially their top of the line drives. They are known to fail abruptly. I thought that my...

andesbill

Do not under any circumstances buy the Sandisk SSDs, especially the 4tb ones, especially their top of the line drives. They are known to fail abruptly. I thought that my photo SSD was backed up. I discovered that I was terribly wrong. This is the only time it has happened, and I am paying the price.
If I am lucky, very lucky, it may only cost me $1000.00 or so.
File Savers wanted $4500.00.
I’m an idiot. For now, avoid Sandisk.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

"...known to fail abruptly."
Is there a report out on them?

You haven't stated the conditions by which it failed.
You didn't unplug it without dis-mount did you?

BTW - Don't only use one backup device.

ricardo00

There have been many reports on the failures of the Sandisk SSDs over the last few years. But good for you to refresh people's memories. When I bought my SSDs, I went with Samsung. There are a number of other manufacturers as well so personally, would not go near a Sandisk SSD (I used to only use Sandisk memory cards by the way). Sorry this happened to you.
One recent report:
https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/22/23733267/sandisk-extreme-pro-failure-ssd-firmware

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

ricardo00 wrote:

There have been many reports on the failures of the Sandisk SSDs over the last few years. But good for you to refresh people's memories. When I bought my SSDs, I went with Samsung. There are a number of other manufacturers as well so personally, would not go near a Sandisk SSD (I used to only use Sandisk memory cards by the way). Sorry this happened to you.
One recent report:
https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/22/23733267/sandisk-extreme-pro-failure-ssd-firmware

Schoee Loc: Europe

Longshadow wrote:

"...known to fail abruptly."
Is there a report out on them?

You haven't stated the conditions by which it failed.
You didn't unplug it without dis-mount did you?

BTW - Don't only use one backup device.

My thoughts too. Anecdotes do not equal data

ricardo00

Schoee wrote:

My thoughts too. Anecdotes do not equal data

Would you expect Sandisk to report on the failures of their SSL drives? Don't think this would happen. Instead Sandisk put them on sale. Personally, I respect hearing individuals experiences. I heard about the Sandisk SSL failures first by an individual photographer a couple years ago. Since then, there have been many reports as well as lawsuits filed:

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/08/lawsuit-takes-western-digital-to-task-over-sandisk-ssds-allegedly-erasing-data/

andesbill

Longshadow wrote:

"...known to fail abruptly."
Is there a report out on them?

You haven't stated the conditions by which it failed.
You didn't unplug it without dis-mount did you?

BTW - Don't only use one backup device.

I know enough not to save to one device only. It was 3 or 4 devices, some were old & I threw them out, I used my last one for another project, thinking that the photos were backed up. Anyhow File Savers said that the flash controller was bad.
On Amazon you can find that there’s a problem, you can google it as well. Supposedly Sandisk is working on a fix.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

It might be worth contacting SanDisk. Since it was a failure of their product they might offer to salvage the data for free.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Schoee wrote:

... Anecdotes do not equal data

Anecdotal evidence may be on the same level as circumstantial evidence but if it keeps coming it becomes more and more compelling. There's either an issue with the SSDs or the multiple reports of failure are due to bad luck. Which do you think is more likely to be the case?

MJPerini

The only true protection is proper backup, local, off site and or cloud
I always do 2 local so I never have to deal with restoring from the cloud, but I still do the cloud.
Take a look at OWC (OtherWorld Computing) I have never had one of their drives fail and their products are really nice.

cahale Loc: San Angelo, TX

andesbill wrote:

Do not under any circumstances buy the Sandisk SSDs, especially the 4tb ones, especially their top of the line drives. They are known to fail abruptly. I thought that my photo SSD was backed up. I discovered that I was terribly wrong. This is the only time it has happened, and I am paying the price.
If I am lucky, very lucky, it may only cost me $1000.00 or so.
File Savers wanted $4500.00.
I’m an idiot. For now, avoid Sandisk.

Just like mine. They have only lasted (and are still going) 5 months (latest purchase) and 4 years (first purchase) without fail. (I) don't know where I screwed up.

ricardo00

cahale wrote:

Just like mine. They have only lasted (and are still going) 5 months (latest purchase) and 4 years (first purchase) without fail. (I) don't know where I screwed up.

Even if there was a 10-fold increase in failure rate (pure speculation on my part), that could move the failure rate from 0.1% to 1%, so the majority of SSD users would not have a problem. Personally, I feel where there is smoke, there is likely fire. To save $50 (the difference between a Samsung 4TB SSD and a Sandisk 4TB SSD), I would not risk it. Glad you have had no problem with your Sandisk SSDs. Personally I will avoid them (and I used to only buy Sandisk memory cards). Not sure we will ever know the truth, but have read enough photographer's complaints about the Sandisk SSD problem to think there is something to it.

Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida

ricardo00 wrote:

There have been many reports on the failures of the Sandisk SSDs over the last few years. But good for you to refresh people's memories. When I bought my SSDs, I went with Samsung. There are a number of other manufacturers as well so personally, would not go near a Sandisk SSD (I used to only use Sandisk memory cards by the way). Sorry this happened to you.
One recent report:
https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/22/23733267/sandisk-extreme-pro-failure-ssd-firmware

Seeking new SSD internal drives I read many, many feedback reports from disappointed buyers. I pay attention to the details reported because they provide clues to the knowledge and experience of the writer. Since WD took over Sandisc there has been a serious increase in failures reported by knowledgable buyers. WD and Sandisc were always my "go-to" brands, this is very troubling.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

ricardo00 wrote:

Would you expect Sandisk to report on the failures of their SSL drives? Don't think this would happen. Instead Sandisk put them on sale. Personally, I respect hearing individuals experiences. I heard about the Sandisk SSL failures first by an individual photographer a couple years ago. Since then, there have been many reports as well as lawsuits filed:

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/08/lawsuit-takes-western-digital-to-task-over-sandisk-ssds-allegedly-erasing-data/

This is a quote from the link you provided:-

... "this company has been downplaying the issue for months, all while it continues to sell these drives at a steep discount" ...

Is that the American way?

Jack56 Loc: Florida

This arstechnica article is helpful because it lists the model numbers of the affected Sandisk SSDs.