SanDisk Extreme Portable SSDs are widely used by solicitors, professionals, and businesses for fast, reliable data storage. However, when an SSD starts showing slow read/write speeds or frequent freezing, it often indicates flash memory degradation, controller failure, or file system corruption, making stored data difficult to access.
This case study details how we successfully recovered critical legal documents for a solicitor in Glasgow from a SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD, after flash memory issues caused severe performance slowdowns and system crashes.
As Glasgow Data Recovery, Scotland’s oldest and best data recovery company, we have 25 years of experience using advanced SSD diagnostics, NAND flash memory extraction, and forensic data recovery techniques to restore lost legal files.
The Challenge: SanDisk 1TB Extreme SSD Freezing & Slow Performance
A Glasgow-based solicitor contacted us after experiencing severe issues with their SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD, including:
- Files taking minutes to open, with constant lag.
- Frequent freezing, causing the system to crash.
- Attempts to copy files failing or taking excessively long.
- The SSD contained confidential legal documents and case files.
Since flash memory degradation can worsen quickly, an immediate professional recovery solution was required.
Diagnosis & Evaluation
When the SanDisk Extreme SSD arrived at our cleanroom facility, we conducted a full NAND flash memory and file system diagnostic. Our findings:
- Flash memory degradation – Causing read/write delays and file access issues.
- File system corruption (exFAT/NTFS) – Some directories were unreadable.
- No physical damage detected – Meaning data recovery was possible using chip-level extraction.
Since SSDs handle data differently than traditional hard drives, degraded NAND flash cells require advanced recovery techniques, so we prioritized forensic NAND extraction and file system repair.
The Recovery Process
1. Cloning & Imaging the Failing SSD to Prevent Further Data Loss
To preserve the solicitor’s critical files, we:
- Created a forensic sector-by-sector clone of the SanDisk SSD.
- Used specialized tools to bypass bad flash memory blocks and extract all readable data.
2. Repairing the File System & Extracting Data
Since the file system was partially corrupted, we:
- Repaired the exFAT/NTFS structure to restore missing directories.
- Recovered fragmented and partially damaged documents.
3. Extracting & Verifying Legal Case Files
Once the SSD was accessible, we:
- Recovered all legal documents, client case files, and contracts.
- Checked recovered files for accuracy and usability.
- Transferred the fully restored data to a secure external backup device.
The Results: 99% Data Recovery Success
Thanks to our NAND flash memory extraction and file system repair techniques, we successfully recovered 99% of the solicitor’s lost data, including:
✅ Legal contracts, court documents, and case files
✅ Client correspondence, research notes, and confidential reports
✅ Organized file structures restored for easy access
The solicitor was able to retrieve all critical legal files, preventing delays in client cases and professional disruptions.
Why Choose Us?
With 25 years of experience and tens of thousands of successful SSD recoveries, we are Scotland’s leading data recovery specialists. Our expertise includes:
✔ SanDisk Extreme SSD NAND flash memory extraction
✔ File system repair & slow SSD performance recovery
✔ Confidential legal document retrieval & secure handling
✔ Fixed-price professional data recovery services
If your SSD is slowing down, freezing, or preventing access to critical legal files, stop using it immediately and contact us for expert SSD data recovery.