What Are Intel Optane SSDs?
Intel Optane SSDs combine NAND storage with high-speed cache memory. Unlike traditional SSDs, Optane SSDs utilize two separate data channels, enabling faster performance and intelligent data management. This is a more complex design, so googling "data recovery program" & running UFS explorer isn't going to cut it for the more complicated failures. The Intel Optane has a complicated design, which makes data recovery difficult; especially when failures occur in the cache memory.
Common Intel Optane Issues We Solve
- "Inaccessible Boot Device" Errors
- Cause: Optane-enabled drives can have boot errors such as the BSOD stop code "Inaccessible Boot Device". These errors happen because of firmware corruption, hardware faults, or broken cache links.
- Real-World Example: Users report seeing Optane SSDs appear as a 32GB drive instead of its full capacity (e.g., 512GB+32GB) in recovery tools
- Optane Cache Failures
- Cause: Intel Optane H10 (hybrid drives) uses both QLC NAND AND Optane cache. If the cache fails, data necessary for function of the drive becomes inaccessible.
- Why this is difficult to recover: Partial imaging of the QLC portion often results in incomplete recovery due to fragmented data or missing Optane cache data
- Broken Link Between SSD and Cache
- Difficulty: Disabling Optane improperly, swapping the drive to another machine, or attempting DIY recovery often breaks the link between the Optane and SSD portions, rendering the data unreadable
- Damage from Amateur Repairs
- Many Optane SSDs become irreparable after unsuccessful repair attempts by non-professionals & pretend professionals; this usually means incorrect array reconstructions or tampering with encryption keys.
- Our technicians do not do this; they're provided with all of the tools, training, and documentation they need to do the job right from the start.
- Don't get me started on people running CHKDSK on a failing drive without imaging it :( please don't do this
- Firmware and Controller-Specific Failures
- Optane drives are sensitive to PCIe bifurcation settings, and improper initialization can cause system hangs. Recovery tools must account for both Optane firmware failures and hardware-specific issues like bifurcation mismatches
- Failed Cache Memory Recovery
- The cache memory in Optane SSDs often stores encryption keys for BitLocker. When the cache fails, recovering the data requires specialized tools & techniques that are available to our technicians!
- Bitlocker is what Windows uses to encrypt your machine, and is often turned on for people even if they have no idea what it is. Encryption is a good thing, it means if your laptop gets stolen people can't immediately see all of your data. However, good encryption can make recovery more difficult.
- Reconstructing Optane RAID Arrays
- Optane drives function like a RAID array, with two separate channels for data. Rebuilding the logical structure from these channels is a highly technical process that Chris excels at, because he lives, eats, and breathes working on these drives.
How Rossmann Repair Group Can Help Recover Your Data
At Rossmann Repair Group, we use industry-leading tools, including the PC3000 Portable PRO combined with the PC3000 Data Extractor RAID Edition software, to recover data from Intel Optane SSDs. Our services address:
- Broken Optane Cache Links
- We rebuild links between Optane and SSD portions to get a complete recovery of your files.
- Access both data and cache channels on Intel Optane SSDs.
- Failed Optane Firmware
- Advanced firmware handling to bypass corrupt firmware & extract data safely.
- Encrypted Drives
- Full recovery of encrypted Optane drives with or without recovery keys.
- Handle encrypted drives by locating and reconstructing lost encryption keys.
- RAID0 with Optane Memory
- Specialized techniques to recover data from RAID0 configurations using Intel Optane Memory and Storage Management
- Rebuild logical structures even from damaged RAID arrays.