SSD Data Recovery
Silicon Motion SM2258XT Data RecoveryCrucial BX500 (early production; later models use SM2259XT) / ADATA SU650 (some variants; also ships with Maxio and Realtek controllers) / WD Green (some)
The Silicon Motion SM2258XT is one of the most common budget SATA SSD controllers we encounter in our lab. When its firmware becomes corrupted, the drive enters a 'Keep BSY' state where it briefly identifies then locks permanently. PC-3000 accesses ROM mode through pin shorting to rebuild the firmware. We recover Silicon Motion SM2258XT-based SSDs using our PC-3000 system's Silicon Motion-specific firmware tools at our Austin lab.
Silicon Motion SM2258XT Technical Details
The Silicon Motion SM2258XT is one of the most common budget SATA SSD controllers we encounter in our lab. When its firmware becomes corrupted, the drive enters a 'Keep BSY' state where it briefly identifies then locks permanently. PC-3000 accesses ROM mode through pin shorting to rebuild the firmware.
Silicon Motion SM2258XT Specifications
- Manufacturer
- Silicon Motion
- Interface
- SATA
- DRAM Cache
- No (HMB)
- Channels
- 4-channel
- NAND Types
- TLCQLC
Active Utility; drives are 'universal' across manufacturers. Hardware encryption/XOR scrambling prevents chip-off.
Recovery Feasibility
Active Utility; drives are 'universal' across manufacturers. Hardware encryption/XOR scrambling prevents chip-off.
Drives Using the Silicon Motion SM2258XT
The following consumer SSDs use the Silicon Motion SM2258XT. If your drive is on this list, the failure modes and recovery approaches described on this page apply to your situation.
Silicon Motion SM2258XT Drive Models
7 models affected
Failure Modes
Each failure mode has a different root cause and requires a different recovery approach. Identifying the correct failure mode is the first step in any recovery.
Keep BSY state
Drive reports ready briefly then goes permanently busy from firmware corruption. ROM mode accessible by shorting specific controller pins.
Symptoms you may notice
- Drive detected briefly then disappears
- Drive permanently busy
- SSD hangs system on boot
Related search terms
ROM mode failure
Controller enters ROM mode requiring pin shorting to access diagnostic interface for firmware rebuild.
Symptoms you may notice
- Drive not detected in BIOS
- Drive shows as unknown device
- 0 bytes capacity
Related search terms
How We Recover Silicon Motion SM2258XT SSDs
Firmware-Level Recovery
We recover Silicon Motion SM2258XT-based SSDs using the PC-3000 SSD system with the Silicon Motion Active Utility. This provides direct access to the controller's diagnostic interface for firmware repair and FTL (Flash Translation Layer) reconstruction.
Firmware-level access preserves the NAND chip layout and avoids the complications of chip-off recovery. For most Silicon Motion SM2258XT failures, this is the primary recovery path.
Chip-Off Recovery
Chip-off is not viable for the Silicon Motion SM2258XT due to hardware encryption or architectural limitations. Recovery depends on accessing the controller through firmware-level tools or manufacturer diagnostic modes.
Active Utility; drives are 'universal' across manufacturers. Hardware encryption/XOR scrambling prevents chip-off.
Pricing
SSD firmware and logical recovery for the Silicon Motion SM2258XT typically costs $300 to $500. Controller-level failures requiring advanced diagnostics are $500 to $1,500. Chip-off recovery, when viable, is $1,500 to $2,500.
See our full pricing breakdown for details. Our No Data, No Fee guarantee means you pay nothing if we cannot recover your files.
Hard Drive Data Recovery Standards & Verification
Our Austin lab operates on a transparency-first model. We use industry-standard recovery tools, including PC-3000 and DeepSpar, combined with strict environmental controls to make sure your hard drive is handled safely and properly. This approach allows us to serve clients nationwide with consistent technical standards.
Open-drive work is performed in a laminar-flow bench filtered to 0.02 µm, verified using TSI P-Trak instrumentation.
Transparent History
Serving clients nationwide via mail-in service since 2008.
Media Coverage
Our repair work has been covered by The Wall Street Journal and Business Insider, with CBC News reporting on our pricing transparency. Louis Rossmann has testified in Right to Repair hearings in multiple states and founded the Repair Preservation Group.
Aligned Incentives
Our "No Data, No Charge" policy means we assume the risk of the recovery attempt, not the client.
Technical Oversight
Louis Rossmann
Louis Rossmann's well trained staff review our lab protocols to ensure technical accuracy and honest service. Since 2008, his focus has been on clear technical communication and accurate diagnostics rather than sales-driven explanations.
We believe in proving standards rather than just stating them. We use TSI P-Trak instrumentation to verify that clean-air benchmarks are met before any drive is opened.
See our clean bench validation data and particle test videoFrequently Asked Questions
What is the BSY state on an SM2258XT SSD?
What is ROM mode pin shorting on an SM2258XT?
Why is chip-off recovery not viable for SM2258XT drives?
Are all SM2258XT drives the same inside regardless of brand?
How much does SM2258XT data recovery cost?
Other Silicon Motion Controllers
We also recover SSDs using these Silicon Motion controllers.
Not an SSD issue? We also recover hard drives, RAID arrays, and iPhones.
SSD Recovery Overview →Nationwide Mail-In Data Recovery Service
We serve all 50 states with secure mail-in data recovery. Ship your failed drive to our Austin lab using our free shipping kit, and we'll diagnose it within 24-48 hours. No geographic limitations—we've successfully recovered data for customers from Alaska to Florida.
Popular Service Areas
Silicon Motion SM2258XT SSD not working?
Ship it to our Austin lab for a free evaluation. No data, no charge.