SSD Data Recovery
Silicon Motion SM2263XT Data RecoveryHP EX900 / ADATA XPG SX6000 / Lexar NM600
The Silicon Motion SM2263XT is the most common budget NVMe controller we see in failed drives. As a DRAM-less HMB design, it depends on the host system's RAM for mapping tables, which makes it vulnerable to corruption during improper shutdowns. We recover Silicon Motion SM2263XT-based SSDs using our PC-3000 system's Silicon Motion-specific firmware tools at our Austin lab.
Silicon Motion SM2263XT Technical Details
The Silicon Motion SM2263XT is the most common budget NVMe controller we see in failed drives. As a DRAM-less HMB design, it depends on the host system's RAM for mapping tables, which makes it vulnerable to corruption during improper shutdowns.
Silicon Motion SM2263XT Specifications
- Manufacturer
- Silicon Motion
- Interface
- NVMe Gen3
- DRAM Cache
- No (HMB)
- Channels
- 4-channel
- NAND Types
- 3D TLC
Active Utility, ROM/Safe mode via pin shorting. DRAM-less HMB design.
Recovery Feasibility
Active Utility, ROM/Safe mode via pin shorting. DRAM-less HMB design.
Drives Using the Silicon Motion SM2263XT
The following consumer SSDs use the Silicon Motion SM2263XT. If your drive is on this list, the failure modes and recovery approaches described on this page apply to your situation.
Silicon Motion SM2263XT Drive Models
4 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.
Firmware corruption causing non-detection
HMB design depends on host RAM for mapping tables, making it vulnerable to corruption during improper shutdowns.
Symptoms you may notice
- NVMe SSD not detected
- BSY state after power loss
- Drive not seen in BIOS
Related search terms
BSY state
Controller enters BSY state from firmware corruption. Heat-assisted recovery documented as technique for improving NAND readability.
Symptoms you may notice
- Drive permanently busy
- System hangs with drive connected
- Intermittent detection
Related search terms
How We Recover Silicon Motion SM2263XT SSDs
Firmware-Level Recovery
We recover Silicon Motion SM2263XT-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 SM2263XT failures, this is the primary recovery path.
Chip-Off Recovery
Chip-off is possible but complicated for Silicon Motion SM2263XT drives. Hardware encryption or proprietary NAND encoding reduces chip-off success rates compared to firmware-level recovery.
We attempt firmware-level recovery first and only proceed to chip-off when no other option exists.
Active Utility, ROM/Safe mode via pin shorting. DRAM-less HMB design.
Pricing
SSD firmware and logical recovery for the Silicon Motion SM2263XT 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 does HMB dependency mean for SSD failure and recovery?
My HP EX900 is stuck in BSY state. What does that mean?
Are budget NVMe SSDs riskier than SATA SSDs?
Can heating the SM2263XT help with recovery?
How much does SM2263XT NVMe 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 SM2263XT SSD not working?
Ship it to our Austin lab for a free evaluation. No data, no charge.