SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable External SSD - Errors/Corrupt after few weeks of use

stockrex · Dec 2, 2020

I bought this from Costco

SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable External SSD -

It has been little over a month and I used it only for the last 2 weeks. Today, I found the disk unusable due to errors, read some reviews on amazon and others had the same experience.

Avoid if possible.

alarmguy · Dec 2, 2020

Thank you ... these devices should be 100% reliable as it’s a backup and storage device.

stockrex · Dec 2, 2020

alarmguy said:
Thank you ... these devices should be 100% reliable as it’s a backup and storage device.

yeah one guy lost 5 years of pics, ouch!

I need to burn my pics on dvd disks, can't trust magnetic media

ka9mnx · Dec 2, 2020

SSD's are not to the point yet where they make good back up drives (unless you spend very big bucks). I use them for boot-ups and operating systems. So far spinning rust is the best option out there for long term storrage and is what I use for backups and photographs.

Quattro Pete · Dec 2, 2020

stockrex said:
yeah one guy lost 5 years of pics, ouch!

I need to burn my pics on dvd disks, can't trust magnetic media

SSD does not utilize magnetic coatings.

JHZR2 · Dec 2, 2020

ka9mnx said:
SSD's are not to the point yet where they make good back up drives (unless you spend very big bucks). I use them for boot-ups and operating systems. So far spinning rust is the best option out there for long term storrage and is what I use for backups and photographs.

I moved to an SSD backup for our iPhones and iPads 64-256GB) because it’s much faster to do full offline backups. knocking on wood but no issues thus far, but I did have a thread sometime back where it was discussed thst they need to be energized and can corrupt memory...

alarmguy · Dec 3, 2020

stockrex said:
yeah one guy lost 5 years of pics, ouch!

I need to burn my pics on dvd disks, can't trust magnetic media

I have two back ups for photos. You know, we think we are so advanced but can not even buy a product that will be guaranteed not to fail in storing photos. Go back in time, its called a photograph *L* amazing isnt it?

DIsc, SSD they can all fail. I almost trust disc more for back up as discs can be sometimes read, not so sure how this is done on a SSD. But granted SSD alone seems more reliable, yet two backups would be safest long term photo storage, they are so cheap.

https://www.howtogeek.com/322856/how-long-do-solid-state-drives-really-last/

BISCUT · Dec 3, 2020

alarmguy said:
I have two back ups for photos. You know, we think we are so advanced but can not even buy a product that will be guaranteed not to fail in storing photos. Go back in time, its called a photograph *L* amazing isnt it?

DIsc, SSD they can all fail. I almost trust disc more for back up as discs can be sometimes read, not so sure how this is done on a SSD. But granted SSD alone seems more reliable, yet two backups would be safest long term photo storage, they are so cheap.

https://www.howtogeek.com/322856/how-long-do-solid-state-drives-really-last/

Totally agree. Safe, secure backup should NOT be this difficult. I am nor running any RAID configuration. I have a small amount of data and about 70k images. I am using a Seagate SSD that is 3 years old and a 1 year old Samsung T7 SSD. I back up monthly and keep 1 drive offsite. I am planning on adding a 3rd drive next year

ka9mnx · Dec 3, 2020

JHZR2 said:
I moved to an SSD backup for our iPhones and iPads 64-256GB) because it’s much faster to do full offline backups. knocking on wood but no issues thus far, but I did have a thread sometime back where it was discussed thst they need to be energized and can corrupt memory...

Yes, SSD's need to be regularly re-energized and that includes writing over sectors that already have stored data. Each time a sector is used to store data it contains a small electrical charge. Eventually this charge degrades and data is lost. There are programs available that will safely perform this task. The problem with spinning rust is they are mechanical and prone to mechanical fails. Still, they are considered the safest form of backup (even safer than magnetic tape). I'm using 1T and 5T spinning drives for back ups and they are, surprisingly, very fast. And yes, keep at least 2 back ups and 1 offsite if you can.

PandaBear · Dec 3, 2020

I wouldn't use an SSD for external backup for the data retention reason. These days SSD need to be regularly powered on to "read refresh" the data gradually, at least once a year at room temp but I'd say once a month is safer, over the whole drive, so it means power it on continuously for a few hour once a month. It is a PITA. Then there's the temperature tolerance not being as good as magnetic storage. So if you accidentally left it in a hot car for a week you probably will lose a lot of data.

I still have hard drive for long term backup. For short term I just network another computer to backup. I also duplicate my family photos and keep them at parents and inlaws house for off site backup. My WD Black from 2008 just died and I ended up restoring my photos from a 2003 Seagate 7200.3 (120GB), that thing is the most reliable drive I've ever had, still working after all these years running as a hot spare.

PandaBear · Dec 3, 2020

ka9mnx said:
Yes, SSD's need to be regularly re-energized and that includes writing over sectors that already have stored data. Each time a sector is used to store data it contains a small electrical charge. Eventually this charge degrades and data is lost. There are programs available that will safely perform this task. The problem with spinning rust is they are mechanical and prone to mechanical fails. Still, they are considered the safest form of backup (even safer than magnetic tape). I'm using 1T and 5T spinning drives for back ups and they are, surprisingly, very fast. And yes, keep at least 2 back ups and 1 offsite if you can.

It doesn't really work that way (i.e. no external program needed). The internal health monitor will have an algorithm that uses a special NAND command, or a typical read command, to notify the NAND itself to refresh the charges that are "off". They won't wear out the drive like a program / erase cycle does. They do need to power on for a few hours at least once a month or so.

Quattro Pete · Dec 3, 2020

PandaBear said:
They do need to power on for a few hours at least once a month or so.

I've got a PC with SSD (primary OS drive) that's been sitting in storage for the past 5 years. Is it toast?

PandaBear · Dec 3, 2020

Quattro Pete said:
I've got a PC with SSD (primary OS drive) that's been sitting in storage for the past 5 years. Is it toast?

Hard to say, the charges in the old days last longer but their ECC engines aren't as strong. Won't know until you turn it on and read every file.

Pew · Dec 3, 2020

SSD losing data partially debunked.

dubber09 · Dec 3, 2020

From my experience SanDisk SSDs are not on the same level as Samsung, Crucial and WD, had issues with them, never again.
I normally buy Crucial and sometimes WD (Blue) SSDs as computer internal ones.
Take the SSD back to Costco and get a refund. Always have a backup of a backup.

ka9mnx · Dec 4, 2020

PandaBear said:
It doesn't really work that way (i.e. no external program needed). The internal health monitor will have an algorithm that uses a special NAND command, or a typical read command, to notify the NAND itself to refresh the charges that are "off". They won't wear out the drive like a program / erase cycle does. They do need to power on for a few hours at least once a month or so.

Partially true. Sectors need to be written over to re-establish it's electrical charge.

PandaBear · Dec 4, 2020

ka9mnx said:
Partially true. Sectors need to be written over to re-establish it's electrical charge.

The nand (at least the Toshiba / SanDisk) will auto refresh with a read command, hence it is called read refresh cycle. It does not need to be erased then write, it is a "top off" recharge.

PandaBear · Dec 4, 2020

Pew said:
SSD losing data partially debunked.

This was in 2015.

As early as 2017 they already start having data retention problem without regular read refresh. The charges these days need to be top off and they need to be at least powered on once a year if stay room temp. In a hot car you probably need to turn it on once a month at least.

97prizm · Dec 5, 2020

Be careful with Costco items. They've been outed in the past for Selling gray market lower end versions of a Similar brand. Maybe thats a possibility here? I've always had great luck with sandisk hdd and external hdd's

dubber09 · Dec 8, 2020

Costco often has products made by a well known and reputable manufacturer but for Costco only, e.g. Kirkland motor oil made by Warren Distr.

SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable External SSD - Errors/Corrupt after few weeks of use

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