Samsung MLC 850 PRO about to die?

C

chrcoluk

[H]ard|Gawd
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Jul 7, 2008
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So

I had just ironically backed up all my user profile data as I had just enabled the file history feature to get incremental backups of various files on my system. By default this all libraries on the system.

Typically I have always disabled windows search as I have never liked i/o during idle for no benefit (I dont benefit from indexed search given I never search, other than start menu search which doesnt need idnexing to be fast or dir /a /s in command prompt), however this has to be enabled to utilise the file history feature.

After the files had been copied to the backup drive, 5am came and windows started indexing files.

I was reminded why I disabled the feature as lots of i/o and cpu cycles been used, but then suddenly my 850 PRO (boot SSD) suddenly hit 100% active time and stayed there, windows stopped responding and eventually froze.

I hit the reboot button on my PC and the post just waited and waited until the dreaded no boot device showed up, I went in the bios and all my drives there except the 850 PRO.

I power cycled and thankfully its back, but I have read other's stories in the past and this is the sort of thing those guys reported before a permanent death.

Do you guys think I should RMA?

I am within the writes warranty limit, I think but not 100% sure the drive is under 5 years old.

Is funny that people recommend disabling indexing to prolong SSD life, and it triggered this event, I know its just coincidence but is funny still.
 
Have you tried installing Samsung Magician? I'd look to see what it can tell you from the SMART area and it's health status. Reach out to Samsung support and see what they say. Haven't seen this problem personally.

I'd also get a full image backup of the machine just to be extra paranoid.
 
Its 10 years on my 850 pro, thanks, I checked here..

https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/warranty/

Anyway I found the purchase order, was nov 2014 from amazon so within 5 years.

The drive since the incident has failed to appear in the bios 2 times out of 3 reboots. But I recovered. Needless to say I have done a full up to date backup, and will now do so daily until it is swapped.

I am really hoping for an advanced RMA and that samsung dont return it claiming there is nothing wrong. (which they may do given its not died yet)

This website makes interesting reading and perhaps explains whats happened.

https://blog.elcomsoft.com/2019/01/why-ssds-die-a-sudden-death-and-how-to-deal-with-it/

Scroll down to "Why SSD Drives Fail with no SMART Errors"

So my SSD has clean SMART data
20TB life time writes.
Just 28 erase cycles
99% estimated life left.
POH 2338 days

However I do observe windows does constant small writes to the drive which is the nightmare scenario explained in the article which puts excessive stress on the system part of the drive.

Both of my older planar MLC 120 samsung 830s are still fine ironically. They are also on 24/7 but I believe under lower loads as the machines they in are not used as much.

830 in my laptop

POH 2205 days
Erase cycles 438 (way more)
88% life left
9.11TB written
 
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Ok started the RMA process, its a 10 working day wait :( no advanced RMA :(

I think what I am going to try and do, which may play havoc with the install is import tha macrium image to a spare 120 gig kingston ssd I have as a temporary measure, so I can still use the PC, as 2 weeks is a long time, then do the same again when the new SSD arrives.

I know from past experience tho windows does some weird drive remapping when boot drive changes, and doing this twice I am not happy about.
 
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