A comprehensive guide to recovering lost data from a Crucial SSD. This article covers common causes of data loss, step-by-step instructions for using free recovery software, the impact of the TRIM command, and advice for engaging professional recovery services.
I've been using my PC for 4 years and have data stored on aCrucial SSDdrive.It's always been lightning-fast and reliable... until last Tuesday. It just failed, and all my projects and personal files are gone. I'm desperate to recover the data but worried about TRIM making it impossible. What are my best options for Crucial SSD data recovery? Is there any reliable free software, or should I go straight to a professional service?
Data loss on a Crucial SSD (Solid State Drive) can happen for many reasons. Unlike traditional hard disk drives, SSDs have no moving parts, but they are still vulnerable to both hardware and software issues. Here are the most common causes of Crucial SSD data loss:
Even if you lose data on a Crucial SSD, there are still ways to bring it back. Depending on how the data was lost and whether you have backups, you can try the following recovery methods:
Unlike HDDs that store data on spinning platters, SSDs rely on flash memory and the TRIM command to manage storage efficiently. When a file is deleted, TRIM doesn’t simply mark the space as availableand it immediately clears it to speed up future writes. While this boosts performance, it also makes recovery far more difficultthan HDD data recovery.
The Recycle Bin is the first place to look when files are deleted. If the files were only "soft deleted,"they may still be there and can be restored easily.
Step 1. Double-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop.
Step 2. Browse through the deleted files and locate the one you want to recover.
Step 3. Right-click the file and choose "Restore".
Step 4. The file will be returned to its original location.
If you have enabled File History to automatically save copies of the Crucial SSD drive before data loss on Windows, you can easily recover Crucial SSD datafrom a backup.
Step 1. In the Windows search bar, type "Control Panel" and open it.
Step 2. Go to "System and Security"> "Save Backup copies of your files with File History."
Step 3. Select "Restore personal files" on the left pane.
Step 4. Browse the available backups, select the files you want, and click the "Restore" button.
Step 5. The files will be restored to their original location.
Windows File Recovery is a free command-line tool provided by Microsoft. It can help recover deleted files from an SSD, HDD, USB drive, SD card, etc, though it requires some technical know-how.
Step 1. Download Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store and install it.
Step 2. Press "Win + S", type "Windows File Recovery", and run it as administrator.
Step 3. Use the following command format: winfr H: D: /regular /n *.webp
Once the process finishes, check the destination drive for recovered files.
For users who prefer an easier, more reliable solution, MyRecover is a professional (Crucial) SSD recovery tool. It supports Crucial, Samsung, SanDisk, Western Digital and other brands of SSDs. Of course, it is also compatible with HDD, SD card, USB flash drive, etc.
Step 1. Download from official site or Microsoft store and install MyRecover on your computer (avoid installing it on the Crucial SSD drive).
Step 2. Launch the program and select your Crucial SSD from the drive list.
Step 3. Click "Scan" to let the software perform a quick and deep scan automatically.
Step 4. Browse the scan results, filter the file type and select the ones you need.
Step 5. Click "Recover", then choose a safe location (not the same SSD) to save your files.
Wait for a while, and the Crucial SSD data recovery process will be completed! Once done, a mini window will pop out with the information about how many files have been recovered successfully and where you can access them now.
Upgrade to Professional or Technician edition, you can unlock more advanced features including:
Short answer: "Yes", disabling TRIM can be helpful, but with an important caveat.
TRIM is what causes deleted data on SSDs to be wiped quickly. If you keep TRIM enabled, recovery tools may not find anything to restore because the data blocks are already cleared. By disabling TRIM, you prevent further automatic erasure, which helps preserve whatever recoverable data is still left on the drive.
However, disabling TRIM only protects future deletionsand it does not bring back files that TRIM has already cleared. So, if the data has already been erased by TRIM, turning it off afterward won’t make recovery possible.
As soon as you notice data loss and want to attempt recovery.
Before running recovery software, so the SSD won’t clear more blocks in the background.
Step 1. Press "Win + R", type "cmd", and hit Enter.
Step 2. In the Command Prompt, type: fsutil behavior query DisableDeleteNotify
A result of "0"means TRIM is enabled.
A result of "1"means TRIM is disabled.
To disable TRIM temporarily, run the command: fsutil behavior set DisableDeleteNotify 1
After you finish recovery, you can re-enable TRIM with: fsutil behavior set DisableDeleteNotify 0
Disabling TRIM for too long may reduce SSD performance and lifespan, so it should only be done during recovery attempts.
So, don't panic if you've lost data on your Crucial SSD. While SSDs present unique recovery challenges due to TRIM, there's still a good chance of recovery if you act quickly. Start by checking simple solutions like the Recycle Bin or a File History backup.
If those don’t work, consider using data recovery software like MyRecover, which can handle Crucial SSD (MX500 ) data recovery, HDD recovery, USB flash drive recovery and more efficiently. For severe cases like physical failure or if the drive isn’t detected, consult a professional recovery service immediately.