Enthusiast Salvages Faulty SSD Data Using Woodworking Tools

Seagate FireCuda 530
(Image credit: Future)

Whimsical tech blogger John Graham-Cumming recently wrote about fixing a faulty M.2 SSD using humble workshop tools that are typically used for woodworking endeavors. After a bit of detective work on a crash-prone PC, the blogger discovered one of his Seagate FireCuda 530 (review) SSDs was misbehaving. What managed to get it to work reliably again was strategically focused pressure from a G-clamp plus a carpentry square with a thermal pad.

Graham-Cumming describes the onset of his PC issues as starting with an in-game freeze, followed by a boot to BIOS loop. The blogger deduced that the debilitating PC issues were caused by one of his two Seagate FireCuda 530 SSDs, by trying various combinations of the two SSDs in his two M.2 slots.

It was subsequently discovered that the faulty FireCuda would work (briefly) when the system was started from cold. This observation pointed towards the dodgy drive having a problem that occurred only when its PCB / chips had reached a specific temperature. Confirmation of a thermal issue came from quickly testing the drive after a spell in the deep freeze. It was usable for a good few minutes before it failed this time.

That a thermally affected SSD component caused issues got Graham-Cumming thinking. Sometimes the expansion/contraction of PCB solder joints can cause problems, and it didn’t take long to find out that pressure applied to a particular chip made the FireCuda work ‘reliably.’

Above, some images show how the first working G-clamped SSD was put together. The second slide shows some refinement, with a PC thermal pad and carpentry square added to even the thermals. A thermal camera shot is also in the gallery, showing some portions of the SSD hit about 90 degrees Celsius when used.

With the woodworking tools cooling contraption in place, Graham-Cumming successfully shoveled his user documents to another drive for safekeeping.

Of course, not many people would be happy with this bulky SSD / G-clamp / set square arrangement sitting next to their workstation. The blogger felt the same and updated his post to tell readers he’d been inspired to heat the temperamental SK Hynix DDR4 cache chip with a hot air rework station. The result is that “the SSD works without having woodworking tools applied to it” and is OK to put back in the PC, according to Graham-Cumming.

Mark Tyson
News Editor

Mark Tyson is a news editor at Tom's Hardware. He enjoys covering the full breadth of PC tech; from business and semiconductor design to products approaching the edge of reason.

  • slash3
    Firecuda 530 drives released in 2021. They have a five year warranty.

    Use it.
    Reply
  • rradina
    Is G clamp a new term for what looks like a C clamp to this Boomer?
    Reply
  • Matt_ogu812
    rradina said:
    Is G clamp a new term for what looks like a C clamp to this Boomer?
    Typo or not knowing what it was called?
    Reply
  • Allan Walsh
    Yes, lets revert to name calling instead of congratulating someone on good problem solving skills...
    Reply
  • Allan Walsh
    slash3 said:
    Firecuda 530 drives released in 2021. They have a five year warranty.

    Use it.
    Sometimes people like to fix things themselves. It brings a nice sense of purpose to life and makes the object in question more important to said person.
    Reply
  • DaveTea
    rradina said:
    Is G clamp a new term for what looks like a C clamp to this Boomer?
    It IS called a G-Clamp! Any woodworker would know that, and refer to it as such, you pedant!
    Reply
  • ScottBeamer
    rradina said:
    Is G clamp a new term for what looks like a C clamp to this Boomer?
    you seem nice.
    Reply
  • ScottBeamer
    wow. I would just get a new drive.
    Reply
  • kkthebeast
    DaveTea said:
    It IS called a G-Clamp! Any woodworker would know that, and refer to it as such, you pedant!
    Sit down before you hurt yourself, any wood worker knows the term is interchangeable. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-clamp
    Reply
  • kkthebeast
    ScottBeamer said:
    you seem nice.
    So the person isn't "nice" now for referring to themselves as a boomer? Okay that tracks.. these kids man
    Reply