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TrumanLA

macrumors member
Original poster
Jan 1, 2017
69
15
USA
I've now had 4 different models (3 brands) on new NVMe drives in 3 different 2015 Retinas ... to have lost the partition map over the last 18 months. If you're unfamiliar with this phrase, it means the media works, the drive can be reformatted and used ... but the partition data is lost -- and along with it the 'table of contents' as to where your data is. Making the partition invisible and requiring the data to be recovered.


MODELS:
2TB - Samsung EVO 970
2TB - HP EX920
2TB - HP EX950
2TB - Toshiba XG4

Some more than once.
The XG4 was a customers.
The other 4+ times has been to 1 of two 2015 Retinas of mine.

I do data recovery (professionally) and have 30 years tech experience. This is just to say that I'm not accidentally causing this to occur ... or not reporting it.

I believe the cause is from random restarts common while using 3rd party NVMe SSDs.

I reject 1/30 random reboots being caused by a lost partition map, precluding loading the OS.
I believe random reboots occasionally cause a lost partition map.

I'm not sure if using an OWC drive mitigates these reboots associated with 3rd party drives... by using compatible cluster sizing or sleep specs... (I believe I've heard Apple uses an usual specs)

Despite using HP NVMe SSDs in iMacs ... I haven't seen this occur in iMacs ... likely due to portable Macs more aggressive power saving // sleep rules vs. an iMac. But I'm not sure...

I'll still use 3rd party SSDs as it's primarily happened to me (not customers). Another aspect I don't understand... but perhaps it's as simple as the volume by which I use my laptop.

Hope this helps someone else with anything.
 
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Fortunately I haven't lost any data.
I've been able to recover whatever wasn't backed up at the moment of the issue

This is just a reminder for those using 3rd party SSD's to keep their data backed up.

You know, if you don't have access to antibiotics (data recovery) you'd better wear a condom (keep backed up).
 
Thanks for the warning. Backing up is always a good idea, but it seems even more essential in this case.
 
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I hope I've just been unlucky.

I should also mention that I've had two EVO 970 2TB drives ... out of two that I've owned develop problems which cause me to RMA them; one has bad cells ... the other stopped mounting. And I'm no where NEAR their life-span of usage.
 
Fortunately I haven't lost any data.
I've been able to recover whatever wasn't backed up at the moment of the issue

This is just a reminder for those using 3rd party SSD's to keep their data backed up.

You know, if you don't have access to antibiotics (data recovery) you'd better wear a condom (keep backed up).

Even if you do have a data recovery facilities you should have a backup, preferable offsite. Someone could steal your laptop, you could drop it, it could get run over, or your home could burn down.
 
I've been running a 1TB 660P for almost a year on my '13, have *never* had a random restart or failed boot. When installing the drive, I disabled deep hibernation to no perceivable loss of battery life while in sleep. 24h+ still drains 1% or less.
 
For what it's worth.. the Samsung App says health is 100% so I ignore the 94% that crystal disk info states. Is it possible it has something to do with the chassis they are in? like you stated with, but maybe it's sending a weird reset command that timed with a sudden power cut causes corruption. One thing I noticed in my laptop.. the SSD stays awake 5-10 seconds after my machine is totally powered off. I can tell because it makes a very quiet buzzing sound.
 

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