M.2 SSD in an external USB enclosure?

January 4, 2024 10:08 PM

Slightly stupid computer question - if I pulled an SSD out of a (Windows-running) laptop and stick it in a USB enclosure, and then try connecting it into a new computer - it should just show up as an external disk, right?

My piece-of-crap-that-I-really-regret-buying-and-just-out-of-warranty Lenovo Thinkpad has been giving me an "M.2 detection error". Internet sleuthing indicates that they do this sometimes, and it might be a faulty M.2 SSD or a number of other issues. The computer has no other storage, just the SSD. I tried pulling out and re-seating the SSD, but it gave me the same error.

If I were to put the SSD in an external enclosure and connect it via USB to another computer, it should just work (as long as it's not indeed dead), correct? I wouldn't have to do any additional steps to make the SSD visible/accessible by another computer? I'd love to be able to save my files if possible.

posted by Paper rabies to Technology (7 answers total)

Yep - the only thing that would stop it working would be if it is indeed dead, or if it's encrypted e.g. with bitlocker. Good luck.
posted by samj at 11:34 PM on January 4

Generally, yes. The enclosure can have additional tricks, such as 10 second buffering, (if power was disconnected) and other tricks, but yes, it would appear as just a drive, probably USB-C
posted by kschang at 1:48 AM on January 5

Best answer: I wouldn't have to do any additional steps to make the SSD visible/accessible by another computer?

If the SSD is still actually working then it should be instantly visible to another computer on connection via USB, but you might need to fartarse about a bit with NTFS permissions to make it fully accessible.
posted by flabdablet at 2:32 AM on January 5 [2 favorites]

Best answer: M.2 is just the form factor; they can have a SATA interface, or NVMe. Check that the enclosure you have (or intend getting) matches the interface the SSD has. It's probably on the label, or a search engine will tell you when you enter the SSD model.
posted by Stoneshop at 5:32 AM on January 5 [4 favorites]

Response by poster: Thanks all! I just wanted to make sure I did the best I could to recover what's on the SSD. Both it and the enclosure are NVMe, but unfortunately nothing is showing up when I connect it. Looks like that data is gone for good.
posted by Paper rabies at 11:00 AM on January 6

It might be possible to repair your drive to the point where data recovery becomes possible.

Chance of failure is higher than that of success, though. SSDs do have a lower failure rate than spinny disks, but the fact that when they fail they tend to do so catastrophically and without warning is why switching to a SSD will probably worsen rather than alleviate the consequences of poor backup hygiene.
posted by flabdablet at 12:02 AM on January 7 [1 favorite]

Of course there's a (very slight) chance that the enclosure is defective*; you may want to verify that it does show up if you fit another NVMe stick.

Which you might need to buy. It's not quite throwing good money after bad, as you can afterwards fit it in the laptop (and sell the bloody bugger).

* quote from a friend: "there are two kinds of devices: ones that are broken, and ones that aren't broken yet"
posted by Stoneshop at 2:37 AM on January 7 [1 favorite]