- SSD failures may be due to the use of Phison Phison firmware prior to release
- That is the conclusion of an investigation carried out by a group of PC enthusiasts in China
- They tell us that it is verified by Phison engineers, but we must be cautious about this statement until we officially hear from the manufacturer of drive controllers
There is a new turn with respect to the recent controversy around Windows 11 and SSD failures, in the form of a suggestion that problems with units may be related to the use of firmware prior to liberation.
Neowin reports that this reasoning line comes from a Chinese Facebook group for PC enthusiasts called ‘PCDIY’, whose group administrator, a certain Rose Lee, says he has reached the bottom of the root cause of the SSDS rupture.
Apparently, this is due to the versions prior to the launch of the firmware of the Phison Drive controller that are used in the SSDs. This is a conclusion that was achieved through the tests carried out by PCDIY and apparently verified by Phison engineers, it is also said, which is supported in a Neowin follow -up report.
Lee writes (translated from China by Google): “PCDIY tests have revealed that the SSDs are blocked and blocked due to the Windows 11 update, used versions prior to the launch and pre-purpose of the engineering firmware.
“Because all SSD manufacturers that sell products that use physiically controllers buy their products from the original manufacturer and send them in bulk using mass production tools, the SSD delivered to consumers are already using the official firmware. The official firmware has been thoroughly tested and verified, and does not exhibit the anomalies that are often seen with engineering signature.”
Where does this leave us, then? And why some of the units are using ‘engineering’ firmware?
Let’s explore that next, but obviously we must be cautious about the statement made here until we officially listen to Phison that this is really the case. The statement that Phison provided to Neawin is still vague, and does not directly confirm that this is the generalized problem that Windows 11 users inform.
ANALYSIS: An interesting explanation, but put a caution first here
Okay, then when they refer to units using firmware prior to the launch, are these, for example, SSD sent to the reviewers before the official publication of these products?
While that would explain the use of an earlier firmware, this problem is too widespread for that, and a lot of old and simple consumers complain about being affected. In short, this fault is reaching units sold in retail trade. The question then is: how would such SSD get an early version of the controller firmware?
The predominant theory seems to be that the affected SSDs are manufacturers who bought Phison transmission controllers that had prior firmware to release. Then, Phison subsequently updated the firmware and supplied that update to the SSD manufacturer, but they could not apply it before the unit was sent and reach the shelves, therefore, the beta firmware ended together with a retail SSD.
While it sounds unlikely, it is a possible scenario. However, all this is conjectures, and as already pointed out, we will need to know about Phison officially to confirm this, so be for that.
However, this theory explains why the extensive Phison tests did not present failures, because the controllers manufacturer would have been using the last launch firmware, naturally. Microsoft also clarified Windows 11 of any guilt with his research related to the latest update of the operating system, and again, that makes sense in this light, if this is a unit firmware problem.
What does not explain is why the SSDs in addition to those with phison controllers apparently were affected. However, most were Phison, however, it was by reports, and perhaps the others are a case of coincidence, it could be argued.
In any case, if you are concerned that your SSD is potentially beaten by this failure, then the simple solution is to ensure that you are executing the last firmware. The fault can make the impulse disappear from the system, but perhaps only temporarily in some cases informed, it could return after a restart.
Check the version of your firmware in Windows (in device administrator) and compare it with the latest launch version available on the unit manufacturer’s website.
However, keep in mind that updating the firmware of any hardware entails risks in itself, so it is possible to wait a little more and see if we obtain the official confirmation of this new theory about SSD failures.
