Aug 21, 2023 12:30:00

Western Digital is sued that `` SanDisk brand portable SSD can not store data safely ''

Western Digital, one of the world's leading storage manufacturers, was

sued for ``SanDisk brand portable SSDs cannot store data safely'' and ``Western Digital intentionally sells defective SSDs''. From around the spring of 2023, SanDisk portable SSDs have been reported to have multiple problems such as ``data suddenly disappears'' and ``SSD becomes unusable'', but it has been reported that Western Digital has not taken appropriate measures. Masu.

Western Digital sued over SanDisk SSD data-loss claims • The Register
https://www.theregister.com/2023/08/17/western_digital_sandisk_ssd_lawsuit/

Western Digital, SanDisk Extreme SSDs don't store data safely, lawsuit says | Ars Technica
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/08/lawsuit-takes-western-digital-to-task-over-sandisk-ssds-allegedly-erasing-data/

WD refused to answer our questions about its self-wiping SanDisk SSDs - The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/23837513/western-digital-sandisk-ssd-corrupted-deleted-questions

SanDisk Extreme SSDs are “worthless,” multiple lawsuits against WD say | Ars Technica
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/08/sandisk-extreme-ssds-are-worthless-multiple-lawsuits-against-wd-say/

From the beginning of 2023, users using SanDisk brand portable SSDs ' Extreme V2 ' and ' Extreme Pro V2 ' have been experiencing problems such as 'data suddenly disappearing' and 'SSD becoming unusable'. was to be reported.

SanDisk's SSD reports symptoms such as 'data suddenly disappears' - GIGAZINE

by mukesh kumar

After that, Western Digital delivered a firmware update for the target portable SSD in late May 2023. The firmware update delivery page states that 'products currently being shipped are not affected', but Western Digital does not reveal which specific model the problem has been reported.

However, overseas media Ars Technica has identified models affected by the problem. The identified models are as follows.

・SanDisk Extreme Portable 4TB (SDSSDE61-4T00)
・SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable 4TB (SDSSDE81-4T00)
・SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable 2TB (SDSSDE81-2T00)
・SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable 1TB (SDSSDE81-1T00)
・Western Digital My Passport 4TB (WDBAGF0040BGY)

In addition, users who had Western Digital replace the defective SSD reported that ``the SSD that was replaced failed again.''

In response to these trends, Nathan Krum filed a lawsuit against Western Digital on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, local time. According to the complaint filed in federal court in San Jose, California, Western Digital has designed, manufactured, distributed, promoted and sold the 500GB, 1TB, 2TB and 4TB SanDisk Extreme Portable, SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable and Western. A class action lawsuit is being prepared on behalf of those who purchased Digital My Passport. In addition, Western Digital and SanDisk do not explain that there is a problem with Western Digital My Passport.

In addition, the complaint also states, ``According to reports from individuals who have installed the fix update, portable SSDs that have problems even after the firmware update are still defective.'' Note that applying the update did not resolve the issue. It is also pointed out that 'Western Digital may be selling these defective SSDs at a significant discount to eliminate inventory.'

Krum claims the latest issue is due to a bug in the firmware update 'R332G190' released in July 2023. In addition, this R332G190 is no longer available on the Internet at the time of article creation.

Separately, Matthew Perrin, Brian Bayer, and Saif Jafri have also filed lawsuits against Western Digital over the portable SSD in question. Mr. Perrin has purchased and used at least eight SanDisk Extreme SSDs, claiming ``I lost all the data I had stored on multiple portable SSDs,'' and Mr. Bayer has two SanDisk Extreme SSDs. He claims that the SSD failed and he ended up spending nearly $8,000 (about 1.2 million yen) on disaster recovery and data recovery. On the other hand, Mr. Jafri said in the complaint that he purchased a SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable to store drone footage, photos, and travel memorabilia taken during long trips, but ``just weeks after purchase, it broke down''. I was.

In addition, Mr. Krum is not the only one who is considering a lawsuit regarding a problem occurring in Western Digital's portable SSD. A law firm in Connecticut, USA, Silver Golub & Teitell LLP , is also planning a lawsuit against Western Digital.