[Solved] Dell SSD M2 Reader

[bigjohn]

G'day guys

I tried to extract the data from my daughter's laptop SSD. The battery died and Dell keeps sending the wrong battery, every time. I tried an SSD reader from Amazon and also tried two different SSD slots on my own PC, none worded. The data to be recovered is very important for my daughter's work, as well as many personal photos 

 

Dell SSD m2:

 

 
 

SSD reader from Amazon:

 

 

 

I'll be very grateful If you could help me with this. 

 

The Dell laptop will be recycled as the screen is also damaged

[shwescorpion]

Your information is very limited.

According to your post, you are trying to extract the data from SSD.

But, Is that SSD detected by windows?

You did try 2 different SSD slots on PC, on that PC SSD is detected or not?

If not, then it's probably the SSD hardware problem.

 

 

[Easy]

If photos are correct, then 'SSD reader from Amazon' is with different slot (M.2 -> NVMe/PCI-E) then on your SSD drive (SATA), and by that different pin layout and different data protocol.

It can be connected 'by force'.

Connecting drive in different slot type (always or almost always) destroys SSD drive, and sometimes also controller on board.

Check again if these connectors are identical!

If not, then there is great chance that your SSD is, by doing that, 'destroyed' beyond repair.

 

You can only try to connect it to correct interface, and see if it works.

But be aware, if it is already destroyed ba connecting to wrong interface, connecting it to 'correct' interface can also destroy controller of this 'correct' interface!

 

In any case, do not connect this SSD directly on any motherboard, but use external adapter to USB (with identical connector), to avoid destroying complete motherboard!!!

 

EDIT:

2 Types of M.2 SSDs: SATA and NVMe

 

 

Edited August 11, 2025 by Easy

[m345]

10 hours ago, bigjohn said:

Dell SSD m2:

@Easy is correct, the SSD in your case is an m.2 SATA ssd as its noted on its label.

That ssd is an old form factor disk which was on the very early m.2 connectors that was still based on the SATA protocol 
There are in fact several m.2 generations and they differ not only in the technology but also in their form. the first had a "B" key, than the following came with "M" key ....

So the one you should look for is a ssd m.2 sata enclosure, (B&M key, but not the B only key) it should not exceed more than 20$, and if you are familiar with Aliexpress you can find most of all the brand sold on amazon at half price or even less.

 

You should better avoid connectors like the one you provided, such soldered usb port tends to break easily, given that it is quite long and protrudes outward (more than a standard flash drive), it is often accidentally bumped into, causing the printed circuit board to break and the USB solder to come loose, the ones with usb cable are more flexible and last more, with enclosure they are also more secured from many potential damages.

Any of the basic models can fit your needs, like SSK, Orico, UGreen.

The followings support both m.2 SATA & NVMe ssd,

https://www.amazon.com/ORICO-M-2-NVMe-SATA-Enclosure/dp/B0CFXS4KNC?

https://www.amazon.com/ORICO-Enclosure-Tool-Free-Aluminum-External/dp/B0BJ24GHC7?

https://www.amazon.com/SSK-Aluminum-Tool-Free-Enclosure-Portable/dp/B0892BK5L6?

https://www.amazon.com/MAIWO-Enclosure-Expansion-Aluminum-Automatic/dp/B09NBLVKXJ?

 

Good Luck !

Edited August 11, 2025 by m345

[bigjohn]

The drive was not detected by windows from the reader nor from the PC slots. Mini partition tool, and Macrium reflect and windows explorer, none detected it

[m345]

2 hours ago, bigjohn said:

The drive was not detected by windows from the reader nor from the PC slots. Mini partition tool, and Macrium reflect and windows explorer, none detected it

@bigjohn, until the ssd wasn't damaged in any way, it wasn't detected because it absolutely ignored by the system, its like its is not present and not installed at all because its not conducted in any relevant way.

You must install that ssd in a relevant slot / connector which can recognize and "negotiate" with.

You need it to be connected via m.2 slot (internal on your board or external with adapter like I mentioned) which support sata ssd. not all m.2 can support such old kind of ssd.

Also in case you have installed it on your MB even if basically it is supported, in most cases its possible that it must be pre-configured in the bios so system can "see" it.

can you provide more details about the motherboard where you tried to install it?

whats the exact model, from which manufacturer? (for example Gigabyte B860M GAMING X, or MSI PRO B860-P......)  

by those details we can try to find out which settings needs to be configured in bios and where these setting are located, in case that actually the MB support such ssd.

normally the model is printed in white on the MB, or if you kept the box it came with.

 

Edited August 12, 2025 by m345

[Easy]

@bigjohn

 

As you obviously don't understand completely this problem, please try to find someone qualified and experienced to try to recover your data.

Do not 'mess' and 'experiment' with it any further, to prevent further 'hardware' damage, if it's not done already.

 

And also advice for you and all others:

Do not 'play' with data recovery if you don't have any experience with it!

Every 'wrong step' (and every further such step/repeat) seriously reduces chance of successful data recovery.

As soon as you detect such problem, turn off system, remove device, and give it to someone qualified and experienced to try to recover your data.

 

 

[m345]

Well, in case the ssd has any hardware issue I agree with @Easy

surly if you can get some expert to help you its better to avoid risking your data.

As for data recovery in case the data is not accessible, its highly recommended to avoid any tool or try by anyone who dont know exactly what he is doing. Flash based storage are different from legacy magnetic HDD.

The risk to loss all the data permanently by making any manipulation is very high because of the way this technology works.

 

But until there is nothing wrong with that ssd and its only the hosting laptop that can not load for battery issue, I can not see any problem loading the ssd on other PC.

Anyway it require at least some knowledge in hardware installation and montage so to not mistakenly malinstallation which can leads to destroy the device.

Those ssd are quite fragile so you need carefully handled it no force should be used on it so to not brake it, on the other hand it must be double verified to be correctly inserted to the m.2 port even its is secured by the screw that must be at his right position so to lock it in slot.

 

[bigjohn]

Good news.

Thank you every one for the posts, answers helping me. In the beginning I was overwhelmed and I panicked. I visited a large computer shop in Sydney. I had the list M345 had given me, and I asked for an SSD reader and I handed him my SSD and the list of devices. Hi plug an NVME / SATA M.2 SSD to USB-C Adapter to his PC and said: all data is here. So, I bought the little thing. I was so relieved. No data was lost.

Thanks again to every one.

bigjohn    

[Easy]

What to say?

 

I'm glad you solved your problem.

You should have done that in first place.

And you are very lucky that your SSD 'survived' your experiments