Windows 11’s Latest Security Update Is Reportedly Causing Several SSD Failures When Writing a Large Number of Files at Once

Recent reports indicate that the latest Windows 11 update has led to significant issues for solid-state drives (SSDs), particularly those equipped with Phison controllers. Following the release of the ‘KB5063878’ security update, users have noted that their storage drives become non-functional after executing large data writes, a problem that has surfaced for several models.

SSDs, Particularly With Phison Controllers, Are Becoming Non-Functional After Large Data Write

This situation is not entirely new for Microsoft, as previous updates have also introduced challenges for PC gamers. A detailed investigation by an X user, known as @Necoru_cat, highlighted the issue when attempting to update the popular game Cyberpunk 2077. The findings suggest that after the recent security update, drives may malfunction during extensive file transfers.

While these observations are based on internal testing and benchmarking, it is important to note that neither SSD manufacturers nor Microsoft have officially confirmed the existence of this failure issue. Reports suggest that problems may arise after approximately 50GB of continuous writing, and similar complications have been noted with hard disk drives (HDDs), indicating that this is not an isolated incident.

After a prolonged data write, users have found that the operating system fails to recognize the SSD, rendering the drive’s partition inaccessible upon reboot. Internal tests conducted by the user indicate that SSDs featuring Phison controllers are particularly susceptible to this issue, although not all models are affected. A list compiled by NichePCGamer identifies several SSDs that have reportedly encountered problems following the installation of the latest security updates:

• Corsair Force MP600
• Phison PS5012-E12 controller-equipped SSD
• KIOXIA EXCERIA PLUS G4
• Fikwot FN955
• SanDisk Extreme PRO M.2 NVMe 3D SSD

At present, the issue does not appear to be widespread, as it has not been extensively reported in public forums. However, the recent security update may indeed be linked to the failures observed in SSD performance after data writes. Preliminary analysis suggests that a storage driver or kernel-level regression introduced with the update may be mishandling long sequential writes, leading to controller lock-ups that cause the drives to become unrecognizable to the OS.

As we continue to gather updates and reports regarding this issue, users are advised to exercise caution and avoid long sequential write operations, particularly if their drives are listed above or utilize Phison controllers.