In recent weeks, a wave of concern swept through the tech community regarding Windows update KB5063878, which was rumored to be responsible for damaging solid-state drives (SSDs) during extensive file write operations exceeding 50GB on drives that were at least 60% full. However, after a comprehensive investigation lasting over a week, Microsoft has clarified that this update is not linked to the reported drive failures. The company stated, “After thorough investigation, Microsoft has found no connection between the August 2025 Windows security update and the types of hard drive failures reported on social media.”
Investigating the Claims
Amidst the swirling rumors, one user suggested that the issue might stem from how SSDs manage cache, particularly affecting models lacking DRAM and those utilizing Phison NAND controllers. Yet, further testing involving 21 different SSDs indicated that drives with controllers from various brands were also impacted. Interestingly, while many of the affected drives were able to recover after a system restart, the Western Digital SA510 2TB model did not respond as favorably.
Despite the claims circulating online, Phison has maintained that they could not replicate the issue after conducting extensive testing over 4,500 hours. They recommend that users engaged in heavy storage tasks consider installing heatsinks on their SSDs to mitigate the risk of thermal throttling. Meanwhile, Microsoft has reported no increase in disk failure or file corruption during their internal assessments, and telemetry data has not provided any significant insights into the matter.
Ongoing Concerns
Both Phison and Microsoft assert that they have been unable to reproduce the reported problems, with Microsoft concluding that the update itself is not at fault. Nevertheless, social media continues to reflect a handful of posts from users claiming their drives failed following the installation of KB5063878. This raises questions about whether these incidents represent a genuine pattern or are simply coincidental, especially given the vast number of SSDs currently in use.
Historically, there have been instances where major corporations have initially denied issues with their products, only for significant problems to emerge later, as seen with Intel’s past instability challenges. In light of this, it is prudent for users to keep a close watch on their SSDs, particularly when handling large files on drives that are more than half full. Should similar issues arise, it is advisable to report them to both the SSD manufacturer and Microsoft to create a documented trail that may help clarify the situation.
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