Recent updates to Windows 11, specifically the 24H2 version, have sparked concerns among users regarding potential data corruption and drive failures affecting various SSD and HDD models. The issue first came to light when a Japanese PC enthusiast reported that drives equipped with Phison NAND controllers were disappearing from the operating system during intensive write operations, such as transferring large files or multiple files simultaneously, following the installation of the KB5063878 security update and the KB5062660 preview update.
While some users managed to restore access to their drives after rebooting their systems, others found their drives remained inaccessible, even after multiple restarts. The initial reporter speculated that the problem might stem from a drive cache issue linked to a memory leak within the OS-buffered region. They noted, “Our tests show that symptoms appear on SSDs with over 60% usage after approximately 50GB of continuous writing. Reports indicate similar symptoms on HDDs as well.” The findings suggest that SSDs utilizing Phison NAND controllers, particularly DRAM-less models, are more susceptible to these issues at lower write volumes.
Other users experiencing similar problems have reported issues with drives from brands such as SanDisk Extreme Pro, Corsair Force MP600, Maxio SSD, and KIOXIA, particularly those utilizing Phison PS5012-E12 and InnoGrit controllers.
Microsoft reportedly working on a fix
Although Microsoft has not yet officially acknowledged the issue, Phison has confirmed its awareness of the situation and is collaborating with Microsoft to find a resolution. A spokesperson for Phison stated, “Phison has recently been made aware of the industry-wide effects of the ‘KB5063878’ and ‘KB5062660’ updates on Windows 11 that potentially impacted several storage devices, including some supported by Phison. We understand the disruption this may have caused and promptly engaged industry stakeholders. At this time, the controllers that may have been affected are under review, and we are working with partners.”
BleepingComputer has reached out to Microsoft for further clarification on the matter, but a response has not yet been received. In the meantime, users are advised to exercise caution by avoiding the transfer of large files—particularly those in the tens of gigabytes—or multiple large files in quick succession. Instead, it is recommended to break these tasks into smaller batches over time. When extracting large compressed files containing numerous items, users should also consider processing them in several steps rather than attempting to extract everything at once.
