Recent discussions have emerged regarding the impact of Windows 11 security updates on Solid State Drives (SSDs), particularly those utilizing Phison controllers. Reports have circulated suggesting that updates KB5063878 and KB5062660 may be responsible for failures in certain SSD models. However, Phison has stepped forward to clarify the situation, attributing the issues to “early versions of firmware and BIOS” rather than the Windows updates themselves.
Michael Wu, General Manager and President of Phison US, emphasized in a statement to The Verge that many of the issues reported stem from media tests conducted on hardware running these early firmware versions. “These versions are performance preview drives and are not identical to those provided to end users through official distribution channels,” Wu explained. He urged reviewers experiencing problems to utilize updated firmware available through manufacturer-provided utilities.
In a notable incident, YouTuber JayzTwoCents highlighted what he described as a severe issue with Windows updates and SSD performance, showcasing a Crucial T500 drive with a Phison E25 controller that required a power cycle to function after the updates. The specifics of whether JayzTwoCents was using pre-release firmware or an early motherboard BIOS remain unclear.
Phison’s investigations revealed that the problems reported by the PCDIY! community were linked to engineering preview firmware. “We examined the exact SSDs used in the PCDIY! testing and found they were utilizing an engineering preview firmware, which is not the final version available to consumers,” Wu noted, adding that tests conducted on consumer SSDs showed no crashes or failures.
Despite Microsoft’s assertion last month that it had “found no connection” between its security updates and the reported drive failures, the narrative has persisted, fueled by social media and prominent YouTubers attributing blame to the tech giant. This reaction is perhaps unsurprising, given Microsoft’s historical challenges with Windows updates.
