DON'T buy this external SSD! Watch before you buy

Summary

In this video, the creator shares a disappointing experience with SanDisk's 4TB Extreme SSD, which failed shortly after purchase despite a history of trust in the brand. They recount the panic of losing 1.7TB of data, the unhelpful customer service, and the community's similar complaints. The creator suggests using a data recovery app and recommends Samsung's T7 SSD as a reliable alternative, concluding with a cautionary tale to inform viewers' purchasing decisions.

Takeaways

• 💾 The user was a loyal SanDisk customer for over a decade, owning multiple SD cards and external hard drives.
• 🛒 The user purchased a 4TB SanDisk Extreme SSD on Amazon for $400, expecting it to perform well like their previous 2TB SSD.
• 🚫 The 4TB SSD failed within days, showing zero files after transferring 1.7TB of data.
• 😓 The user tried Disk Utility and reached out to SanDisk for support, but found the response unhelpful.
• 📉 Many others have reported the same issue with the 4TB Extreme and Extreme Pro SSDs.
• 💻 The user eventually recovered their files using a data recovery app, increasing the cost of the failed SSD.
• 🔙 The user returned the faulty SSD and received a full refund from Amazon.
• 🔄 The user switched to Samsung's T7 SSD, which has performed well without issues.
• ⚠️ The user suspects a bad batch of 4TB SSDs from SanDisk, cautioning others to be aware.
• 🔗 The video recommends the Samsung T7 SSD as an alternative, with a link provided in the description.

Q & A

What product did the user initially have a positive experience with from SanDisk?

The user initially had a positive experience with SanDisk's two terabyte SSD.

Why did the user decide to purchase the four terabyte SanDisk SSD?

The user decided to purchase the four terabyte SSD due to upcoming trips and the need for additional storage space for work.

What was the price the user paid for the four terabyte SSD on Amazon?

The user paid $400 for the four terabyte SSD on Amazon, which was a discounted price from the usual $800.

How much data did the user transfer to the SSD before it failed?

The user transferred 1.7 terabytes of files to the SSD before it failed.

What was the user's initial reaction when the SSD showed zero files after transferring data?

The user panicked and tried using the Disk Utility app on the MacBook, which also showed zero files.

What was the response from SanDisk when the user contacted them about the issue?

SanDisk responded via email stating that they had no reports of the four terabyte variant of the extreme portable drive being prone to failure and that their drives are reliable.

Did the user find others with the same issue after experiencing the SSD failure?

Yes, the user found many others with the same issue, including some creators who publicly stated they would not use SanDisk drives again.

What was the user's solution to recover the lost data on the SSD?

The user purchased a data recovery app which helped recover all the files.

What action did the user take after recovering the data and not receiving helpful support from SanDisk?

The user filed a complaint with Amazon and received a full refund for the faulty SSD.

What alternative product did the user switch to after the SanDisk SSD failure?

The user switched to the Samsung T7 two terabyte SSD, which has performed well.

What is the user's final recommendation for a portable SSD solution?

The user highly recommends the Samsung T7 portable SSD.