The ongoing complications with SSD performance on Windows 11 may have taken an unexpected direction, with indications suggesting that the average consumer is likely to remain unaffected. Instead, concerns primarily revolve around early adopters and beta testers, who may encounter issues.
Investigation into SSD Crashes Linked to Windows 11 Security Update: Unstable Firmware Identified
The recent disturbances experienced with SSDs following Windows 11’s security updates have shifted the narrative regarding their origin. Initially, the root of the issue was attributed to SSDs utilizing Phison technology. However, Phison has since informed us that extensive evaluations have failed to reproduce the reported crashes. Meanwhile, Microsoft has publicly stated that these crashes are not connected to the Windows 11 security update, effectively ruling out an operating system fault. According to PCDIY, a notable Taiwanese hardware review website, the underlying issue relates to certain firmware versions on the affected SSDs.
A Taiwanese hardware review site – PCDIY – reported that specific SSDs equipped with PHISON controllers are experiencing crashes due to firmware issues by u/megablue in Windows11
PCDIY indicates that certain models, notably Corsair’s MP600 and SSDs from Silicon Power, are particularly susceptible to these issues. These drives were reportedly equipped with early engineering firmware prior to their official launch, which means they were shared with reviewers before stabilizing the software. Consequently, the use of non-final firmware versions may have led to compatibility problems with the Windows OS, possibly manifesting as operational inconsistencies during intensive tasks.
The silver lining in this situation is that SSD units available in retail environments typically come pre-installed with stable firmware versions. This means that consumers need not worry excessively about the risk of their drives becoming inoperative. Given that both Phison and Microsoft have not been able to replicate the issue under controlled conditions, it appears that the crashes primarily affect a small subset of users, particularly those with outdated firmware on their devices.
For those experiencing degraded SSD performance after installing the latest Windows 11 security update, PCDIY suggests conducting a ‘Secure Erase’ procedure. This action can help reset the fast SLC cache and potentially ameliorate performance issues. We will continue to monitor this situation closely and will provide updates should new information arise.
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