- Windows 11’s August update reportedly introduced an SSD breaking bug
- It’s been suggested that SSDs using Phison controllers are more likely to be affected
- Phison has conducted extensive testing, but couldn’t reproduce the bug a single time, adding that its customers haven’t reported the glitch either
The bug that recently emerged in Windows 11, which is reportedly breaking some SSDs, is being investigated by Microsoft and its partners – and now we’ve heard back from one of the parties involved.
This is Phison, which manufactures SSD controllers used across a wide range of drives from various manufacturers, and is involved in this controversy because some reports suggest that SSDs using these controllers were more likely to be affected by the bug.
Phison has now shared the results from its extensive testing pertaining to this matter, as Neowin reports, issuing the following statement: “Phison dedicated over 4,500 cumulative testing hours to the drives reported as potentially impacted and conducted more than 2,200 test cycles. We were unable to reproduce the reported issue, and no partners or customers have reported that the issue affected their drives at this time.”
So, Phison feels it’s in the clear, what with a whole lot of testing having turned up nothing, and no reports coming to the company directly from its customers, either. Of course, reports from individual consumers are going to go directly to the SSD maker (not those responsible for the controller), but when Phison says “partners or customers,” it is talking about those drive manufacturers (and others, too, no doubt Microsoft included).
What hasn’t helped Phison’s cause here is a fake document that did the rounds online just after the bug came to light in Windows 11’s August update. This purported to contain a list of affected Phison controllers, but was completely fabricated as the company quickly made clear.
Analysis: Microsoft’s findings are still to come
Although Phison has conducted extensive testing, this can’t be regarded as a definitive conclusion. Microsoft’s investigation into this SSD breaking bug in Windows 11 is still being carried out, and until we see the result of that, there remains doubt as to exactly what’s going on here.
Reports of SSD failures still remain scattered. So it must be noted, that this seems to be a rare issue. At any rate, I’m hoping Microsoft will make its findings known sooner rather than later, and clear this matter up – as it’s only becoming more confusing with this latest instalment of the saga.
Phison also tacked on some advice with its statement on best practices to “support high-performance storage devices” undergoing extended workloads, such as shifting large files – like prolonged write operations which apparently triggered the Windows 11 bug. Phison observes that a “proper heatsink or thermal pad” will help in terms of maintaining optimal temperatures and ensuring the drive doesn’t get too hot (or throttles as a result).
Note that imparting this advice isn’t directly related to the bug – meaning Phison isn’t saying you should be using a heatsink to avoid coming off the rails with this Windows 11 glitch. This is just general advice aimed at all high-end SSD owners, letting them know that if they are running intense workloads over long durations, using extra cooling is advised.
Mind you, if your SSD doesn’t have a heatsink already, adding one is a somewhat fiddly affair, especially for the less tech-savvy (although they are less likely to be running a high-performance solid-state drive, admittedly).
