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[Sonik]

Windows 11 24H2 Security Update Causes SSD/HDD Failures and Potential Data Corruption

A significant security update rolled out by Microsoft with the Windows 11 24H2 (KB5063878) release is causing widespread issues for users, with reports surfacing that the update can render SSDs and HDDs inaccessible and may potentially corrupt user data.

cybersecuritynews.com

Another Windows Update another catastrophic failure for users

Btw, Windows Update Blocker, never trust Microsoft

 

[kruis]

Phison Controller SSD Failures Due to Windows 11 24H2 Cumulative Update

Microsoft rolled out the August 2025 cumulative update for Windows 11 version 24H2, also known as KB5063878.The update was supposed to fix problems with game performance and some app slowdowns, which had been frustrating gamers for months.

www.guru3d.com

Microsoft rolled out the August 2025 cumulative update for Windows 11 version 24H2, also known as KB5063878. The update was supposed to fix problems with game performance and some app slowdowns, which had been frustrating gamers for months. But instead of smoothing things out, this patch has opened up a new problem: it's causing certain SSDs to fail when writing large numbers of files.The issue isn't universal, but it seems to heavily affect solid-state drives that use Phison controllers. Users began reporting that their systems became unstable when copying or writing large amounts of data, usually in the range of 50 GB or more. In these cases, the drive can suddenly stop functioning properly. After a reboot, Windows may no longer recognize the SSD at all, leaving the partition inaccessible. For anyone storing important files on one of these drives, the risk is significant.

The problem goes beyond consumer systems too. IT administrators using corporate deployment tools such as WSUS and SCCM have noticed another bug tied to this update: error code 0x80240069, which blocks the update from being installed across managed devices. While that's frustrating in an enterprise environment, the SSD failures are more concerning for everyday users, especially because the issue involves potential data loss.

Several SSD models have been singled out as being most vulnerable. These include the Corsair Force MP600, SSDs built around the Phison PS5012-E12 controller, Kioxia Exceria Plus G4, Fikwot FN955, and SanDisk Extreme Pro M.2 NVMe 3D. Reports suggest that once the failure occurs, the operating system can no longer access the partition, forcing a full reformat or even hardware replacement in some cases.

At the moment, the safest course of action is to avoid running extended write operations if you have installed the KB5063878 update and use one of these drives. Tasks such as large backups, moving huge folders, or continuous write-heavy workloads should be postponed until Microsoft releases a fix. If avoiding these tasks isn't an option, making regular backups to an unaffected drive or cloud storage is strongly advised.

For now, Windows 11 users should approach KB5063878 with caution. If your system relies on a Phison-based SSD, particularly one of the listed models, you may want to hold off on applying the update or be prepared to limit heavy file transfers until further information is available.

 

[AJUMP23]

Thankfully I'm still on Windows 10.


What a mess up on the update.

 

[Mithos]

My OS NVMe uses a Phison-controller , but I rarely install anything on it. Most of my software and games are stored on two other NVMe drives that don't use Phison controllers.

Hopefully the can fix it quickly.

 

[Revreign]

Bugs like this are insane. It seems pretty clear that either one of two things is happening. Microsoft isn't testing Windows 11 system updates on a wide variety of machines, or Microsoft detects bugs like this and knowingly releases the update anyway.

 

[NeverYouMind]

And Microsoft wants me to downgrade to this OS...

 

[Liljagare]

Third time this year they have managed to come up with similar bugs, whaaaat the heck!!!!

 

[efyu_lemonardo]

Bugs like this are insane. It seems pretty clear that either one of two things is happening. Microsoft isn't testing Windows 11 system updates on a wide variety of machines, or Microsoft detects bugs like this and knowingly releases the update anyway.

My guess is there are behind the scenes politics going on between MS and hardware manufacturers.

 

[zeomax]

How is this Microsofts fault if the controller on the SSD itself is faulty?

 

[NeverYouMind]

How is this Microsofts fault if the controller on the SSD itself is faulty?

Because their update singlehandedly caused the fault?

 

[Celcius]

Just rolled back the windows patch on my system and then paused updates until mid September when hopefully this is fixed
There's no reason not to roll back if you guys can... not worth the risk. I believe there's a 10 day limit on being able to roll back after installing a patch.
That being said, during the 6 days I had the patch installed my Samsung 9100 Pro didn't have any issues but I was mainly just playing COD and surfing the web

 

[zeomax]

Because their update singlehandedly caused the fault?

No, the fault is caused by the defective controller.

 

[Fake]

Thankfully I'm still on Windows 10.

My Lenovo notebook came with Windows 11. None of the UWA work, even the Dolby Atmos. All solved when I installed Windows 10.

I don't recommend Windows 11 at all.

 

[Sonik]

No, the fault is caused by the defective controller.

Let me get this straight, you're blaming the controller because the terrible quality software is causing it to fail? That would be like the shitty OS melting down CPUs and you blaming the CPU for not taking the necessary precautions (more properly limit temps, time of 100% usage) to stop an OS from destroying it. Sure, the hardware manufacturer has some responsibility for the clusterfuck but obviously the main problem is the shitty fucking OS

 

[zeomax]

Let me get this straight, you're blaming the controller because the terrible quality software is causing it to fail?

Yes if it is really the case that the controller is failing it is the hardware manufacturer fault. Samsung and Intel SSD controllers working just fine that means something is fishy with the Phison controller. By your logic we should also blame MS that the power connectors on 4090s are melting because Windows is letting the GPU draw to much power.

 

[Hari Seldon]

Imagine how bad the next version of windows will be with it completely bloated with AI nonsense and voice controls. I might give up PC gaming and just play whatever I can run on Linux rather than deal with that.

 

[Sonik]

Just rolled back the windows patch on my system and then paused updates until mid September when hopefully this is fixed
There's no reason not to roll back if you guys can... not worth the risk. I believe there's a 10 day limit on being able to roll back after installing a patch.
That being said, during the 6 days I had the patch installed my Samsung 9100 Pro didn't have any issues but I was mainly just playing COD and surfing the web

Use the utility I linked to, you can enable updates back whenever you want. Windows Updates have repeatedly ignored my instructions for when to update in the past and even if these fucking idiots say they fixed it you still shouldn't trust them for something so important

Yes if it is really the case that the controller is failing it is the hardware manufacturer fault. By your logic we should also blame MS that the power connectors on 4090s are melting because Windows is letting the GPU draw to much power.

The connectors were melting down during regular OS/gaming operation, if Windows were overclocking the GPUs or locking them to 100% usage for hours then it would be the OS's fault, how on earth can't you see the obvious difference?

 

[Sonik]

Imagine how bad the next version of windows will be with it completely bloated with AI nonsense and voice controls. I might give up PC gaming and just play whatever I can run on Linux rather than deal with that.

Installing Steam on Linux now comes with the full Proton package so that you can play the vast majority of Windows games, often even with better performance due to how fucking bloated Windows are. Nvidia drivers are kind of mid on Linux and kernel anticheat multiplayer games don't work but that's it

 

[John Bilbo]

That's messed up. Just rolled back the update.

 

[Trilobit]

I'll sue them if I lose my 20 terabytes of movies and ebooks.

 

[Sonik]

I'll sue them if I lose my 20 terabytes of movies and ebooks.

Sure buddy, "movies"

 

[John Bilbo]

Sure buddy, "movies"

The plot thiccens

 

[Trilobit]

Sure buddy, "movies"

It's how I've learned a lot of Japanese and German.

 

[Axelon]

I JUST fixed an issue with my display settings not loading from a update that broke it. Windows updated and broke it, uninstalled the update... fixed. Reinstalled itself a week later and broke it again. Did an in-place upgrade... no go. Did near every normal trouble shooting step... nope. Managed to find a guy on reddit that said to delete a bunch of "windows." files in appdata and bam, fixed. Why couldn't a freaking troubleshooter delete those problematic files for me? So dumb.

I hate Windows for those completely random breaking updates. Always had'em. I've had far less issues on my Mac and I'm on the OS 26 beta atm.

Now this... sigh.

 

[SpokkX]

Just rolled back the windows patch on my system and then paused updates until mid September when hopefully this is fixed
There's no reason not to roll back if you guys can... not worth the risk. I believe there's a 10 day limit on being able to roll back after installing a patch.
That being said, during the 6 days I had the patch installed my Samsung 9100 Pro didn't have any issues but I was mainly just playing COD and surfing the web

I did the same. I also have dont have NVM:es with the affected controller (Samsung 990 pro and Solidigm P44 Pro)

However rolling back seems like the way to go here. Also just paused updates for 5 weeks - MS should fix this in that time

Edit: Cant wait for Steam OS to fully support Nvidia - i will gladly replace Windows on my gaming systems at that time

 

[xrnzaaas]

This is the reason I started delaying updates several years ago. What Microsoft doing is unacceptable, Windows users have become betatesters and now they're risking that their hardware and data can get nuked.

 

[Soodanim]

That's pretty fucked up. Just another reminder for me to move over to Linux. I was going to wait until BF and hopefully get a nice deal on a 2nd nvme, but maybe I'll bring that forward.

 

[Syphon Filter]

Installing Steam on Linux now comes with the full Proton package so that you can play the vast majority of Windows games, often even with better performance due to how fucking bloated Windows are. Nvidia drivers are kind of mid on Linux and kernel anticheat multiplayer games don't work but that's it

Emulation isnt ideal ,native is.

 

[ReBurn]

Improving security so much even you can't access your data.

 

[ForAcademicPurposes]

pos

 

[Sonik]

Emulation isnt ideal ,native is.

Wine Is Not an Emulator

There's a reason the precursor of Proton was named that way, Proton is not an emulator, emulators are sluggish and create virtual environments to play a game, Proton is a extra layer like the layer newer Windows OSs have to use software not explicitly made for that version. Obviously Linux being a different OS and not having the support of Microsoft makes the extra layer a little more slow and buggy but that is balanced by Valve's awesome efforts to perfect Proton but also Microsoft's effort to make Windows as bloated and useless as humanly possible. That's why now SteamOS plays games faster, often much faster, on handheld computers than the ones running Windows

 

[Unknown Soldier]

Windows 11 is such a piece of shit

I've been dealing with a bug for months now where Windows fucks a setting up and makes the colors washed out and horrible if you set the display output on Nvidia drivers to 10-bit

It's really fucking annoying, so much so that I've mostly given up and just use 8-bit most of the time instead

 

[Fake]

And they want to make Xbox handheld using Windows 11...

Talking about joke. Imagine this happening with you gaming console.

 

[YCoCg]

 

[SirKicksalot]

I KNEW MY FUCKING DRIVES WERE HEALTHY

NUTELLA GIVE ME MY FUCKING SATURDAY BACK YOU FUCKING CUNT, I WASTED IT ALL ON FAILED EXPORTS AND COPIES

 

[nkarafo]

Microsoft isn't testing Windows 11 system updates on a wide variety of machines

The real testers are the consumers who use their OS.

 

[sono]

How is this Microsofts fault if the controller on the SSD itself is faulty?

Microsoft has a duty.of care to its customers, the pre patch windows works fine...

 

[Wildebeest]

How is this Microsofts fault if the controller on the SSD itself is faulty?

It's implied that these controllers are not faulty but the problem shows up faster for them because they don't have a dedicated cache. Something seems messed up with how microsoft is using memory for writing and some theorize there is a memory leak in their code that gets larger the bigger the write job.

 

[zeomax]

It's implied that these controllers are not faulty but the problem shows up faster for them because they don't have a dedicated cache. Something seems messed up with how microsoft is using memory for writing and some theorize there is a memory leak in their code that gets larger the bigger the write job.

But the OS don't have access directly to the memory. This is the job of the controller to do. The OS just hands over the data and the controller writes it to the memory.

 

[NeoIkaruGAF]

Thank you for the heads-up. Yesterday Windows proposed me this update on my new work PC. I delayed any updates for a few weeks.

 

[mcmanic]

everything fine with my 4x WD Black SN850X 4TB SSD M.2

 

[Loope]

Installing Steam on Linux now comes with the full Proton package so that you can play the vast majority of Windows games, often even with better performance due to how fucking bloated Windows are. Nvidia drivers are kind of mid on Linux and kernel anticheat multiplayer games don't work but that's it

What about the rest? If i use my pc for a vast array of things? I know for sure most of the software i use, especially Strcutural software shit the bed in linux. Why are we comparing an OS that serves a huge array of purposes to one that works really well on a specific usage but shits the bed in other stuff?
Windows is far from optimal, and this sort of stuff is awful, but there is no alternative for someone that uses his pc to several stuff other than gaming.

 

[Wildebeest]

But the OS don't have access directly to the memory. This is the job of the controller to do. The OS just hands over the data and the controller writes it to the memory.

But what if OS is corrupting the memory the controller is using for its mapping table (which might be on system ram), or just spamming the controller with weird faulty writes causes the space it uses for mapping on the ssd to become corrupt?

 

[Sonik]

What about the rest? If i use my pc for a vast array of things? I know for sure most of the software i use, especially Strcutural software shit the bed in linux. Why are we comparing an OS that serves a huge array of purposes to one that works really well on a specific usage but shits the bed in other stuff?
Windows is far from optimal, and this sort of stuff is awful, but there is no alternative for someone that uses his pc to several stuff other than gaming.

Using that logic plenty of network and software engineers have to use Linux, if this structural software sucks on Linux you should definitely use Windows but for most people who use the OSs for browsing, music, movies, office and games Linux is becoming a pretty good choice, and to be honest it's not because Linux is making such great progress, they still have a crapload of annoying af problems, it's because of how fucking terrible Windows 11 is

Btw, the only reason Windows "serves a huge array of purposes" is because for decades it was a monopoly and plenty of software works only on it. Linux does a lot more than that bloated mess and does it better and faster, the problem is compatibility

 

[efyu_lemonardo]

Let me get this straight, you're blaming the controller because the terrible quality software is causing it to fail? That would be like the shitty OS melting down CPUs and you blaming the CPU for not taking the necessary precautions (more properly limit temps, time of 100% usage) to stop an OS from destroying it. Sure, the hardware manufacturer has some responsibility for the clusterfuck but obviously the main problem is the shitty fucking OS

Do you understand how an OS works? Do you understand how integrated it is with hardware and how reliant on standards and protocols everything has to be in order to operate together smoothly?

I'm no fan of Windows, to be clear, but an OS is literally designed around protocols and specifications that hardware manufacturers have to adhere to. And when either party makes a mistake, the result is the same from a user perspective.

 

[Syphon Filter]

Wine Is Not an Emulator

There's a reason the precursor of Proton was named that way, Proton is not an emulator, emulators are sluggish and create virtual environments to play a game, Proton is a extra layer like the layer newer Windows OSs have to use software not explicitly made for that version. Obviously Linux being a different OS and not having the support of Microsoft makes the extra layer a little more slow and buggy but that is balanced by Valve's awesome efforts to perfect Proton but also Microsoft's effort to make Windows as bloated and useless as humanly possible. That's why now SteamOS plays games faster, often much faster, on handheld computers than the ones running Windows

My point is that its still a windows game and not an actual linux game, its kind of ghetto.

 

[GreenAlien]

I have the update, i have a vulnerable SSD and i cant delete the update due to some error. Amazing work MS.

 

[Bojji]

Uninstalled this update and freezed updates for few weeks. Thanks for creating this thread.

I didn't have any issues with this update but better safe than sorry.

 

[Sonik]

Do you understand how an OS works? Do you understand how integrated it is with hardware and how reliant on standards and protocols everything has to be in order to operate together smoothly?

I'm no fan of Windows, to be clear, but an OS is literally designed around protocols and specifications that hardware manufacturers have to adhere to. And when either party makes a mistake, the result is the same from a user perspective.

If hardware didn't have a problem with all other OSs and the dozens of their versions, plus all previous versions of Win11 and then an update is released and it fucks up that hardware then 99% of the responsibility lies on the update, this is common sense, I can't believe I have to explain this

I have the update, i have a vulnerable SSD and i cant delete the update due to some error. Amazing work MS.

I swear to God many years ago I had that problem (Windows 10 has that bug too) and asked on Microsoft's official forums how to solve it, they told me to update Windows. It's like a comedy sketch

 

[efyu_lemonardo]

If hardware didn't have a problem with all other OSs and the dozens of their versions, plus all previous versions of Win11 and then an update is released and it fucks up that hardware then 99% of the responsibility lies on the update, this is common sense, I can't believe I have to explain this.

Of course the update and the problem are related to each other. No one is claiming otherwise. You just don't understand the relationship between OS and hardware.

Did the update cause the problem or did it reveal an existing problem somewhere else?

From a user perspective it makes no difference, and users obviously shouldn't have to be the ones to distinguish.

From a developer perspective it makes all the difference as the company responsible has to pay engineers (software, hardware or both) to fix it.

This happens very often in the computing world, and outside of it too. It happens in any engineering project where multiple contractors are involved (ie. most of them).
That's why I said earlier in this thread that it could be down to politics (arguments between the different companies on who is actually responsible for fixing this).

You'd be surprised how common these issues come up that fall in a sort of grey area between what's clearly the responsibility of one team and the responsibility of another team. That's what I mean by politics. If you've worked in software development you've probably experienced it.