Hello johnkeates,
The 12V seem to be missing from the PIN1 - PIN2 - PIN3 from the SATA connector pins.
https://forum.hddguru.com/download/file.php?id=11654&mode=view
Normally on the SATA Standard there are +12V on the first 3 pins.
Do you have the same issue?

Wondering what evidence is there to support this conclusion?

Well, at first there was no detection on my drive, then after taking it apart, powering it up at the DC-DC circuit, measuring voltages (which are all within spec in my drive), putting it back on a SATA bus + ATX power, it works, but only reports it's 2,064,384 bytes [2.06 MB] big. Which to me means it either can't asses the NAND, or doesn't have a usable config to do anything with the NAND. Maybe I'm totally wrong here...

Hello. Can the FW be updated manually by using the Serial / UART connection? I saw that on the OCZ website, there is firmware 11.2 for OCZ Triton 100 which is identical. What do you think?

I believe a manufacturer's update is possible only if the drive is in normal working condition.

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Hard Disk Drive, SSD, USB Drive and RAID Data Recovery Specialist in Massachusetts

What would you recommend in order to find out if the BGA chips from the board have a soldering issue or if it is a FW problem?

Did you buy it brand new?

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Hard Disk Drive, SSD, USB Drive and RAID Data Recovery Specialist in Massachusetts

Yes. I bought it as being brand new. I used it for aprox. 4 weeks. Everything was fine till 2 days ago. The problem is that I need the data from it! What do you think?...

Well, in this case, it is rather strange for the soldering to have weakened that fast. So, likely that is not the problem with your drive. If electronics have been ruled out as a problem, then likely controller is the problem.
Do you know what it does in status register? Can check with something like MHDD for free.

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Hard Disk Drive, SSD, USB Drive and RAID Data Recovery Specialist in Massachusetts

I have tried to check by using a linux USB from which I have booted but it does not see the SSD, I do not get anything...

I have tried to check by using a linux USB from which I have booted but it does not see the SSD, I do not get anything...

I doubt a Linux USB will provide info in status register.
https://forum.hddguru.com/viewtopic.php?t=4024&start=

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Hard Disk Drive, SSD, USB Drive and RAID Data Recovery Specialist in Massachusetts

...can this be checked only through a TTL with a CP2102 or also through a USB connection?...what I have done is to check via USB, is this correct?...

No, SATA only.

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Hard Disk Drive, SSD, USB Drive and RAID Data Recovery Specialist in Massachusetts

The drive appears to be a 5V-only device, as is usually the case for all SSDs except some server models.

http://www.computershopper.com/var/ezwe ... k-view.jpg

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A backup a day keeps DR away.

...no drive is displayed at all in MHDD...is this normal? unfortunately I cannot set the SSD to ide in my bios, does this matter?

Yes, need to change BIOS setting to legacy option. Read MHDD manual.

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Hard Disk Drive, SSD, USB Drive and RAID Data Recovery Specialist in Massachusetts

Unfortunately I do not have the option to select IDE after I select Legacy in my BIOS....it is a Sony Laptop...

I guess you're not gonna have any luck with that laptop If you really need the data, send it off for DR and don't muck around with it. There is a good chance you'll mess it up if you just poke at the thing trying to bring it back.

Following, I set the boot mode to Legacy. I used MHDD and the SSD was not identified at all (not primary, nor secondary master, nor PC-3000). I have tried to search for it and every time I received the error: Drive not ready.
The temperature of the NAND chips and the Toshiba BGA is higher than the room temperature, the Toshiba chip is also getting warmer than all the NAND chips.
I do not have any ideea on what I should do next. Any further suggestion?...