u/DrAlchemIT

Hey everyone,

I'm facing a major dilemma with my Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus 1TB (purchased in 2022). It recently crashed my system, and after hooking it up to another PC, CrystalDiskInfo and smartctl confirmed the worst: the controller locked itself permanently into hardware Read-Only mode.

The SMART attributes show that ID 03 (Available Spare) dropped straight to 0 (Raw: 000000000000), which triggered the safety lock. What's crazy is that the drive only has 67 TB written out of its 600 TBW lifespan (around 11% usage). It basically died prematurely.

Here is my issue:

1. The Price Issue: Back in 2022, I bought this drive for around €100. Right now in 2026, SSD prices have gone absolutely insane, and this exact model or equivalent replacement goes for around €300. So I really want to use my 5-year warranty to get a replacement from Samsung.
2. The Data Issue: This was my C:\ drive. It contains my entire OS, personal browser sessions, tax papers, and highly sensitive data. Because the controller is locked in hardware read-only, I cannot format, wipe, or secure-erase the drive.

I drafted a strict GDPR-based email to Samsung support asking for an exceptional waiver to get a replacement without sending the dead drive back (or by providing video proof of physical destruction), but we all know manufacturer support can be a brick wall.

Before I send the drive to complete strangers through public transit:

• Is there ANY advanced or low-level trick to force a wipe, zap the controller, or corruption on a drive that is hard-locked in read-only by the firmware? (Short of physical destruction, which would void the warranty).
• Has anyone successfully dealt with Samsung Support regarding GDPR/privacy when a drive is stuck in read-only? Did they accept a proof of destruction?

I'm really uncomfortable sending all my un-erasable life data into the wild, but losing a €300 value hurts.

Thanks for any advice!

[Screenshot of CrystalDiskInfo]