New Windows 11 Update Causing BSODs (Blue Screen) with certain Western Digital SSDs

09 December, 2024

We have been getting many contacts regarding users with certain Western Digital NVMe SSDs that are experiencing Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) crashes.

It has come to light that this issue is caused after installing the Windows 11 24H2 update. The issue comes from changes in how Windows handles Host Memory Buffer (HMB) allocation in the new update.

List of potential affected Drives 

• WD Black SN770 - 2TB
• WD Black SN770M - 2TB
• WD Blue SN580 - 2TB
• WD Blue SN5000 - 2TB
• Sandisk Extreme NVMe drives - 2TB

Users will experience 

• Frequent Blue Screen of Death crashes with the "Critical Process Died" error.
• Event Viewer errors related to:
  • storNVMe
  • "The driver detected a controller error on \Device\RaidPort1" or "RaidPort2"
• System instability and BSOD loops
• Failed fresh Windows installations

As stated previously, the issue stems from Windows 11 24H2 update handling of Host Memory Buffer (HMB) allocation. 

Previous versions of Windows 11 allocated 64MB of HMB, while the 24H2 update allows up to 200MB of HMB allocation. 

The increased allocation causes instability with affected drives.

Solution:

Firmware Update

Western Digital has released firmware updates to address this issue.

• Download and install [Western Digital Dashboard]
• Follow Western Digital's firmware update guide [here]

This should resolve the issue on the majority of systems.

NOTE: If continuing to experience severe stability issues you can try to rollback your computer to a previous version or to completely reinstall Windows.

Additional Information

• Disabling HMB may impact SSD performance
• This issue may affect other NVMe drives using HMB technology
• Microsoft is reportedly working on a solution and may pause the 24H2 update rollout for affected configurations
• Western Digital SATA SSDs are not affected by this issue
• The 24H2 update has also been reported to cause other issues:
  • Installation problems
  • Creation of an 8.63GB undeletable cache file

For the latest updates on this issue, check the Western Digital support forum or Microsoft's Windows release health dashboard.

About U-Reach Data Solutions Inc.

With 20 years of experience, U-Reach Group specializes in the design and production of stable, high-speed data solution equipment, with a competitive product portfolio which includes duplication, inspection, and sanitization and covers Flash, HDD, and M.2 PCI-E SSDs.

In 2012, U-Reach Data Solutions Inc. established in California as the USA headquarter, extending the manufacturer's services to North America, offering quality deliveries to meet ever-changing market needs.

Its well-known brand “U-Reach” has been marketed worldwide, and its data equipment has been adopted by many leading manufacturers and companies in the semiconductor IC design field, electronic foundries, military and government institutions, medical and healthcare centers, schools, film production and entertainment industries. To date, U-Reach has become the designated supplier for many semiconductor IC design factories.

U-Reach has set up seven branches around the world, providing a global technical support center (Technological Support Center) and is committed to offering real-time service to local clients and multinational companies.

USA Marketing Team

U-Reach Data Solutions Inc.

Phone : +1 909-628-7030

info@ureach-usa.com

 

PIPEDA Compliance: What is it?

08 November, 2024

Data privacy and protection are vital, and different areas of the world create and follow different standards in regard to personal information. In this blog, we will be looking at Canada, where the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) governs how businesses handle personal information. If you’re a Canadian business collecting, using, or disclosing personal information during commercial activities, understanding PIPEDA and using appropriate tools, like data sanitization and duplication machines, can help you maintain compliance and safeguard your reputation.

What is PIPEDA?

PIPEDA is a federal law that applies to private-sector organizations across Canada, dictating how personal information should be managed. This includes:

• Collection, Use, and Disclosure: Businesses can only collect, use, or disclose personal information for legitimate purposes.
• Consent Requirements: Organizations must obtain consent from individuals before handling their data.
• Access and Accuracy: Individuals have the right to access and correct their personal data.
• Security Measures: Companies must safeguard personal information against unauthorized access, loss, or theft.

Failing to comply with PIPEDA can result in fines and legal consequences, along with loss of consumer trust.

How Data Sanitization Machines Help with PIPEDA Compliance

Data sanitization, or securely erasing data from storage devices, is crucial for PIPEDA compliance. When businesses no longer need certain data or are discarding old storage devices, simply deleting files isn’t enough. This is where data sanitization machines come in. They permanently erase data, ensuring it’s unrecoverable, thus protecting against unauthorized access or misuse.

Benefits of data sanitization machines include:

• Enhanced Data Security: Properly sanitized data prevents breaches and unauthorized data recovery.
• Reduced Risk of Non-Compliance: Data sanitization helps fulfill PIPEDA’s security requirements, reducing the risk of penalties.
• Environmentally Responsible Disposal: Sanitization allows devices to be safely repurposed or recycled, aligning with corporate sustainability goals.

Role of Data Duplication Machines in Safe Data Management

Data duplication machines facilitate secure, efficient duplication of storage devices for backups, migrations, or sharing. By creating accurate copies while preserving the integrity of sensitive information, these machines help ensure compliance with PIPEDA’s requirements for data accuracy and availability.

Incorporating both data sanitization and duplication processes into your data management strategy can simplify compliance and protect sensitive information. For businesses navigating PIPEDA, these tools are valuable assets in building a robust data privacy framework.

About U-Reach Data Solutions Inc.

With 20 years of experience, U-Reach Group specializes in the design and production of stable, high-speed data solution equipment, with a competitive product portfolio which includes duplication, inspection, and sanitization and covers Flash, HDD, and M.2 PCI-E SSDs.

In 2012, U-Reach Data Solutions Inc. established in California as the USA headquarter, extending the manufacturer's services to North America, offering quality deliveries to meet ever-changing market needs.

Its well-known brand “U-Reach” has been marketed worldwide, and its data equipment has been adopted by many leading manufacturers and companies in the semiconductor IC design field, electronic foundries, military and government institutions, medical and healthcare centers, schools, film production and entertainment industries. To date, U-Reach has become the designated supplier for many semiconductor IC design factories.

U-Reach has set up seven branches around the world, providing a global technical support center (Technological Support Center) and is committed to offering real-time service to local clients and multinational companies.

USA Marketing Team

U-Reach Data Solutions Inc.

Phone : +1 909-628-7030

info@ureach-usa.com

 

Understanding Host Protected Areas (HPA)

 11 October, 2024

When it comes to hard drives, there are certain partitions that aren’t visible to the average user or operating system. One such section is the Host Protected Area (HPA), a lesser-known part of hard drives that serves critical behind-the-scenes functions.

An HPA is a hidden partition of a hard drive reserved for specific system tasks. This space is usually set aside by the manufacturer and isn’t included in the total storage space you see. It’s not accessible through normal operations, making it a protected area that requires special commands to be accessed or modified.

Common Applications 

• System Recovery: Manufacturers often use HPAs to store recovery tools and diagnostics. In case of system failure, users can boot into this area to troubleshoot or restore their system without needing external media.
• Firmware Storage: Hard drives may store firmware updates in the HPA, ensuring that critical drive operations can continue seamlessly, without user interference or corruption from regular usage.
• Custom Applications: Enterprises sometimes use HPAs for proprietary software that enhances security, such as tools for encrypting and safeguarding sensitive company data.

Security 

Tools like BIOS-level utilities or specialized software are needed to interact with an HPA. This can be useful for IT administrators or advanced users who need to check for hidden data or adjust the HPA’s size.

While HPAs are useful, they can also pose security risks. Advanced malware can potentially hide in this space, evading detection by standard antivirus tools. Since the HPA is not normally scanned, threats can persist without being noticed. Therefore, monitoring your system for unusual partitions is important if you suspect a security issue.

Conclusion

Host Protected Areas are an essential yet often overlooked feature of modern computing. Whether they're safeguarding your recovery options or ensuring smooth system boot-ups, they play a vital role in maintaining a stable and secure environment. However, like any technology, they require careful monitoring to ensure they aren't exploited for harmful purposes.

About U-Reach Data Solutions Inc.

With 20 years of experience, U-Reach Group specializes in the design and production of stable, high-speed data solution equipment, with a competitive product portfolio which includes duplication, inspection, and sanitization and covers Flash, HDD, and M.2 PCI-E SSDs.

In 2012, U-Reach Data Solutions Inc. established in California as the USA headquarter, extending the manufacturer's services to North America, offering quality deliveries to meet ever-changing market needs.

Its well-known brand “U-Reach” has been marketed worldwide, and its data equipment has been adopted by many leading manufacturers and companies in the semiconductor IC design field, electronic foundries, military and government institutions, medical and healthcare centers, schools, film production and entertainment industries. To date, U-Reach has become the designated supplier for many semiconductor IC design factories.

U-Reach has set up seven branches around the world, providing a global technical support center (Technological Support Center) and is committed to offering real-time service to local clients and multinational companies.

USA Marketing Team

U-Reach Data Solutions Inc.

Phone : +1 909-628-7030

info@ureach-usa.com

Easier GDPR Compliance with Log Reports

 06 September, 2024

Businesses today are burdened by strict data privacy regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), they must ensure that sensitive data is properly managed, particularly during its disposal. Data sanitization machines offer a reliable solution by securely erasing data from hard drives, servers, and other storage devices. But how does this process aid GDPR compliance?

Secure Data Deletion: A GDPR Requirement

GDPR emphasizes the protection of personal data throughout its lifecycle, including its deletion. When personal data is no longer necessary, companies are required to erase it completely to prevent unauthorized access. Data sanitization machines ensure this by performing secure erasure techniques like overwriting or degaussing, guaranteeing that the data cannot be recovered.

The Role of Log Reports

An essential feature of modern data sanitization machines is the ability to generate detailed log reports. These reports provide a clear record of the data deletion process, showing that it was completed successfully and following the necessary security standards.

For GDPR compliance, having these logs is crucial as they offer auditable proof that a company has taken the appropriate steps to protect personal data. Reducing the chance of data breaches by ensuring complete erasure of sensitive information. During an audit or investigation, these reports act as evidence of compliance, showing that the organization follows best practices for data disposal.

Incorporating data sanitization machines with logging capabilities helps businesses avoid hefty fines and reputational damage, ensuring they stay compliant with GDPR's stringent regulations.

About U-Reach Data Solutions Inc.

With 20 years of experience, U-Reach Group specializes in the design and production of stable, high-speed data solution equipment, with a competitive product portfolio which includes duplication, inspection, and sanitization and covers Flash, HDD, and M.2 PCI-E SSDs.

In 2012, U-Reach Data Solutions Inc. established in California as the USA headquarter, extending the manufacturer's services to North America, offering quality deliveries to meet ever-changing market needs.

Its well-known brand “U-Reach” has been marketed worldwide, and its data equipment has been adopted by many leading manufacturers and companies in the semiconductor IC design field, electronic foundries, military and government institutions, medical and healthcare centers, schools, film production and entertainment industries. To date, U-Reach has become the designated supplier for many semiconductor IC design factories.

U-Reach has set up seven branches around the world, providing a global technical support center (Technological Support Center) and is committed to offering real-time service to local clients and multinational companies.

USA Marketing Team

U-Reach Data Solutions Inc.

Phone : +1 909-628-7030

info@ureach-usa.com

 New Product Launch! HDT4-JAB

15 August, 2024

U-Reach Data Solutions Inc., a leading provider of data duplication, inspection, and sanitization equipment has announced that it will be releasing a new product in its HDD/SSD Destroyers & Shredders product line. The HDT4-JAB Automatic Hard Drive Destroyer.

Coming in a compact size, the HDT4-JAB is a device that safely and efficiently physically destroys recording media such as HDDs and SSDs, rendering the data unrecoverable. Since the state of destruction is visible, you can dispose of the recording media with peace of mind.

Drives are placed on a tray for destruction and slotted into the machine. Upon pressing ‘START’ the drive is raised with up to 12 tons of hydraulic pressure, pressing it against the destruction tool fixed on the top, and the media will be destroyed. Each destruction takes up to only 8 seconds and is supported by easy-to-follow status updates displayed on the screen.

U-Reach Data Solutions Inc prides itself in constant innovation inspired by customer feedback and market research data. Following the two tenets of intuitive control and unparalleled efficiency, U-Reach will continue to implement and create innovative solutions and features to the industry.

https://www.ureach-usa.com/Products/HDD-SSD-Shredder-Sanitizers/Automatic-Hard-Drive-Destroyer-HDT4-JAB/

https://www.ureach-estore.com/collections/hdd-destroyer/products/automatic-hard-drive-destroyer

About U-Reach Data Solutions Inc.

With 20 years of experience, U-Reach Group specializes in the design and production of stable, high-speed data solution equipment, with a competitive product portfolio which includes duplication, inspection, and sanitization and covers Flash, HDD, and M.2 PCI-E SSDs.

In 2012, U-Reach Data Solutions Inc. established in California as the USA headquarter, extending the manufacturer's services to North America, offering quality deliveries to meet ever-changing market needs.

Its well-known brand “U-Reach” has been marketed worldwide, and its data equipment has been adopted by many leading manufacturers and companies in the semiconductor IC design field, electronic foundries, military and government institutions, medical and healthcare centers, schools, film production and entertainment industries. To date, U-Reach has become the designated supplier for many semiconductor IC design factories.

U-Reach has set up seven branches around the world, providing a global technical support center (Technological Support Center) and is committed to offering real-time service to local clients and multinational companies.

USA Marketing Team

U-Reach Data Solutions Inc.

Phone : +1 909-628-7030

info@ureach-usa.com