First, I need to explain what NVMe is:
NVMe stands for Non-Volatile Memory Express.
It is a protocol specifically designed so that solid-state drives (SSDs) can communicate directly with the processor through the PCI Express (PCIe) bus, which is much faster than SATA.
Here are the key points to understand it well:
It is not a type of drive, but rather a communication method between the SSD and the computer.
NVMe SSDs are usually in M.2 format, although they can also come as PCIe cards.
They use multiple PCIe lanes (x2, x4), achieving read/write speeds from 3000 MB/s to over 7000 MB/s — something impossible for SATA SSDs.
The NVMe protocol is designed to handle multiple command queues and thousands of simultaneous requests, dramatically reducing latency.
It is ideal for intensive tasks: video editing, data recovery, databases, servers, gaming, AI, etc.
Internally, they manage a layer called FTL (Flash Translation Layer), which organizes the NAND memory blocks and makes the SSD behave like a traditional hard drive, even though internally it is completely different.
In summary: NVMe = high-speed SSD that uses the PCIe bus and a modern protocol optimized for flash memory.
When an NVMe device enters RAW state, what technically happens is that the operating system loses access to the logical structures of the drive: MBR/GPT, boot sector, file system metadata (NTFS, exFAT, APFS, ext4, etc.), or even the internal mapping tables of the SSD controller. This type of corruption can be caused by failures in the FTL (Flash Translation Layer), inconsistencies in the NVMe’s DRAM, power cuts during write operations, or defective firmware that leaves internal tables in an inconsistent state.
The correct procedure begins by creating safe analysis conditions. It is essential to avoid any write operations: no chkdsk, no formatting, no disk initialization. On NVMe drives, any write can trigger garbage collection and wear leveling — internal processes that move NAND blocks and can overwrite still-recoverable data. The ideal approach is to remove the drive and connect it in passive mode using an NVMe-to-USB or PCIe adapter, ensuring strictly read-only access if possible.
With the device isolated, professional practice is to create a bit-for-bit physical clone using forensic recovery tools. GNU ddrescue is the gold standard because of its ability to handle bad sectors and generate error maps. Creating a raw image dump of the drive allows all subsequent work to be done offline, preventing the controller from triggering internal processes that alter the state of the NAND. In cases of severe degradation, dedicated hardware imaging devices such as DeepSpar or S.M.A.R.T. Imager are recommended.
Once the image is obtained, deep analysis is performed using logical reconstruction software such as R-Studio, UFS Explorer Professional Recovery, or DMDE. These tools can detect partition signatures, rebuild damaged GPT, interpret partial NTFS metadata (MFT, $Bitmap, $LogFile), and perform file carving based on binary patterns. The combination of logical reconstruction and simultaneous carving often allows recovery of complete directory trees, even when metadata is destroyed.
If the NVMe shows physical symptoms such as extreme thermal throttling, intermittent disconnections, anomalous SMART values (retired blocks, media errors), or loss of access to the namespace, there is likely damage to the controller or NAND chips. Modern NVMe drives use LDPC error correction, wear leveling, over-provisioning, and dynamic mapping. When these structures fail, only a laboratory with manufacturer-level tools — such as PC-3000 SSD NVMe — can extract the data by directly accessing the NAND chips and manually reconstructing the FTL.
Once the information is recovered, a full health analysis of the NVMe is essential. If the drive went RAW due to FTL corruption or firmware failures, the risk of recurrence is high. Manufacturer tools combined with intensive read/write testing will determine its viability. In most cases, it is recommended to replace the drive and establish a regular backup policy to prevent future losses, since the NVMe architecture does not tolerate power failures or sudden power cuts well.
