[kwlug-disc] SSD's can lose data over time

[Spencer Hughes]

Does anyone know if leaving the drive plugged into power (but not data, just a spare PSU with the power connected) would allow the SSD to refresh the charge? Or does it need instruction from a computer to initiate the refresh?

Spencer

> On May 14, 2026, at 9:08 PM, Doug Moen <doug at moens.org> wrote:
> 
> According to the web, storage temperature is the most important factor in how fast the SSD degrades. "The warmer the environment, the faster electrons escape from NAND cells. According to JEDEC, every 5–10°C increase cuts retention time in half." So keep it in a freezer?
> 
>> On Fri, May 15, 2026, at 12:33 AM, Gordon Dey wrote:
>>> On 2026-05-14 19:33, Chris Frey wrote:
>>> So today I learned that an SSD drive, sitting in a drawer without
>>> power, is in the process of forgetting its data.
>>> 
>>> I'm shocked I'm only learning this now.  Is this common knowledge?
>> 
>> Memory state stored as energy (e.g. as an electric field (capacitor), or
>> as a magnetic flux (inductor) will always leak out in our imperfect
>> world. That's not an 'if'.
>> 
>> The question has always been, "How long until the state changes?"
>> 
>> If that's longer than I care about, then maybe I can think of it as
>> "forever". But, I would argue, forgetting is common.
>> 
>> 
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