How to Restore Files with Original Names After APFS Corruption on Samsung 990 Pro 2TB

Recovering Data from a Corrupted APFS Volume on Samsung 990 Pro 2TB NVMe SSD: A Professional Guide

Introduction

Data loss incidents on external drives can be particularly stressful, especially when essential files and folder structures are at risk. This article provides a comprehensive overview of how to approach the recovery of data from an APFS-formatted external Samsung 990 Pro 2TB NVMe SSD that has encountered corruption issues following a macOS update. The guidance outlined here aims to assist professionals and advanced users in navigating the recovery process, emphasizing data integrity and safety.

Scenario Overview

A user reports that their Samsung 990 Pro 2TB NVMe SSD, formatted with APFS under macOS 26, became inaccessible after a system update or physical disconnection. The drive is recognized at the hardware level, but the APFS container appears missing, preventing mounting and access to stored data.

Key Identifiers:
– Drive detected via diskutil list with correct capacity.
– Absence of APFS container, leading to unmountable volume.
– Disk Utility recognizes the drive but cannot display any mountable volume.
– Data recovery attempts with diskutil repairVolume and fsck_apfs produce errors such as:
– “Unable to find an APFS Container Reference”
– “Container superblock is invalid”

Environmental Details:
– macOS version: 26 (Ventura or later)
– Storage interface: NVMe SSD enclosed in a USB adapter
– Incident triggered post-system update
– Cloning status: Not yet performed
– Objective: Recover all data—including original folder structures and filenames

Professional Recovery Strategy

1. Evaluation and Precautions
2. Stop using the affected drive immediately to prevent further data overwriting.
3. Avoid writing to the damaged volume.

4. Confirm the drive’s physical integrity through SMART diagnostics if available.

5. Creating a Forensic Clone

6. Before attempting recovery, generate a sector-by-sector clone of the drive.
7. Use reliable disk imaging tools capable of handling APFS structures (e.g., Clonezilla, in combination with raw disk copying with ddrescue on Unix-based systems).

8. Cloning ensures a safe environment to perform recovery attempts without risking further data loss.

9. Analyzing the Cloned Image

10. Employ specialized data recovery software designed to handle APFS volumes:
11. R-Studio for Mac: Known for its robust recovery features and support for APFS.
12. **DiskDrill Professional