Is There Still Hope for My SSD Data? Seeking Guidance

I find myself in a challenging predicament with my HP laptop, which recently failed to power on and displayed a “boot device not found” error. Unfortunately, this issue has left me with crucial data—important downloads—that I had neglected to back up. I fully acknowledge my oversight, and now I’m desperate to find a solution.

In my search for answers, I reached out to the community on Reddit’s r/computer and r/computers, where I received several pieces of advice. Following their suggestions, I began by re-seating the SSD, but to no avail. In an effort to salvage my data, I purchased an SSD USB adapter, removed my SSD, and connected it to another computer. However, I encountered an unexpected hurdle.

Once I plugged the SSD into the adapter, I was met with a cryptic notification from an application called Identity Finder, featuring an image of a dog. The message stated: “Invalid paths, unable to find files to search.” Additionally, I faced another obstacle: the drive is BitLocker protected. When I attempted to unlock it, I was prompted for a 48-digit Windows recovery key. I’ve logged into my Microsoft account and found a recovery key that perfectly matches the one in the notification; however, it consistently says the key doesn’t match. In some instances, after entering the recovery key, I receive an error message with code 0x800701e3, which translates to “ERROR_UNRECOVERABLE_ERROR—the request failed due to a fatal device hardware error.”

Realistically, I understand the odds are against me when it comes to recovering my data, yet a part of me refuses to accept defeat. In the spirit of perseverance, I’m reaching out once more: is there anyone who can provide advice or strategies that might help me recover my lost files? I’ve been exploring the possibility of hiring data recovery specialists and would greatly appreciate any recommendations for reputable services.

While I may be technically challenged, I am fully committed to learning anything necessary to boost my chances of data recovery. I am prepared to follow any leads, and I will do my best to save up for any potential costs that may arise from professional help. Every piece of advice or direction would be invaluable to me right now, even if I understand that my situation may be dire. Thank you for any insights you can share!