What kind of SSD is your friend using?
Also, is your friend using a Y cable to give the drive more power using 2 USB Slots?
Some drives need that extra power, that could be the reason why the drive is acting up on you. Or it's not a brand name SSD, something could be wrong with the SSD. Even though the chances are a lot lower that an SSD going bad, then a HDD, since an SSD has no moving parts.