Solid State Drive Compared to hard ones, it has such advantages as a high level of performance and reliability, low power consumption, lack of noise and much more. Therefore, more and more users are choosing SSD as their system one. When connecting such a drive, you may find that it is not detected by the system or is not even displayed in the BIOS. This may look like there is no disk in "Explorer", Windows settings or in the BIOS boot selection list.
Problems with displaying the SSD in the system can arise for reasons such as a missing drive letter or initialization, the presence of hidden partitions and incompatible Windows file system. At the same time, this may occur due to incorrect BIOS settings and physical damage to the disk itself or one of the connection elements between motherboard and SSD.
Reason 1: The disk is not initialized
It often happens that new disk is not initialized when connected to a computer and, as a result, it is not visible in the system. The solution is to perform the procedure in manual mode according to the following algorithm.
- Press simultaneously "Win+R" and in the window that appears, enter compmgmt.msc. Then click "OK".
- A window will open where you need to click "Disk Management".
- Click on the desired drive right click mouse and in the menu that opens select "Initialize disk".
- Next, make sure that in the field "Disc 1" check the box, and place a marker next to the item mentioning MBR or GPT. "Basic boot record» compatible with all Windows versions, but if you plan to use only current releases of this OS, it is better to choose "Table with GUID partitions".
- After completing the procedure, you should create new section. To do this, click on the disk and select "Create Simple Volume".
- Will open "New Volume Wizard", in which we press "Next".
- Then you need to specify the size. You can leave the default value, which is maximum size disk, or select a smaller value. After making the necessary changes, click "Next".
- In the next window, agree with the proposed volume letter option and click "Next". If desired, you can assign another letter, the main thing is that it does not coincide with the existing one.
- Next you need to perform formatting. Leave the recommended values in the fields "File system", "Volume Label" and in addition we enable the option "Quick Format".
- Click "Ready".
As a result, the disk should appear in the system.
Reason 2: Missing drive letter
Sometimes the SSD does not have a letter and therefore does not appear in "Explorer". In this case, you need to assign a letter to it.
After this, the specified information storage device is recognized by the OS, and standard operations can be performed with it.
Reason 3: Missing partitions
If the purchased disc is not new and has already been used for a long time, it may also not appear in "My computer". This may be due to damage system file or MBR tables due to failure, virus file infection, improper operation, etc. In this case, the SSD is displayed in "Disk Management", but his status is "Not initialized". In this case, it is usually recommended to perform initialization, but due to the risk of data loss, it is still not worth doing this.
In addition, a situation is also possible in which the drive is displayed as one unallocated area. Creating a new volume as usual may also result in data loss. The solution here may be to restore the partition. To do this, you need certain knowledge and software, for example, MiniTool Partition Wizard, which has the appropriate option.
This should help solve the problem, however in a situation where it doesn't necessary knowledge and the necessary data is on the disk, it is better to turn to professionals.
Reason 4: Hidden section
Sometimes an SSD is not visible in Windows due to the presence of a hidden partition. This is possible if the user has hidden the volume using third-party software to prevent access to the data. The solution is to restore the partition using disk software. The same MiniTool Partition Wizard copes well with this task.
After this, hidden sections will appear in "Explorer".
Reason 5: Unsupported file system
If after performing the above steps the SSD still does not appear in "Explorer" It's possible that the disk's file system is different from FAT32 or NTFS, which Windows works with. Typically, such a drive appears in the disk manager as an area "RAW". To fix the problem, you need to follow the following algorithm.
Reason 6: Problems with BIOS and hardware
There are four main reasons why the BIOS does not detect the presence of internal solid state drive.
SATA is disabled or has the wrong mode
Incorrect BIOS settings
The BIOS will also not recognize the drive if the settings are incorrect. This can be easily checked by the system date - if it does not correspond to the true one, this indicates a failure. To eliminate it, you need to reset and return to standard settings according to the sequence of actions below.
Alternatively, you can remove the battery, which in our case is located next to the PCIe connectors.
Data cable is faulty
The BIOS will also not detect the SSD if the CATA cable is damaged. In this case, you need to check all connections between the motherboard and the SSD. It is advisable not to allow any bends or pinching of the cable when laying. All this can lead to damage to the wires inside the insulation, although externally the material may look normal. If there is any doubt about the condition of the cable, it is better to replace it. When connecting SATA devices, Seagate recommends using cables less than 1 meter in length. Longer ones can sometimes fall out of the connectors, so be sure to check that they are firmly connected to the SATA ports.
Failed SSD
If after carrying out the above procedures the disk is still not shown in the BIOS, most likely there is a manufacturing defect or physical damage to the device. Here you need to contact a computer repair shop or SSD supplier, first making sure that there is a warranty.
Conclusion
In this article, we looked at the reasons for the absence of a solid-state drive in the system or in the BIOS when it is connected. The source of such a problem can be either the condition of the disk or cable, or various software glitches and incorrect settings. Before proceeding with the fix using one of the listed methods, it is recommended to check all connections between the SSD and the motherboard and try replacing the SATA cable.
Solid-state drives appeared not so long ago and are sensitive devices to BIOS settings and versions, firmware and connections. Often the systematic problem of BSOD can be corrected on your own.
Common problems and their solutions
While the computer is running, idle, or running an application, the computer crashes into BSOD (Blue Screen of Death);
When starting the computer, the message appears: “NTDL is missing press Control + Alt + del and restart,” although yesterday everything worked fine;
When the computer starts, the SSD is not displayed in the list of visible drives (including in the BIOS).
So, let's start in order.
Step one
This is trivial, but quite often the problem can arise due to the fact that the interface cable/motherboard connector has been damaged, or the device has come into conflict with others. Therefore, try to make a list of simple actions:
Check the connection of the interface cable to the motherboard and SSD connector. Reconnect the device (newfangled cables with metal latches do not guarantee 100% connection, even if you heard a click, and ordinary ones even more so);
Use a different SATA cable, (“tested” change to new, new to “tested”), especially if it was somehow twisted, wrapped, and so on;
Try connecting the device to nearby SATA ports;
Remove the solid-state drive from the 2.5″\3.5” bay;
Make sure that the motherboard BIOS is set to AHCI mode for the controller to which the drive is connected;
Try disabling third-party SATA\eSATA\IDE controllers in the motherboard BIOS menu, and subsequently other drives ( hard drives, optical drives) leaving the SSD as the only connected drive;
If the system was transferred to an SSD using special software, which can often be found included with some drives, move the system again, from scratch;
Update controller drivers for Windows (Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver or AMD AHCI Driver, or for a third-party controller);
Install Windows 7 (if you had Windows XP).
Step two
You need to make sure that the motherboard BIOS has latest version. Usually the version is indicated when the computer starts, in shells like UEFI - often written directly into them. In the operating room Windows system you can download, for example, a small and free utility CPU-Z, open the “Motherboard” section and see BIOS version there.
Attention!: when searching BIOS updates, download them ONLY from official sites, ONLY for your motherboard model.
Step three
It is highly desirable that the SSD be connected to the native SATA ports of the motherboard. On each system board There are native ports, that is, supported by the existing set of logic, and also, on a number of devices there are additional SATA ports implemented by third-party controllers. Make sure that the SSD is connected to exactly the right ports; they usually differ in color and have a priority sequence number (SATA_1, SATA_2) in the case when they are implemented by additional controllers or operate at lower interface speeds; on the contrary, they are at the end of the list (SATA_5, SATA_6).
To find out exactly which connectors belong to what, look for this information in the user manual of your motherboard; if you do not have a paper version of the manual, you can always download it from the vendor’s official website in electronic format.
Step four
Many users keep an eye on new firmware releases for semiconductor drives because they often improve performance, but don't forget that the main reason for new firmware releases is to fix bugs in the SSD controller logic. So it's also worth making sure your SSD has the latest firmware.
Attention!: When looking for firmware updates for SSDs, download them ONLY from official sites, ONLY for your SSD model. Please also keep in mind that this can (and most likely) completely destroys all information stored on the SSD.
Step five and final
If you have already done all of the above, double-checked, rearranged, updated a hundred times, but the problem remains, it is worth looking for information on the SSD manufacturer’s website, after all, who better than him should be aware of all the problems associated with his products. Moreover, it would be preferable to read foreign vendor forums on this topic. The fact is that this situation indicates the following probable reasons:
The problem is that your computer is incompatible with a specific SSD;
Some problems known to the manufacturer, which he is, of course, working on fixing;
Factory defect.
Despite the fact that all technologies strive for standardization and unification, SSD is still a young storage system, so there are cases from the “should work, but doesn’t” series. The motherboard controller (especially if it is old) cannot work correctly with the solid-state drive controller and enters into conflicts, which is why failures occur. In this case, as well as in the case of a defect, all that remains is to check the device on a completely different computer or laptop. In those cases when the problem is more or less widespread, the developers try to solve it as quickly as possible and post specific tips on how to fix problems on their forums.
Imagine the moment you just purchased a new one SSD drive, but when connected to a computer it is not detected or you have been using it for quite a long time, but at one fine moment it is no longer recognized. Of course, here you might think that it broke down, burned out, in general, went out of order. And the right decision would be to take it to service center.
However, often the problem lies in ordinary system errors that can occur after various failures or if you connect a new SSD. In this case, fixing this is quite simple, we will talk about this below.
Causes of SSD connection problems
Despite the fact that solid-state drives have a completely different principle of storing information, they often use the same interfaces and form factors as conventional HDDs. To connect an SSD to a computer today, the SATA interface is used. Based on this, the conclusion suggests itself that these hard drives are subject to the same problems when connected as SATA hard drives. Moreover, solid-state drives designed to connect to mSATA, M.2 connectors or a PCI-Express slot have become widespread.
There are many reasons why an SSD drive is not detected by the computer and does not want to work properly. It is important to say that they apply not only to a new device connected to a PC for the first time. It also happens that a previously used hard drive suddenly stops working.
A user without the appropriate knowledge and skills will likely have serious difficulties diagnosing and subsequently solving the problem. Therefore, we will try to understand the manifestation and solution of each of them.
We carry out initialization
The first step is to consider the situation when the computer does not see new SSD disk the first time you connect. That is, the drive cannot initialize on its own, and this must be done manually; I will use Windows 7 as an example, but in other versions, Windows 8 and 10, all the steps will be similar:
- Press the key combination “Win+R” and enter “compmgmt.msc”, then click “OK”.
- We look for the “Disk Management” item in the left column and click on it.
- Select the one you need, right-click and click “Initialize disk”.
- In the new window, put a checkmark on it, select “MBR” or “GBT” and click “OK”. It is recommended to select "MBR"
- At the bottom of the main window, click on the disk and then select “Create a simple volume.”
- A new window will open, click “Next”.
- Now you need to specify the volume size. It is not recommended to change the default setting. Click “Next”.
- Next, select any letter and click “Next” again.
- Then select “Format this volume”, in the “File system” item select NTFS. Click “Next”.
- A new window will display the main parameters. If they match, click “Done”.
Following the algorithm exactly, you can initialize the disk without any problems, and it will be completely ready for use.
If there is an unallocated area, then it’s quite simple, you should start from point 5.
Changing a letter
When you connect the solid-state drive for the first time, the OS may simply not see it. That is, physically it can be fully functional, but it will not be displayed among other local disks.
Fixing this problem is quite simple as follows:
This way, you can quickly change the letter and solve the problem when a computer or laptop does not see the SSD device.
File system type
This option is possible when the “Change drive letter” option is missing. This indicates a discrepancy in file system, which is why the computer does not see the SSD. For the drive to work properly in Windows, it must be in NTFS format.
That is, in order for it to become available for full-fledged work, it needs to be formatted. This method Suitable only for those hard drives that do not contain important data, because during the formatting process all existing information will be deleted.
You need to do the following:
Once the drive is formatted, the problem will be fixed.
Doesn't show up in BIOS
In some cases, it happens that the SSD is not displayed even in the BIOS. There are two reasons why this happens, and just as many solutions. The first one is disabled SATA controller to enable it, you need:
It should be noted that the operating system may not be installed due to the selected “AHCI” mode; in this case, change it to “IDE” and after installation, change it back to “AHCI”.
If this does not help, then you should reset the BIOS settings. If you have the appropriate knowledge, it is recommended to update the BIOS itself to a new version.
Another reason that it is not detected could be faulty SSD firmware at the production stage. Of course, you can try to reflash it yourself, but there is a risk that due to incorrect actions it may completely fail. Therefore, it is better to return it under warranty or take it for repairs.
Damaged cable or cable
Special attention should be paid to cables and cables; they may have been damaged and failed. In addition, in many cases, the SSD drive does not work precisely because of inaccurate or incorrect connections inside the computer.
Typically, to connect a solid-state hard drive, exactly the same cables are used as for hard drives With SATA interface, making the potential problems similar to problems when attaching hard drives. We discussed them in a separate article about the reasons when.
Drive failure
Finally, it is necessary to say about the likelihood of the drive failing, which is why it is no longer detected. Even though there are no moving parts in an SSD, this does not mean that it cannot break.
For example, the drive controller may be faulty. In this case, repairs can be extremely difficult or completely impossible, since the memory modules, which are responsible for storing information, are located on the same chip along with the controller.
Power supply failure
If your computer or laptop does not see the SSD drive, then you should check the power supply. Often, due to its defects, many devices fail, and it becomes extremely difficult to repair them.
For example, the following situation may arise. You purchased a new SSD, connected it, but it shows no signs of life, it simply does not work. The right decision would be to return it under warranty and exchange it for another one. But if the same problem arises with the next one, then most likely either the batch is defective, which happens very rarely, or the problem is in the power supply.
Without understanding electronics, it is not possible to repair the power supply yourself, so it is best to take it to a trusted service center for diagnostics.
Built-in storage
It should also be said about one more feature, characteristic exclusively SSD drives. Sometimes it happens that a solid-state hard drive does not act as a connector connected to SATA, but is present as an integrated disk on motherboard. In this case, the SSD is detected by the OS tools, but is not visible in the BIOS.
Based on the fact that these disks are needed for use as service hard drives for the needs operating system, then the situation when the SSD is not detected in the BIOS is quite normal, since this drive is integral to the motherboard.
Now you know what to do if various malfunctions occur and you can fix them yourself. But if none of the options helped solve your problem, then you should contact a specialized service center. Experienced employees will certainly find the cause of the breakdown and help you solve it.
