Doesn't see m 2. Why the SSD is not detected and how to fix it. SSD connection problems and solutions

If the BIOS does not see the SSD, then this problem can have several main reasons. Below we will tell you what can lead to a failure on the part of the BIOS to recognize an SSD, as well as in what cases this problem can be solved, and what needs to be done for this.

SSD (Solid State Drive, Solid State Drive or Solid State Drive) is a device where new technology in the field of long-term storage of information for computers. Unlike hard disk A solid-state disk does not use magnetic plates for storing information, but non-volatile memory cells, for example, NAND memory, which is also used in all known flash drives. Thus, an SSD is, in fact, an advanced "flash drive". Thanks to its principle of operation, a solid-state drive is devoid of the main disadvantage of a hard drive - low reliability. This is due to the lack of fragile and shock-sensitive mechanical parts in the SSD. In addition, modern solid-state drives have high read and write speeds, significantly exceeding those of hard drives.

However, since the cost per unit of information on a solid-state drive is still several times higher than that of hard drives, SSDs are rarely used as the main storage device. In most cases, solid-state drives are installed in computers as system drives, that is, drives that contain the operating system and its service files. In such a case, the benefits solid state drives in speed are especially useful because they can speed up the loading and operation of the operating system.

SSD connection problems and solutions

Despite the fundamentally different principle of information storage, in most cases solid state drives use the same form factors and interfaces as traditional ones. hard drives... Today, as a rule, it is used as an interface for connecting solid-state drives to a computer. This means that solid state drives can be prone to the same connection problems as SATA hard drives. In addition, recently, SSDs have become widespread, designed to be connected to special Micro SATA (mSATA), M.2 connectors or to a high-speed expansion slot.

Suppose that you purchased a solid-state drive, connected it to a SATA connector, installed it in a computer case, but when connected, it turns out that the drive is not detected in the BIOS. What could be the reason for such a malfunction?

First, in the BIOS itself. First of all, it makes sense to check the BIOS settings, since it may turn out that the SATA controller is disabled in your computer. If so, then the corresponding option must be set to Enabled. If such an operation does not help, and the disk is still not detected, then you can try resetting the BIOS to the default settings. It is also worth checking if your computer has the most a new version BIOS? If not, then it makes sense to update it.

In addition, in many cases, the problem lies in the incorrect or inaccurate connection of the SSD to the corresponding connectors inside the computer. Typically, SSDs use the same cables as SATA hard drives, so potential problems connecting SSDs are similar to those of connecting hard disks (discussed in the article on the reasons why the BIOS does not see the hard drive).

Well, in the end, the problem may lie in the physical malfunction of the solid-state drive itself. Despite the fact that it has no moving mechanical parts, this does not mean that it cannot fail. For example, the drive controller might be faulty. However, a significant drawback of solid-state drives is that the memory modules responsible for storing information are usually located on the same microcircuit as the controller, so repairing the drive in this case may face serious difficulties or even be impossible.

It is worth mentioning one more specific feature that is characteristic only for solid state drives. Sometimes there is a situation when a computer's SSD is not an additional device connected to the SATA connector, but is already present on motherboard as built-in storage. In this case, the solid-state drive may not be visible in the BIOS, despite the fact that it can be detected by means of the operating system. Since such disks were originally intended to be used as service drives for the needs of the operating system, then this situation - when such a solid-state disk is not detected by the BIOS, is normal, since such a disk is, in fact, part of the motherboard.

Conclusion

Solid state drives, or SSDs, are a promising form of storage device, and such drives are now used in a large proportion of modern computers. Therefore, problems when connecting an SSD to a computer at this time cannot be attributed to the category of exotic malfunctions that most users have practically no chance of encountering.

BIOS failure to recognize the SSD drive may be due to various problemsas with bIOS settingsand with the drive itself. If all the user's attempts to restore the drive's performance on their own have failed, and it is safe to say that the drive itself is faulty, then the only way out in this case is to repair or replace it.

Compared to a hard disk, a solid state drive has such advantages as high level performance and reliability, low power consumption, lack of noise and much more. Therefore all more users choose the SSD as the system one. When you connect such a drive, you can find that it is not detected by the system or is not even displayed in the BIOS. It 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 the absence of a drive letter or initialization, the presence of hidden partitions and incompatible with 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 elements of the connections between motherboard and SSD.

Reason 1: The disk is not initialized

It often happens that a new disk is not initialized when connected to a computer and, as a result, is not visible in the system. The solution is to perform the procedure in manual mode according to the following algorithm.

  1. Press simultaneously "Win + R" and in the window that appears, enter compmgmt.msc. Then click "OK".
  2. A window will open where you should click "Disk Management".
  3. Click on the drive you want right click mouse and in the menu that opens, select "Initialize Disk".
  4. Next, make sure that in the field "Disc 1" there is a check mark, and set the marker next to the item with the mention of MBR or GPT. "Master Boot Record" compatible with all versions of Windows, but if you plan to use only the latest releases of this OS, it is better to choose "Table with GUID partitions".
  5. After completing the procedure, you should create new section... To do this, click on the disk and select Create Simple Volume.
  6. Will open New Volume Wizard, in which we press "Further".
  7. Then you need to specify the size. You can leave the default, which is the maximum disk size, or choose a lower value. After making the necessary changes, click "Further".
  8. In the next window, we agree with the proposed version of the volume letter and click "Further"... If you wish, you can assign a different letter, the main thing is that it does not coincide with the existing one.
  9. Next, you need to format. Leave the recommended values \u200b\u200bin the fields "File system", Volume label and in addition enable the option "Quick Format".
  10. Click "Done".

As a result, the disk should appear in the system.

Reason 2: Missing drive letter

Sometimes an 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 that, the specified storage device is recognized by the OS, you can carry out standard operations with it.

Reason 3: Missing partitions

If the disc you purchased is not new and has been used for a long time, it also may not appear in the "On my computer"... This may be due to damage. system file or MBR table due to crash, virus file infection, misuse, etc. In this case, the SSD is displayed in "Disk Management"but its status is "Not initialized"... In this case, it is usually recommended to perform initialization, however, due to the risk of data loss, this is still not worth doing.

In addition, it is still possible that the drive is displayed as one unallocated area. Creating a new volume as usual can also result in data loss. The solution here is to restore the partition. This requires certain knowledge and software, for example, MiniTool Partition Wizard, which has a corresponding option.


This should help solve the problem, but in a situation where there is no necessary knowledge and the necessary data is on the disk, it is better to turn to professionals.

Reason 4: Hidden section

Sometimes an SSD won't show up in Windows due to a hidden partition. This is possible if the user has hidden the volume with third-party software to prevent access to the data. The solution is to restore the partition using disk management software. The same MiniTool Partition Wizard copes well with this task.


After that, the hidden sections will appear in "Explorer".

Reason 5: Unsupported file system

If after following the steps above, SSD still does not appear in "Explorer", possibly, file system the drive is different from the FAT32 or NTFS that 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 steps below.


Reason 6: Problems with BIOS and hardware

There are four main reasons the BIOS does not detect the presence of an internal solid state drive.

SATA is disabled or has the wrong mode


Incorrect BIOS settings

The BIOS will also not recognize the drive if there are incorrect settings. It is easy to check by the system date - if it does not match the true date, it indicates a failure. To fix it, you must perform a reset and return to standard parameters according to the sequence below.


Alternatively, you can remove the battery, which in our case is next to the PCIe slots.

Data cable defective

The BIOS will also not detect the SSD if the SATA cable is damaged. In this case, you need to check all the connections between the motherboard and the SSD. It is advisable not to allow any bends or pinching of the cable when laying. This can damage the wires inside the insulation, although the outside of the material may look normal. If there is any doubt about the condition of the cable, it is best to replace it. Seagate recommends using cables less than 1 meter in length to connect SATA devices. Longer ones can sometimes fall out of the connectors, so be sure to check that they are tightly connected to the SATA ports.

Defective solid state drive

If, after carrying out the above procedures, the disk is still not displayed in the BIOS, most likely there is a factory defect or physical damage to the device. Here you need to contact a computer repair shop or an SSD supplier, after making sure that there is a warranty.

Conclusion

In this article, we examined 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 both the condition of the disk or cable, as well as various software failures 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, try replacing the SATA cable.

The development of technology in the field of computer hardware has made it possible to achieve maximum performance and durability from any parts necessary for the operation of the device. Another issue is compatibility. It often happens that a completely new and tested by many users part simply refuses to work properly. Or it is not found at all by the system. One of these situations is that the computer does not see the new SSD drive.

It is worth noting that given view parts are often purchased due to the increased level of performance, reliability, low energy consumption and some other parameters. Most often set as system disk... However, even it can fail.

This article will tell you about why this can happen and what to do about it.

Why could this happen?

A computer is a complex system. And therefore, in order to determine what exactly led to the appearance of a particular problem, you need to thoroughly dig inside a system unit or laptop. And then, the answer will not always be received. In the event that the computer does not see the SSD, the reasons for the error may be as follows:

  • the device has no letter;
  • it has not been initialized;
  • there are hidden partitions on the disk;
  • the file system of the part is incompatible with the operating system windows system;
  • often the reason can be incorrectly configured bIOS settings;
  • you should also not exclude the fact that if the computer does not see the SSD M2, the media itself may have physical damage;
  • parts of the connection with the motherboard and the device itself may also be damaged.

Let's take a closer look at everything possible reasons and ways to solve them.

The drive is missing a letter

In the "My Computer" section, which displays all the drives connected to the computer, you can always see which letter or name each of them has. However, there are times when the letter is missing and the SSD is not visible in My Computer. To solve the problem, you need to ensure that the device has a name. Here's how to do it.

How do I assign a drive letter?

In order to perform this operation, you must use the "Run" function.

  • Press the key combination "Win" and "R" on the keyboard. In the window that appears, enter the phrase "compmgmt.msc".
  • You will go to the disk management program.

  • Right-click on the required SSD line. AT context menu select the option to change the drive letter or path to it.
  • As soon as a new window appears, click on the "change" button.
  • Select from the list a letter that will not coincide with any other one already on the computer.
  • Click the "OK" button.

As a result of these actions, the problem that the computer does not see the SSD will be solved.

Lack of device initialization

Sometimes the following problem can occur: a completely new disk, without any damage, is not visible to the system when connected to a computer. In this case, it may be uninitialized. Therefore, to fix this error, you must complete all the steps presented below.

How do I initialize a disk?

The solution to this problem must again start by activating the "Run" function.

  • Press the "Win" and "R" keys on the keyboard. Enter "compmgmt.msc" in the window that appears.
  • In the menu of the "Disk Management" program, in the list on the right, find the required drive and click on it with the right mouse button. In the pop-up menu, activate the line
  • Check that the box named "Disk 1" is ticked.
  • Place a marker next to the item that mentions MBR or GPT. But before that you need to decide. If you have Windows 7 or early releases of Windows 10, then you should choose the main boot record... If you always update operating system before latest versionthen place a marker on the table with GUID sections.
  • Once this procedure is complete, you can create a new partition on the SSD. To do this, click on the disk and activate the function to create a simple volume. This will open a specialized wizard.
  • Here you need to click on the button next.
  • The size of the volume is now indicated. Options can be as follows: the volume will be equal to the size of the entire disk, or it will take up a small part of it.
  • Once the required volume is selected, click the "Next" button.
  • The next step is to assign a drive letter. This is almost the very end of the solution to the problem when the computer does not see the new SSD. It is necessary to choose so that the new letter does not coincide with the already assigned one.
  • Now formatting needs to be done. Leave all recommended values \u200b\u200bunchanged.
  • Enable quick format option.
  • Click Finish.

After performing this algorithm, the problem that the computer does not see the SSD will be solved.

A hidden partition appeared on the disk

The presence of a hidden SSD partition is another reason for this problem. It can happen when the volume was opened using third-party programs, in order to deny access to data. To solve this problem, you need to use the MiniToolPartition Wizard.

How to remove hidden partition from disk?

First you need to download this application to your computer. You can do this on the official website or torrent tracker.

  • as soon as the program has been downloaded and installed, it is launched;
  • right-click on the desired disk;
  • select the Unhide partition function in the pop-up menu;
  • after that, assign a letter to the hidden section and agree to the application of the changes;
  • the last step is to check the "Explorer" window for the display of hidden sections.

The disk is missing partitions

Another reason why the computer does not see the SSD after plugging in may be the lack of partitions. This can happen with a new disc or with one that has not been used for a long time. The reason may be damage to the system file, virus infection, or violation of the rules for using the device.

It is often advisable to initialize the disk when this situation occurs. However, there is a high chance that you will lose all the data that is stored on it.

How do I fix the missing partitions error?

If the computer does not see the SSD M2 due to the lack of volumes, then you should again use the previously mentioned MiniToolPartition Wizard program:

  • After its launch, select the required disk and go to the "Check Disk" menu, activate the "Partition Recovery" line.
  • Here you need to make a choice of the disk scan range. Among the options "Full Disk", "Unallocated space" and "Specified Range" select the first option and go further through the program.
  • Now you need to choose fast or full disk scan. In the first case, partitions that are hidden or deleted will be restored. The second option will scan all sectors of the previously selected range.
  • As soon as the scan is completed, a list with the results will open in the form of found sections.
  • Select the necessary and complete the operation. Then you need to confirm the start of the recovery process.
  • As a result of the actions performed, the disk should be displayed in the explorer menu.

BIOS program error

Another reason why the computer does not see the SSD (No. 1, 3/4) may be incorrect BIOS settings. In this case, solving the problem involves analyzing several directions at once, since there are many options for why the BIOS leads to such an error.

Invalid SATA mode or disable it completely

To fix it given error, you need to perform the following steps:

  • Go to the BIOS program. This is done when the computer starts up using a specific key.
  • Activate the advanced setting mode with the F7 key or the "advanced" parameter. Confirm the transition to a specific mode.
  • In the same tab, find the configuration of built-in devices. Click on the line Serial Port Configuration.
  • Check the value of the switch in the Serial Port line. Should be "on". Otherwise, go to the parameter and set this option.

Incorrect BIOS settings

This can also be the reason why the computer cannot see the SSD. You can check by the value of the system date. In the event that it does not correspond to the real data, then a failure has occurred. To rectify the situation, you need to reset all settings:

  • First, the computer is disconnected from the network.
  • When it comes to stationary device - remove the wall system unit... If the problem occurs on a laptop, unscrew the bottom cover.
  • There is a small battery on the motherboard with a CLRTC toggle switch located next to it.
  • Switch it to position 2-3 and wait half a minute. Then return back to 1-2.
  • You can also simply remove the battery itself and put it back in place after the same period of time.

Cable damage

Damage to the SATA cable can be another option. To make sure that the guess is correct or unreliable, you need to check all the connections between the drive and the motherboard. All wires should be flat and free from strong bends. They can cause internal damage to the cable. And if this happened, then it should be replaced.

To connect SATA devices without any problems, it is recommended to use cords that are longer than the one meter mark.

Damage to the drive itself

In the event that all of the above methods did not have any effect and the computer does not see the SSD drive after connecting, you should carefully examine it for any external damage. In the absence of such, it is worth returning the device under warranty (if it is new). Many stores check returned items, and therefore, you can find out if the problem is in the disk or parts of your computer.

If the SSD is old enough, you should take care of its replacement as soon as possible.