The ssd drive disappears from the system. Why the computer does not see the SSD

Imagine a moment, you just purchased a brand new SSD drive, but when you connect it to a computer, it is not detected or you have been using it for a long time, but at one wonderful moment, it is no longer recognized. Of course, here you might think that it broke down, burned out, in general, failed. And the right decision would be to take it to a service center.

However, often the problem lies in the usual system errors that can occur after various failures or if you connect a new SSD. In this case, fixing it is quite simple, we will talk about this below.

Causes of SSD connection problems

Despite the fact that a solid state drive has 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 connection as SATA hard drives. What's more, solid-state drives designed for mSATA, M.2, or PCI-Express slots 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 concern not only a new device connected to a PC for the first time. It also happens that a previously used hard drive stops working at one moment.

A user without the appropriate knowledge and skills will most likely have serious difficulties in 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 a new SSD drive the first time you connect it. That is, the drive cannot be initialized on its own, and this must be done manually, as an example I will use Windows 7, but in other versions, Windows 8 and 10, all actions will be similar:

Press the key combination "Win + R" and enter "compmgmt.msc", then click "OK".
We are looking for the item "Disk Management" in the left column and click on it.
Select the one you want, right-click and click "Initialize Disk".
In the new window, put a tick 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 size of the volume. It is not recommended to change the default setting. Click "Next".
Next, select any letter and click "Next" again.
After we select "Format this volume", in the item "File system" we mark NTFS. We press "Next".
The main parameters will be displayed in a new window. If they match, press "Done".

By strictly following the algorithm, 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.

Letter change

When you first connect a solid state drive, the OS may simply not see it. That is, physically it can be fully functional, but it will not be displayed among other local drives.

Fixing this problem is quite simple as follows:

Thus, you will 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 item "Change drive letter" is missing. This indicates a mismatch in the file system, which is why the computer does not see the SSD. For normal operation of the drive in Windows, it must be in NTFS format.

That is, in order for it to become available for full-fledged work, it must be formatted. This method is suitable only for those hard drives that do not contain important data, because during the formatting process all available information will be deleted.

You need to do the following:

After 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 of them is a disabled SATA controller, to enable it, you need to:

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 can be a crooked 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 finally fail. Therefore, it is better to return it under warranty or take it in for repair.

Damaged cable or cable

Special attention should be paid to cables and loops, they may have been damaged and out of order. In addition, in many cases, the SSD drive does not work precisely because of sloppy or incorrect connections inside the computer.

Usually, the same cables are used to connect a solid state drive as for SATA hard drives, so the potential problems are similar to problems when connecting hard drives. We considered them in a separate article about the reasons when.

Drive failure

Finally, it is necessary to say about the probability of a drive failure, which is why it has ceased to be detected. Even though an SSD has no moving parts, that doesn't mean it can't break.

For example, the drive controller may become faulty. In this case, the repair can be extremely difficult or impossible at all, since the memory modules that are responsible for storing information are located on the same chip along with the controller.

Power supply failure

If a computer or laptop does not see the SSD drive, then it is worth checking 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 bought a new SSD, connected it, but it does not show any signs of life, it simply does not work. The correct solution would be to return it under warranty and exchange it for another. But if the same problem occurs 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 on your own, so it is best to take it to a trusted service center for diagnostics.

Built-in storage

It should also be said about another feature that is characteristic exclusively of SSD drives. Sometimes it happens that a solid-state hard drive does not act as a SATA connector, but is present as an integrated drive on the motherboard. In this case, the SSD is detected by the OS, but not visible in the BIOS.

Based on the fact that these drives are needed to be used as service hard drives for the needs of the operating system, 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 when 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 surely find the cause of the breakdown and help you in solving it.

Solid state drives have appeared not so long ago and are sensitive devices to BIOS settings and versions, firmware and connection. Often, the systematic problem of the appearance of a BSOD can be fixed on your own.

Common problems and solutions

While the computer is running, idle or running an application, the computer crashes into a BSOD (Blue Screen of Death);

When starting the computer, a message is displayed: "NTDL is missing press Control + Alt + del and restart", although everything worked fine yesterday;

When starting the computer, the SSD does not appear in the lists of visible drives (including in the BIOS).

So, let's start in order.

Step one

This is trite, but quite often the problem may occur 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. Connect the device again (newfangled cables with metal latches are far from guaranteeing a 100% connection, even if you hear a click, and ordinary cables even more so);

Use a different SATA cable, (“tested” change to a new one, 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 system board 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 BIOS menu of the motherboard, 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 bundled with some drives, rearrange the system again, from scratch;

Update controller drivers for Windows (Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver or AMD AHCI Driver, or third party controller);

Install Windows 7 (if Windows XP was installed).

step two

Make sure your motherboard BIOS is up to date. Usually the version is specified at computer startup, in shells like UEFI - often written directly into them. In the Windows operating system, you can download, for example, a small and free CPU-Z utility, open the "Motherboard" section and see the BIOS version there.

Attention!: When looking for 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 motherboard's native SATA ports. Each motherboard has native ports, that is, those 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 exactly to the right ports, they usually differ in colors and have a priority serial number (SATA_1, SATA_2) in case 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 and what they refer to, 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 follow new firmware released for solid state drives because they often improve performance, but do not forget that the main reason for the release of new firmware is to fix errors in the SSD controller logic. Therefore, it is also worth making sure that your SSD has the latest firmware installed.

Attention!: When looking for firmware updates for SSD, download them ONLY from official sites, ONLY for your SSD model. Also keep in mind - this can (and most likely) completely destroy all information stored on the SSD.

Step five and final

If you have already done everything from the above, double-checked, rearranged, updated a hundred times, but the problem remains, you should look for information on the SSD manufacturer's website, after all, who better than him, be aware of all the problems associated with their products. Moreover, it would be preferable to read foreign vendor forums on this topic. The fact is that this situation indicates the following probable causes:

The problem of your computer's incompatibility with a specific SSD;

Some problems known to the manufacturer, on a fix, which, of course, he is working on;

Manufacturing defects.

Despite the fact that all technologies are striving for standardization and unification, SSD is still a young storage system, so cases from the “should work, but don’t work” series are known. The motherboard controller, (especially if it is old) cannot work correctly with the SSD controller, conflicts, which causes crashes. In this case, as well as in the case of marriage, it remains only 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.

A solid state drive, compared to a hard drive, has such advantages as a high level of performance and reliability, low power consumption, no noise, and much more. Therefore, more and more users are choosing SSD as a system one. When you connect such a drive, you may 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 occur for reasons such as the lack of a drive letter or initialization, the presence of hidden partitions, and the file system incompatible with Windows. 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 the motherboard and the SSD.

Reason 1: Disk not initialized

It often happens that a 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 manually according to the following algorithm.

Press at the same time Win+R and in the window that appears, enter compmgmt.msc . Then click "OK".

A window will open where you should click "Disk Management".

Right-click on the desired drive and select from the menu that appears. "Initialize Disk".

Next, make sure that in the field "Disk 1" there is a checkmark, and set the marker in front of the item mentioning MBR or GPT. "Master Boot Record" is 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 partition GUIDs".

After completing the procedure, you should create a new partition. To do this, click on the disk and select "Create Simple Volume".

Will open "New Volume Wizard", in which we click "Further".

Then you need to specify the size. You can leave the default value, which is the maximum disk size, or choose a smaller value. After making the necessary changes, click "Further".

In the next window, we agree with the proposed volume letter and click "Further". If desired, you can assign another letter, the main thing is that it does not coincide with the existing one.

Next, you need to format. Leave the recommended values in the fields "File system", "Volume Label" and in addition enable the option "Quick Format".

click "Ready".

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

Reason 2: Drive letter missing

Sometimes an SSD does not have a letter and is therefore not displayed 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 perform 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 may also not be displayed in "My computer". The reason for this may be damage to the system file or MBR table due to a crash, infection by a virus file, improper operation, 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, but due to the risk of data loss, it is still not worth it.

In addition, a situation is also possible in which the drive is displayed as one unallocated area. Creating a new volume, as is normally done, can also result in data loss. Here the solution may be to restore the partition. This requires certain knowledge and software, for example, MiniTool Partition Wizard, which has the appropriate 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 it having a hidden partition. This is possible if the user has hidden the volume using third party software to prevent the data from being accessed. 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, the SSD still does not appear in the "Explorer", the disk's file system may be different from the FAT32 or NTFS that Windows works with. Typically, such a drive is displayed in the disk manager as an area "RAW". To fix the problem, follow the steps below.

Reason 6: Problems with BIOS and hardware

There are four main reasons why the BIOS does not detect the presence of an internal SSD.

SATA is disabled or in the wrong mode

Wrong BIOS settings

The BIOS will also not recognize the drive if there are incorrect settings. This is easy to check by the system date - if it does not correspond to the true one, this indicates a failure. To resolve it, you must perform a reset and return to the default parameters according to the sequence of actions below.

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

Faulty data cable

The BIOS will also not detect the SSD if the SATA 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. Seagate recommends using cables less than 1 meter long to connect SATA devices. Longer ones can sometimes fall out of the connectors, so be sure to check that they are firmly connected to the SATA ports.

Failed 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 the warranty is available.

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 either the condition of the disk or cable, or 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.