My computer suddenly stopped booting into Windows and now goes straight to the BIOS. The SSD that contains Windows is no longer listed there either. Is it reasonable to assume the drive has failed, or are there troubleshooting steps I can try to confirm whether the SSD is dead and possibly recover my data?
4 Answers
Power the PC down, remove and reseat the SSD, and try a different NVMe slot if your motherboard has one. If it still doesn’t appear in BIOS afterward, the SSD is probably defective.
You can test the drive outside the computer with a compatible USB enclosure or adapter and connect it to another working PC. If it isn’t detected there either, that’s strong evidence the drive has failed. If the data is important, avoid repeated power cycling and consider professional recovery.
If the BIOS can’t detect the SSD, the problem is usually a loose power or data connection, a bad slot, or a failed drive. Check the connections first before assuming it’s permanently dead.
Before buying a replacement, verify the exact drive type and try another known-good cable, port, or adapter. A computer repair shop can test it, but basic reseating and an external adapter test may narrow it down first.
It’s a roughly five-year-old computer, and a local electronics store is one of the few repair options nearby. I’ll check the connections and try an adapter before taking it in.