My computer suddenly stopped booting into Windows and now goes straight to the BIOS. The SSD that normally contains Windows is no longer listed there either. Is it reasonable to assume the SSD has failed, or are there reliable troubleshooting steps to confirm whether the drive is actually dead?
4 Answers
Try removing and reinstalling the SSD. If it’s an NVMe drive and your motherboard has another compatible slot, test it there too. If it still doesn’t appear in BIOS, the drive is probably defective.
Before buying a replacement, check the simple possibilities first: reconnect the power and data cables, try different cables or ports, and confirm the BIOS storage settings haven’t changed. Since the computer is around five years old, an SSD failure is possible, but the connections should be ruled out first.
You can test the SSD outside the computer with a compatible USB enclosure or adapter and connect it to another working PC. If the other computer also can’t detect it, that’s strong evidence the drive has failed. If it does appear, copy your important files immediately.
If the BIOS can’t see the drive, the problem is usually either a loose power/data connection or a failed SSD. Reseat the cables and make sure the drive is firmly installed before assuming it’s dead.
Thanks, I’ll check the connections and try an adapter before replacing anything. A nearby electronics store is my fallback if I can’t test it myself.