My NVMe SSD started disappearing after a Windows update last month, and the computer went into a boot loop. I tried switching between standard disk mode and RAID, reinstalling Windows, and resetting the CMOS. After the CMOS reset and reinstall, the drive worked again, but the problem returned after another Windows update. Removing the latest update temporarily fixed it, but the PC later restarted unexpectedly and would no longer boot. The SSD is now missing from the BIOS entirely, even after I removed it, cleaned the contacts, and reinstalled it. I don't have another computer available to test the drive. It is a PNY NVMe SSD purchased around 2022 or 2023, and the system is currently set to AHCI mode. Could a Windows update have caused this, or is the SSD likely failing?
2 Answers
There have been reports and discussions about certain SSD controllers having trouble around large operating-system updates, but that does not prove the update damaged this particular drive. The key clue is that the SSD is no longer visible in the BIOS. Uninstalling an update can fix a Windows driver or boot problem, but it cannot make a drive reappear at the firmware level. Reseat the module carefully, verify the M.2 slot is enabled, try another slot if the motherboard has one, and check whether the drive is detected after a full power removal. If it still does not show up, treat the SSD as defective rather than continuing to reinstall Windows.
The SSD may already be failing, and the update could have been what pushed it over the edge rather than the actual cause. Since the drive is missing from the BIOS, Windows itself probably isn't the main issue—BIOS should detect it before the operating system loads. Try shutting the PC down, disconnecting power, holding the power button for about 30 seconds, then reconnecting power and checking BIOS again. Keep the storage controller in AHCI mode rather than RAID. If possible, also try a different M.2 slot or test the drive in another system or USB NVMe enclosure. If it remains absent from BIOS, replacement is likely, and any important data may need professional recovery.
It is already set to AHCI, and I have reset the CMOS before. The drive is a PNY NVMe model that I bought around 2022 or 2023, so I’m hoping it hasn’t failed completely.
The controller-related issue I found was associated with an earlier update period, so it may not apply to the current problem. Still, checking the SSD in another computer or with an NVMe adapter would be the best way to separate a failed drive from a motherboard-slot problem.