Why does my Dell Latitude randomly lose the SSD after crashing?
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MellowCedar42
I installed Windows 11 on a Dell Latitude 7390 using a battery and SSD that came from another laptop. During normal use, the computer occasionally crashes with a message saying it needs to restart. After rebooting, it sometimes shows "no bootable devices found," but powering the laptop off completely and turning it back on usually makes Windows start normally. What could be causing this, and how can I troubleshoot it? I need the laptop reliably for my biology classes.
Answers
Run the laptop’s built-in hardware diagnostics from the boot menu and check the SSD’s health information if available. If the drive disappears during testing or reports errors, replace it. If a known-good SSD has the same issue, the laptop’s drive connector or motherboard may be faulty.
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This points more toward a failing SSD or an unreliable connection than a Windows problem. Shut the laptop down fully, reseat the SSD, and check that the connector and retaining screw are secure. Also back up your important files immediately, since intermittent drive detection can get worse without warning.
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MellowCedar42: Would testing with a spare SSD be a good way to confirm whether the current drive is the problem?