Hey everyone, I'm dealing with a computer that crashed while I was playing a game recently. After that, I started having issues with Firefox and encountered an XPCOM error whenever I tried to open it. I attempted to fix everything by updating Windows and installing the latest drivers, but nothing worked. Initially, I used a bootable USB created with Rufus to install Windows, but now I've run into a bigger problem: my SSD isn't being detected during the Windows installation process anymore.
Here's the weird part: when I reach the "Where do you want to install Windows?" screen, only the bootable USB key shows up, and I'm unable to see the internal SSD. I went ahead and checked in the command prompt using 'diskpart' and 'list disk', but again, only the USB appears. The SSD is recognized in the BIOS, which means it's installed correctly but seems to be failing to boot.
My BIOS settings include CSM disabled, UEFI enabled, SATA mode set to AHCI, and Secure Boot disabled. I've also tried using both Windows 10 and 11 ISOs with a GPT + UEFI setup for the USB. Although I suspect it may be a driver issue, I haven't found NVMe drivers for my SSD model (WD doesn't provide them).
Here are my specs:
- Motherboard: Gigabyte A520M S2H
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600
- SSD: 2000GB M.2 PCI-E NVMe WD Blue SN580 PCIe 4.0
Has anyone experienced this before or have any idea how I can get my SSD recognized? I'm really stuck and would love any pointers you can provide. Thanks!
5 Answers
If you're still having trouble, there are troubleshooting resources available in FAQs or tech forums that specifically cover installation issues with SSDs. It might be beneficial to dive into those. Good luck!
You might want to check if the SSD appears in Windows Recovery Tools. When you boot from your installation media, you can access Command Prompt via Shift+F10 to use commands like 'diskpart' or 'Get-PhysicalDisk' in PowerShell to see if the SSD shows up there. It's worth a shot!
When in doubt, you can always disconnect your SSD and boot the installer again to see if it detects any changes. After that, reconnect your SSD and see if it pops up. And don't forget to check the cables! Loose connections can cause all sorts of trouble.
If your SSD is visible in BIOS but not in the installation process, it could be a compatibility issue with Windows. Make sure you've set the UEFI settings correctly in Bios and that the SSD is configured as the first boot option. Also, you can try resetting the BIOS settings to default—sometimes that helps clear out any issues.
Resetting to default helped me once too! If all else fails, you might also want to check for a BIOS update since sometimes newer versions add better NVMe support.
Hey! First off, it's really crucial to back up any important data before making changes to your BIOS or disk setup! Now, regarding your issue, have you thought about installing the SSD driver on a USB dongle? That way, when you boot up, you can have it ready to go just in case you need it. Also, if that doesn't work, try disconnecting the SSD completely, unplugging your system, removing the battery, and holding the power button for about 40 seconds. Reconnect everything after that and see if the SSD is detected during install. Sometimes simply reseating the SSD can solve detection issues too!
Yeah, I had a similar problem once, and reseating the SSD did the trick! It's also worth checking for any physical connections that might be loose.
That's a good idea! I often use Command Prompt during these issues. It gives a clearer picture of what's happening with the drives.