It can be frustrating when you install a new M.2 solid state drive in your computer, it shows up in the BIOS, but doesn’t appear in Windows Disk Management. An M.2 drive not showing up properly prevents you from using the full capacity and speed of your drive.
This issue usually occurs after installing an M.2 drive and has a few potential causes. The good news is that in most cases, it can be easily fixed with a few troubleshooting steps.
This article will provide an overview of M.2 drives, explain why they may show in the BIOS but not Disk Management, and walk through solutions to make your M.2 drive usable on your system.
What is an M.2 Drive?
M.2 drives, also known as M.2 SSDs or NGFF (Next Generation Form Factor) drives, are a type of solid state drive that uses the M.2 connector standard. They were designed to be a smaller, faster replacement for mSATA drives and standard 2.5″ SATA drives1.
The main advantages of M.2 drives are:2
- Smaller physical size – M.2 drives are much smaller than traditional 2.5″ drives, allowing them to fit into tight spaces like ultrabooks and tablets.
- Faster speeds – M.2 drives that use NVMe can reach speeds over 3500 MB/s, much faster than SATA drives.
- Single connector – M.2 uses the PCIe bus, so data and power run through one connector instead of separate SATA data and power cables.
- Low power draw – The compact design and NAND flash memory also allow M.2 drives to consume less power.
Overall, the small form factor and potential for blazing fast speeds make M.2 one of the best options for solid state storage today.
Common Causes
There are a few common reasons why an M.2 drive may show up in the BIOS but not in Windows Disk Management:
Drive Not Initialized/Partitioned
If the M.2 drive is brand new and has never been formatted or partitioned before, Windows will not be able to detect it or assign a drive letter to it. The drive needs to be initialized first in Disk Management before it can be used by Windows (source).
Missing/Outdated Drivers
For the M.2 drive to function properly, the correct motherboard drivers need to be installed. If the drivers are outdated or missing, Windows will have trouble detecting the M.2 drive. Checking for driver updates or reinstalling the chipset/SATA drivers can resolve this issue (source).
Incorrect Boot Order
If the BIOS is not set to boot from the M.2 drive first, Windows will default to booting from another drive instead. Changing the boot order priority in the BIOS settings to have the M.2 drive first in the list can fix this problem.
Initializing the M.2 Drive
One reason an M.2 drive may show in BIOS but not Disk Management is because it needs to be initialized first. Initializing the drive assigns it a partition style like MBR or GPT before it can be accessed in Windows.
There are two main ways to initialize an M.2 drive in Windows:
- Using Disk Management – Open Disk Management, right-click the unallocated space on the M.2 drive and select “Initialize Disk”. Choose GPT partition style and click OK. The disk will now show up and you can create a new volume on it with a drive letter assignment.1
- Using diskpart – Open the command prompt as admin and run “diskpart”. Type “list disk” to identify the M.2 disk number. Select it with “select disk X” and then initialize with “clean”. Convert to GPT with “convert gpt” and it will now be initialized.2
Once initialized, you can assign a drive letter so the M.2 drive will show up properly in File Explorer. Initializing the drive is often the key first step to getting an M.2 SSD recognized in Windows.
Updating Drivers
One of the most common reasons an M.2 drive will show in the BIOS but not in Windows is because the proper drivers are not installed. There are two key drivers that need to be updated to ensure Windows can detect and communicate with the M.2 drive:
Motherboard/Chipset Drivers: The motherboard or chipset drivers allow Windows to interface with the M.2 slot and storage controller. Outdated or missing chipset drivers is a leading cause of M.2 drives not being detected in Windows. Visit your motherboard manufacturer’s website and download the latest chipset drivers. Install these drivers in Windows to update the necessary software.[1]
Storage Controller Drivers: The storage controller driver enables Windows to communicate with the M.2 drive itself. If this driver is outdated, corrupted or missing, Windows will not detect the M.2 drive. To update, open Device Manager in Windows, right-click the M.2 drive, select “Update driver” and search automatically online for the latest driver. Install any available updates.[2]
Updating the motherboard/chipset drivers and storage controller drivers is critical to getting an M.2 drive recognized. Be sure to install the latest versions available from the manufacturer to fully support proper M.2 functionality.
Checking Boot Order
One common reason an M.2 drive may show in the BIOS but not in Windows is because it is not prioritized in the boot order. To fix this:
1. Restart your computer and enter the BIOS setup utility by pressing the appropriate key during bootup (usually Delete, F1, F2, F10 or F12 depending on your system). Consult your motherboard manual if you’re unsure.
2. Navigate to the “Boot” section in the BIOS.
3. Locate the boot order list and make sure the M.2 drive is placed above any other storage drives like hard disks or older SSDs. Refer to this guide for detailed steps.
4. Save changes and exit the BIOS. The system should now boot from the M.2 drive.
If the M.2 drive still isn’t appearing in the boot options, there could be a driver issue or hardware incompatibility. Consult your motherboard manual and SSD documentation to troubleshoot further.
Troubleshooting Tips
If your M.2 SSD is not being detected in Windows, there are some troubleshooting steps you can try before seeking professional help:
Try using different M.2 slots on your motherboard if available. Some motherboards have multiple M.2 slots, so try inserting your M.2 drive into another slot to see if it is detected. Refer to your motherboard manual to locate all M.2 slots.
Check for loose connections with the M.2 drive. Remove the drive and reseat it properly in the slot to ensure the connection is secure. Also inspect the motherboard slot for any bent pins or debris that could prevent proper contact.
Test the integrity of your M.2 drive to check for errors. You can use the manufacturer’s storage management software or a third party tool like EaseUS to scan the drive and diagnose any issues. This will help determine if the problem lies with the drive itself.
Following basic troubleshooting steps can help identify any connectivity or hardware-related issues before seeking advanced solutions.
Potential Hardware Issues
Hardware issues with the M.2 drive or motherboard slot could result in the drive not being detected in Windows.
A damaged or faulty M.2 drive may fail to be recognized. Physical damage, overheating, or an internal component failure can all render the drive unusable. Testing the drive in another system is a good way to confirm if the drive itself is defective.
Problems with the motherboard’s M.2 slot can also prevent drive detection. The slot may be damaged, improperly mounted, or have bent or missing pins. Inspecting the M.2 slot for any obvious signs of damage is advised. Trying the drive in another M.2 slot, if available, can determine if the slot is faulty.
Lastly, drive and motherboard incompatibility could be the issue. The BIOS may detect an incompatible drive in the slot, but Windows will not. Confirming that the specific M.2 drive model is supported by the motherboard can identify an incompatibility problem.
Sources:
[1] https://pcbuyerbeware.co.uk/blog/m-2-ssd-drives-nvme-compatibility-overheating-encryption-problems/
[2] https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/motherboard-m-2-issues-and-compatibility-question.3376889/
When to Seek Professional Help
If you have tried all of the basic troubleshooting steps like initializing the drive, updating drivers, and checking boot order but the M.2 drive still does not show up in Windows, it may be time to seek professional help.
The most common reason to take your computer to a professional in this situation is for data recovery. If the M.2 drive shows up in BIOS but not in Windows, it likely still contains your files and data but something is preventing Windows from accessing it. A professional data recovery service like Recover SSD or DriveSavers may be able to help recover the data off of the M.2 drive.
Data recovery experts have specialized tools and techniques to access data on failed or unresponsive drives. This can be invaluable if the M.2 drive contains important files or is your computer’s boot drive. However, data recovery services can be expensive so only choose this route if you have exhausted all other options and the data is worth the cost.
Conclusion
In summary, there are a few common reasons why an M.2 drive may show up in BIOS but not in Windows Disk Management:
- The M.2 drive needs to be initialized in Disk Management before it can be accessed in Windows.
- Outdated or missing drivers prevent Windows from properly detecting the M.2 drive.
- The boot order needs to be adjusted to prioritize the M.2 drive.
- There could be a hardware issue with the M.2 slot, drive itself, or motherboard components.
Solutions include initializing the drive, updating drivers, adjusting boot order, and troubleshooting hardware issues as needed. In some cases, professional assistance may be required for diagnosing and fixing complex problems.
The key takeaways are properly initializing and assigning a drive letter to new M.2 drives, keeping motherboard drivers updated, checking boot order settings, and troubleshooting basic hardware issues. With the right steps, an M.2 drive displaying in BIOS but not Disk Management can be corrected for full access in Windows.