Why is my SanDisk SSD not working on Windows?

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Why is my SanDisk SSD not working on Windows

There are a few common reasons why a SanDisk SSD may not be detected or working properly on a Windows PC.

SSD Not Detected in BIOS

If your SanDisk SSD is not being detected in the BIOS, there are a few things to check:

  • Make sure the SSD is properly seated in the M.2 slot or SATA port. Reseat the drive and double check the connections.
  • Try switching the SATA port or M.2 slot the SSD is plugged into. Use a different SATA cable if possible.
  • Update the motherboard BIOS to the latest version. An outdated BIOS may not detect new drives properly.
  • If using an M.2 SSD, make sure you have enabled M.2 or NVMe support in the BIOS.

If the SSD is still not detected in BIOS, the drive itself may be defective and need to be replaced.

SSD Not Showing Up In Disk Management

If your SanDisk SSD is not showing up in Windows Disk Management, try these steps:

  1. Restart your PC and enter the BIOS to verify the drive is detected there first.
  2. Connect the SSD to another SATA port or M.2 slot if possible.
  3. Make sure all SATA and power cables are properly connected.
  4. Check for loose cable connections and reseat them if needed.
  5. Try disconnecting other disks and see if the SSD is detected alone.
  6. Update SSD firmware and storage drivers in Device Manager.
  7. Enter Diskpart and the clean command to wipe and reformat the SSD.

If the SanDisk SSD still won’t show up in Disk Management, the drive could have failed and may need to be replaced unfortunately.

SSD Showing Up But Not Accessible

In some cases, your SanDisk SSD may show up in Windows or BIOS but appears offline or inaccessible. Here are some troubleshooting tips for this scenario:

  • Use Disk Management to assign a drive letter to the SSD if it doesn’t have one.
  • Initialize the disk if it shows up as unknown or not initialized.
  • Check for disk errors. Open command prompt as admin and run “chkdsk x: /f” replacing x with your SSD drive letter.
  • Update SSD firmware and storage drivers if out of date.
  • Run antivirus to scan for malware just in case of infection.
  • Reseat SATA/power cables and try a different SATA port or M.2 slot.
  • Use Diskpart to clean the disk, create a new volume and format it.

If you still can’t access the SSD, the drive may have failed or have physical damage. You can attempt data recovery but a replacement SSD may be necessary.

Blue Screen Crashes With SSD Installed

Frequent blue screen crashes or BSODs when your SanDisk SSD is installed could indicate an issue with the storage driver, firmware, or incompatibility with your system’s hardware or BIOS.

Here are some tips for troubleshooting SSD-related blue screen crashes in Windows:

  1. Disconnect all other drives and boot with only the SanDisk SSD installed.
  2. Update SSD firmware, chipset, and storage drivers to latest available versions.
  3. Roll back SSD driver to previous version if issues started after an update.
  4. Reset BIOS to default settings in case of setting mismatch.
  5. Check for BIOS update for improved device compatibility.
  6. Test the SSD in another PC if possible to rule out system incompatibility.
  7. Turn off overclocking which can cause system instability.
  8. Update Windows and check for faulty system files with SFC and DISM tools.

If crashes persist with the SSD, even on a separate system, it indicates a defective drive. You’ll need to replace it in that scenario.

SSD Slow Performance Issues

A slow SanDisk SSD may be caused by:

  • Outdated firmware – Update to latest firmware
  • Full drive – SSDs need 20%+ free space ideally
  • Fragmented files – Defragment the SSD
  • Program conflicts – Uninstall problematic software
  • Background programs – Disable unnecessary apps
  • Driver problems – Roll back or update SSD driver
  • Windows file errors – Run SFC and DISM scans

Also check processes in Task Manager and startup items with Task Manager or msconfig. Disable any unnecessary processes and services.

Testing the SSD health with CrystalDiskInfo can confirm if the slow speeds are due to wear or pending failure as well.

SSD Not Detected After Suspend or Hibernate

If your SanDisk SSD fails to be detected after waking your PC from sleep or hibernate mode, try these steps:

  1. Check that Windows Fast Startup is disabled – it can cause detection issues.
  2. Disable USB selective suspend in Power settings.
  3. Update BIOS and SSD firmware to latest available.
  4. Change SATA mode from RAID to AHCI if option is available.
  5. Unplug power from SSD before sleep and reconnect after waking up.
  6. Disable sleep modes and use OS restart instead if issues continue.

In most cases, incompatible sleep settings are the cause of SSD detection failure after suspend or hibernate. Changing related Windows power settings can resolve the majority of these problems.

SSD Makes Clicking or Beeping Noises

If your SanDisk SSD is making odd clicking or beeping noises, this indicates a hardware problem with the drive itself. Some potential causes include:

  • Failed or malfunctioning PCB (printed circuit board)
  • Damaged or seized spindle/bearings
  • Failed drive motor
  • Loose internal components or connectors
  • Firmware glitch or controller failure

Unusual noises from an SSD are a sign of impending complete failure. Make sure your data is backed up immediately and replace the drive, as it’s unrepairable.

SSD Not Recognized After Unplugging

If your SanDisk SSD is not detected or recognized after being unplugged or disconnected from the system, try the following steps:

  1. Reconnect the SATA and power cables properly.
  2. Try a different SATA port and cable if possible.
  3. Reseat the SSD in the M.2 slot to make a better connection.
  4. Check for loose cable connections and secure them.
  5. Boot into BIOS and check that drive is recognized there.
  6. If using an external enclosure, try connecting SSD directly.
  7. Restart computer and enter BIOS to verify detection.

In most cases the SSD will be detected normally after being reseated properly. If not, connection issues are likely the problem. Very rarely, the drive may have failed catastrophically if unplugged improperly.

SSD Fails During Windows Installation

If your SanDisk SSD fails or errors out during Windows installation, try the following:

  • Disconnect all other drives and install Windows directly to SSD.
  • Check SSD health with drive utility software.
  • Update SSD firmware before OS installation.
  • Use different SATA port or M.2 slot if possible.
  • Disable RAID mode in BIOS for AHCI or NVMe SSDs.
  • Verify disk partitions can be created on SSD.
  • Delete all partitions and cleanly format SSD before installing.
  • Repair installation files and media if damaged.

An SSD that fails during OS installation often indicates a bad or failing drive. You may need to replace the SSD if issues persist across different systems.

Old SSD Not Compatible with New Motherboard

An older SanDisk SSD may not be compatible with a newer motherboard due to different connectivity methods and protocols. For example:

  • Old SATA II SSDs may not work well in SATA III ports
  • M.2 SATA SSDs are not compatible with M.2 NVMe slots
  • NVMe SSD requires UEFI and may not work in legacy BIOS
  • Maximum drive size allowed can vary based on firmware

To fix compatibility issues, you may need to:

  1. Update SSD and motherboard firmware
  2. Use a drive enclosure or adapter to connect properly
  3. Purchase new SSD compatible with chipset
  4. Replace motherboard if extremely outdated

For optimal performance and compatibility, it’s best to purchase a new SSD designed for your specific motherboard’s connectivity method.

Unable to Boot from SanDisk SSD

If your system is unable to boot from the SanDisk SSD, try the following:

  1. Check SSD is listed under boot options and set as first priority.
  2. Disconnect other drives during boot to force system to SSD.
  3. Reconnect data and power cables to SSD properly.
  4. Update motherboard BIOS and SSD firmware.
  5. Reset BIOS to default settings if incorrect.
  6. Reinstall Windows or OS to the SSD.
  7. Use diskpart to clean SSD and create new primary partition.

If the SSD is still not bootable, there may be an issue with the drive or incompatibility with your hardware. Contacting SanDisk support could help in identifying firmware flaws or hardware conflicts as well.

SSD Reporting Wrong Capacity

If your SanDisk SSD is showing an incorrect size or capacity, here are some things to check:

  • Update SSD firmware which can fix capacity reporting.
  • Re-partition the drive using Disk Management.
  • Change volume type from dynamic to basic if needed.
  • Delete all partitions and recreate new ones.
  • Disable RAID mode or CSM/legacy boot.
  • Make sure you purchased the proper drive capacity.

In most cases, remapping the drive partitions after updating firmware will correct the wrongly reported space. If not, your SSD may have failed partially.

Can’t Format SanDisk SSD

If Windows is unable to format your SanDisk SSD, try the following troubleshooting steps:

  1. Use diskpart utility in Command Prompt to clean and create new partitions.
  2. Connect the SSD to another computer and try formatting.
  3. Reset BIOS settings to default if incorrect settings exist.
  4. Check for disk errors with chkdsk and fix any found.
  5. Update SSD firmware which may resolve conflict.
  6. Disconnect all other disks when attempting format.
  7. Boot from a Windows disk rather than installed OS to format.

If the SSD still can’t be formatted, it likely has failed or has physical errors making it unusable. A replacement SSD would be required in this scenario.

SanDisk SSD Very Slow After Cloning

If your SanDisk SSD performs much slower than expected after cloning a drive, try the following:

  • Update SSD firmware before cloning again.
  • Reset SATA mode to AHCI instead of RAID if enabled.
  • Check SSD alignment and realign partitions if needed.
  • Disconnect other drives and clone SSD individually.
  • Don’t clone entire partition, just OS and applications.
  • Perform a clean OS install for best performance.
  • Check for updated chipset or storage drivers.

Cloning to an SSD can often cause alignment issues slowing performance. Doing a fresh OS installation is best, but realigning partitions can help in a pinch.

Conclusion

SanDisk produces quality SSDs, but they can still encounter issues like any storage device. First, make sure firmware and drivers are up to date, connections are secure, and OS or hardware incompatibility is not the problem. Test the SSD in another PC if possible. Replacing the SATA cable or trying different ports/slots can isolate a bad connection.

For SSD detection or performance issues, updating BIOS, toggling SATA modes, checking alignment, and doing OS repair scans are good steps to try. Unusual noise or failed disk operations usually warrant replacement however. Back up important data as a drive failure could happen unexpectedly.

SanDisk provides SSD utilities to check drive health and firmware updates to resolve bugs. Get in touch with their technical support for troubleshooting help if problems persist across multiple systems. With some basic software and connectivity troubleshooting, you should be able to get an undetected or poorly performing SanDisk SSD working properly again in most cases.