M.2 Shows Up in BIOS but Not Windows: How to Fix the Issue

Well, you might be sittin’ there, all confused, thinkin’ your M.2 SSD is broken or somethin’ when it shows up just fine in BIOS but ain’t nowhere to be seen in Windows. I know, it can be mighty frustratin’. Let me tell ya, it ain’t always the drive’s fault. There’s plenty of things that can cause this issue, but don’t worry, I’m here to help you figure it out.

M.2 Shows Up in BIOS but Not Windows: How to Fix the Issue

First thing first, it’s important to understand that BIOS and Windows are like two different folks. BIOS, well, it’s the basic system that runs before Windows ever gets goin’. When your M.2 drive shows up in BIOS, it means the computer’s basic setup is recognizin’ the drive. But when it comes to Windows, that’s where the problem usually starts. You might get all excited seein’ the drive listed in BIOS, but if it don’t show up in Windows, it’s like havin’ a pie on the windowsill and no one can eat it. Ain’t no good, right?

Now, let’s go through a few things that could be causin’ this.

1. Drive Ain’t Initialized or Partitioned

One of the most common reasons for this problem is that your M.2 SSD ain’t been initialized or partitioned right. Windows needs to be told how to use that drive, but if it ain’t got the proper setup, it ain’t gonna show up. This can happen if you just put the new M.2 in and don’t do any setup for it in Windows. I’m tellin’ ya, it happens all the time.

To fix this, you’ll need to go into Windows Disk Management. Here’s how:

Right-click the Start button and select Disk Management.
Look for the unallocated space – that’s your M.2 SSD.
Right-click on it and choose Initialize Disk.
Once that’s done, create a new partition and format it. After that, you should see the drive show up in Windows!

If you don’t know how to do all this, don’t be shy, just search up a video or ask someone who’s a bit more tech-savvy to give you a hand. Ain’t nothin’ to be ashamed of.

2. Old Drivers or Missing Drivers

If that M.2 drive still ain’t showin’ up, maybe it’s ‘cause the drivers are outta date. You might’ve updated everything else on your system, but if the drivers for your SSD or chipset ain’t up to date, well, that could be stoppin’ it from working properly. Head over to the manufacturer’s website and grab the latest drivers for your motherboard or M.2 SSD. Once you get them updated, restart your computer, and hopefully, that’ll fix the problem.

3. PCIe Setting in BIOS

Sometimes the issue’s more simple than all that. Maybe the PCIe setting in your BIOS ain’t configured right. If your BIOS sees the SSD but Windows don’t, you might need to go in and adjust a setting or two. Head into your BIOS (just keep hittin’ that F2 or Del key when you turn on your computer) and look for the option that handles PCIe settings. You’ll likely find it under SATA Configuration or something similar. Make sure that the PCIe is set to M.2 and not something else. If you’re not sure, you might need to check your motherboard’s manual.

4. The Drive Ain’t Formatted Right (File System Issue)

Another thing that could be messin’ up your M.2 SSD is the file system. Maybe the drive is formatted with a system that Windows don’t recognize. This happens sometimes when you try to use the drive on a system that don’t support the format. It could also be the case if the drive was previously used with a different computer or operating system. You’ll need to format it in a way that Windows understands. You can do this easily through the Disk Management tool I mentioned before. Just make sure to choose the right format (NTFS is usually the safe bet) when you’re settin’ it up.

5. M.2 Slot or SSD Could Be Faulty

Now, if none of that works, it might be that your M.2 slot or the SSD itself is the issue. If you’ve tried everything and it still don’t show up, it could be a faulty M.2 slot on your motherboard, or the SSD could be damaged. That’s a sad thought, I know, but it happens. You might need to test the SSD in another computer or try a different M.2 slot on your motherboard if you’ve got one. If that don’t work, well, you might have to replace the drive altogether.

But don’t give up just yet! Sometimes all you need to do is a simple restart, or perhaps, check for a BIOS update. Those little things can sometimes make a big difference. And, if all else fails, reach out to customer support for your motherboard or SSD manufacturer – they might be able to help you troubleshoot further.

In short, don’t let your M.2 drive frustrate you too much. There’s plenty of things to check, and most of the time, you can fix the issue with just a little bit of patience and some tinkerin’ around. Follow these steps, and you should have that drive showin’ up in Windows in no time.