SSD unrecognized in Windows but recognized by BIOS

[Hitman049]

Yesterday I decided to unplug my noisy fan but afterwards my computer failed to boot up. I attempted to run a system restore USB drive but the program never initiated. I then attempted to re-install Windows 8 but the installation software would not go past the screen to pick my keyboard.

I then unplugged the SSD and installed windows on my HDD without any problems. The SSD is not recognized in the Disk Management utility. The SSD is still detected as something to boot from in the BIOS.

Assistance is much appreciated but I believe it has shorted out some of the memory.
It is a Corsair Force GT 240 GB.

Thanks!

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Have u tried Secure-Wiping the SSD and then see if that resolves the issues?
Might want to check and see if there is a firmware update for "Force GT" as those are quite old now and may have had some updates released since u bought it.

[PowerHaus930]

I have a Force GT 90GB and there is a firmware upgrade for it but I haven't bothered with it yet. I will most likely do it when I reinstall windows again. Corsair has a good SSD utility that allows you to secure erase the SSD. I would try doing that and then see if it is recognized. http://www.corsair.com/en-us/support/downloads
Overview - http://www.corsair.com/en-us/blog/2013/may/the-corsair-ssd-toolbox

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Originally posted by PowerHaus930:

I have a Force GT 90GB and there is a firmware upgrade for it but I haven't bothered with it yet. I will most likely do it when I reinstall windows again. Corsair has a good SSD utility that allows you to secure erase the SSD. I would try doing that and then see if it is recognized. http://www.corsair.com/en-us/blog/2013/may/the-corsair-ssd-toolbox

BTW the download link is located here:
http://www.corsair.com/en-us/support/downloads

[PowerHaus930]

Originally posted by Bad-Motha:

Originally posted by PowerHaus930:

I have a Force GT 90GB and there is a firmware upgrade for it but I haven't bothered with it yet. I will most likely do it when I reinstall windows again. Corsair has a good SSD utility that allows you to secure erase the SSD. I would try doing that and then see if it is recognized. http://www.corsair.com/en-us/blog/2013/may/the-corsair-ssd-toolbox

BTW the download link is located here:
http://www.corsair.com/en-us/support/downloads

My bad I just did a google search and clicked on the first link that was a corsair website that had information on the Corsair SSD Toolbox and assumed that the download link was there. Thanks for the correction. I edited my post.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Very helpful none the less. The link u provided is good too cause it gives u an overview of the app and what all it does and such.

Most Corsair Force GT series came with firmware 1.3.3; the latest one available for that series however is 5.5

So if u are about to wipe the drive, then I would use that as a time to update to latest firmware version via the SSD Toolbox. Once completed and you reboot, run it again and do a Secure Wipe of the SSD. Then reboot and enter the OS installer with just the SSD connected (and installer drive need for your OS, such as Optical or USB). U will want to make sure that before installing an OS that your SATA Mode in BIOS for where the SSD is connected is set to AHCI Mode, to allow for native performance. You also want to ensure that if your motherboard has more than one brand of SATA Chipset, that u use the main one provided by your board; such as Intel or AMD Chipset. Your optical drive should run fine off a 3rd party chipset, but most SSDs can have issues running off of chipsets such as (NVIDIA, Marvell, JMicron, Silicon Image)

Once your at the OS installer screen, follow the steps provided by Toquen above in order to partition and format your SSD without creating the 100MB partition that OS' auto-create upon OS install. As that won't be needed anyways. If you don't want to do it this way via CMD Prompt, you can do it under another working OS/System, by partitioning the SSD in a Windows OS; under Control Panel > Admin Tools > Computer Management > Disk Management.

[PowerHaus930]

So you need to have Windows installed on a seperate drive in order to do a Secure Wipe of the SSD then? I'm pretty sure but I want to be positive. How do you tell if the board has more than one chipset and which one is being used?

[_I_]

sometimes windows hides blank drives

check in disk management

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Originally posted by _I_:

sometimes windows hides blank drives

check in disk management

^This


As far as SATA Chipsets; which Motherboard do you have?
The tech specs for your motherboard (and in the manual) should point out which ports are for which chipset. Usually ports 1-4 are for one chipset and anything after that is for another; but again this depends on the motherboard model; as it will differ.

[Hitman049]

I attempted to run diskpart in the installation software but after I typed "diskpart" the command prompt was unusable. So I restarted and tried to boot back into windows with the SSD still plugged in but I couldn't start windows again until I unplugged the SSD. Think the MOBO may be shot? It's got to be a hardware issue right?

[MA☝Omgwtfbbqstfu™]

If you can't see the drive in disk management its probably hardware failure.
You don't have an extrenal usb drive adapter case? Should get one as they are useful for backup/trouble shooting regardless, cheap online/ebay/amazon.
Test on another computer.

Rarely do motherboard sata ports go bad, anyways you have more than one port left to test right?

More likely ssd went bad.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Try a different SATA cable too. Or a different SATA Port.
If don't have any extra, disconnect your SATA Optical Drive for the moment and try that cable on the SSD.

[Hitman049]

I have tried to plug the SSD into other SATA ports and I have tried other SATA cables. Still no reading in Disk Management. It still bothers me most that I can't run the installation software or repair software from a USB when it is plugged in. Why would that happen?

[rotNdude]

Unplug the HDD and try it.

[Hitman049]

I have tried unplugging the HDD as well. The SSD used to be my primary drive so it should have booted right up. I can't run the install or formatting when the SSD is plugged in as well.

[rotNdude]

Your SSD is probably dead then. Try it in a different computer just to be sure before you call the manufacturer for a replacement, assuming it's under warranty.