BIOS fails to detect the M.2 storage after a Windows 10 crash.
BIOS fails to detect the M.2 storage after a Windows 10 crash.
The setup includes an ASUS B550M-A with a Ryzen 5 5600G, 4x8 T-FORCE DDR4-3600 RAM, a 1TB Crucial P2 M.2 drive, a 2TB WD spinning HDD, an XFX Swft 210 graphics card, and a 500W Radeon RX 6600. It was running NFL Blitz 2000 in the Redream emulator for Dreamcast when a sudden BSOD appeared, followed by a reboot. After restarting, the M.2 drive wasn’t accessible (Windows 10 was installed there), and the system had been stable before. The issue seems sudden—could the SSD have failed or is there another factor? I don’t have a backup system to test the drive, so I’m uncertain how to proceed without guessing.
The most probable causes are either the M.2 slot malfunctioning or the SSD failing, with the drive being significantly more likely than the slot itself.
It can be tricky to reinstall Windows on a storage device that isn't showing up in the BIOS.
Your P2 is probably still covered by the warranty, so you might want to purchase a replacement right away and then return it for a refund.
Shifted the drive to the second M.2 port but it doesn’t appear in the BIOS, indicating the issue is likely with that drive. It’s time to decide whether to swap it out or install a different M.2, or consider a 2.5” SSD if the motherboard and slots are faulty. Check if the board has a dedicated controller that might have failed.