Issue with M.2 SSD functioning improperly
Issue with M.2 SSD functioning improperly
Hi, your M.2 SSD isn’t functioning properly. It’s the least used one among your drives, accessed only a few times a week. You have a 1TB Samsung 970 EVO Plus that hasn’t been used much, so it’s hard to tell exactly when it stopped working. Your other drives are 2x 2TB Samsung 980 Pros and a 1TB Western Digital Black. Recently, the SSD disappeared from File Explorer, even though other SSDs in the same slot worked fine. When you tried to access it via BIOS, it appeared half the time, but not during Windows boot. You ordered an external M.2 enclosure for testing without shutting down the PC or removing the GPU. It arrived today. When connected, it shows up in File Explorer and reports space usage, though opening it causes it to disconnect after a short delay. Windows plays a disconnection sound, followed by a notification about an unknown device. There’s also a heat issue near the connector—especially noticeable when no activity is detected. Recently you updated your Gigabyte motherboard’s BIOS, which seems unrelated but adds to the confusion. Your old hard drive lasted 8 years with heavy use, while the SSD only lasted two years with light use. This seems unusual. What should you do next?
It might be that the controller on the SSD is failing. You mentioned SSDs typically last over two years with minimal use, which suggests it should be fine. However, if the issue persists even when other drives work properly, you may need professional help. Try connecting the enclosure with the SSD in another PC first to confirm. Also, keep your concerns in mind—this advice is based on general guidance, not expert-level expertise.