F5F Stay Refreshed Software Operating Systems My PC is telling me that it can't find my hard drive when I try to install Windows 11.

My PC is telling me that it can't find my hard drive when I try to install Windows 11.

My PC is telling me that it can't find my hard drive when I try to install Windows 11.

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timo_1892
Senior Member
715
06-13-2026, 09:58 AM
#1
Hey guys, I'm trying to put Windows 11 on my M2 NVMe SSD (Samsung Evo 980) that connects to the PC through a Sabrent adapter. The computer is a Dell Precision 5820 Tower. When I start the installation, it can't find any storage space. Could someone help me out? Is this just because of a missing driver? Maybe it's not the SSD drive itself or maybe it's the cable connecting the SSD to the adapter?
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timo_1892
06-13-2026, 09:58 AM #1

Hey guys, I'm trying to put Windows 11 on my M2 NVMe SSD (Samsung Evo 980) that connects to the PC through a Sabrent adapter. The computer is a Dell Precision 5820 Tower. When I start the installation, it can't find any storage space. Could someone help me out? Is this just because of a missing driver? Maybe it's not the SSD drive itself or maybe it's the cable connecting the SSD to the adapter?

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Kroxxx567
Member
51
06-13-2026, 06:54 PM
#2
well, there isn't a driver for the adapter - https://sabrent.com/products/ec-pcie it is likely related though... does the drive show in the bios? as if it can't see it, it can't really show it to windows.
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Kroxxx567
06-13-2026, 06:54 PM #2

well, there isn't a driver for the adapter - https://sabrent.com/products/ec-pcie it is likely related though... does the drive show in the bios? as if it can't see it, it can't really show it to windows.

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SrUrsoo
Member
171
06-13-2026, 11:09 PM
#3
I think when you say "PCI adapter," you probably mean a PCIe card with an NVMe M.2 slot, like the one on Amazon for the Bejavr expansion kit. If it is this kind of thing, your computer should already have an M.2 SSD slot built-in, so you don't need to buy a new card. Just swap out whatever M.2 drive is currently in there. If you somehow found a regular PCI card that has an M.2 hole, but your PC only has standard slots... then you can't start up from it, and go back to the first point about needing the right hardware.
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SrUrsoo
06-13-2026, 11:09 PM #3

I think when you say "PCI adapter," you probably mean a PCIe card with an NVMe M.2 slot, like the one on Amazon for the Bejavr expansion kit. If it is this kind of thing, your computer should already have an M.2 SSD slot built-in, so you don't need to buy a new card. Just swap out whatever M.2 drive is currently in there. If you somehow found a regular PCI card that has an M.2 hole, but your PC only has standard slots... then you can't start up from it, and go back to the first point about needing the right hardware.

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Lokster8
Junior Member
13
06-15-2026, 09:55 AM
#4
What are all the parts in this? Can you tell me which model for each thing?
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Lokster8
06-15-2026, 09:55 AM #4

What are all the parts in this? Can you tell me which model for each thing?

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Silberflug
Member
203
06-17-2026, 08:51 AM
#5
Here is a link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFEmZzw2Z6s
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Silberflug
06-17-2026, 08:51 AM #5

Here is a link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFEmZzw2Z6s

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lilgameplay
Member
194
06-19-2026, 05:49 AM
#6
What processor do you have plugged in? Which slot did you put the PCIE M.2 stick into? Can you show me a picture of your computer with the side panel taken off? (upload this to imgur.com and share the link). If the CPU model is different, Slot 1 might not work. https://dl.dell.com/content/manual328408...uage=en-us
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lilgameplay
06-19-2026, 05:49 AM #6

What processor do you have plugged in? Which slot did you put the PCIE M.2 stick into? Can you show me a picture of your computer with the side panel taken off? (upload this to imgur.com and share the link). If the CPU model is different, Slot 1 might not work. https://dl.dell.com/content/manual328408...uage=en-us

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hitgirl624
Junior Member
40
06-23-2026, 06:48 PM
#7
Got it fixed! I changed the BIOS setting from AHCI to RAID, and now everything works perfectly. Thanks so much for helping me out!
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hitgirl624
06-23-2026, 06:48 PM #7

Got it fixed! I changed the BIOS setting from AHCI to RAID, and now everything works perfectly. Thanks so much for helping me out!