XPS 9550 laptop shut down during a game. It restarts only when the M.2 [2280 kingston] SSD is taken out.
XPS 9550 laptop shut down during a game. It restarts only when the M.2 [2280 kingston] SSD is taken out.
The CPU and GPU temperatures were normal when the laptop shut down, but after that it wouldn't turn on. Pressing the power button would illuminate the button LED as long as you kept it pressed, showing a slight flicker. After that, I tried cleaning or reseating the RAM slots, resetting the battery and CMOS. Then I removed the M.2 drive and it worked fine. While plugged in, I accidentally touched the board near the M.2 slot and noticed it briefly flashed the charging LEDs and emitted a faint spark. I'm unsure if this indicates a short in the board or the M.2 slot itself. I don't want to risk damaging my desktop if it's short-circuited. Anyone have experience with this situation? Any advice would be appreciated!
I've never seen an M2 module cause a system crash. They tend to fail and require replacement. Avoid touching the laptop's interior while it's connected—your hands can damage parts. For extra caution, use an inexpensive M2 case for USB and try it out. While the laptop is open, take it off and remove the CMOS battery and main battery gently. Press the power button a few times to discharge before reversing steps. Have you noticed any unusual behavior recently? Is the device still covered by warranty? Does it support additional storage, like extra HDDs or SSDs for testing?
I'm a bit doubtful about the m.2 affecting my desktop motherboard, but I've considered it too. I thought about using a USB adapter just in case I need to recover data, but it turned out to be unnecessary. I've observed some unusual behavior and wanted to mention it, though I didn't cause any more damage. Everything seems to be working properly once I disconnect the m.2. I repeated the CMOS reset steps, and the outcome was consistent. My laptop is still functioning well, but I believe it's a few years old and has been heavily used recently. I probably pushed it too far during my last gaming sessions. There are no other storage options besides the m.2 slot, but if it's faulty, a 2.5" SSD or HDD would be better. I might need the XPS connector since I don't have it, and I'm not sure about testing the board with a laptop just in case. I'd rather try the USB adapter to check the SSD, as you suggested. I'm planning to look into this locally if it's a common issue and fixable, but if not, I'll likely switch to another laptop for the next couple of years. Considering an ASUS TUF A15 2022 model, I'll avoid the XPS due to past thermal problems. I suspect the board failure might be related to the SSD over time, not just the m.2 itself. Thanks for your reply and time!