- Mar 2, 2025
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Hello,
I wonder if someone may be able and willing to help a guy out.
Previously, in 2011, I carefully researched top-quality components (back then) and then custom built a PC tower, (some specs down below), and it has worked flawlessly ever since. No issues whatsoever.
Yesterday, I unplugged all 3 of my SSDs (one of which had my Windows 7 OS on it), to double-check which SSD brands I bought that have proven to be completely reliable and 100% stable – therefore wishing to buy the same, only update them to larger sizes, as they’re older now, and also too full, (not enough free space) for my comfort level.
I also removed them and a few other things to very carefully vacuum the dust out of my tower and fan blades.
But after plugging the 3 SSDs back in, the computer wouldn’t see them after restart – it only sees a USB 2.0 Flash Drive, the CD/DVD Drive, and a Westen Digital 1TB HDD. (This WD HDD is plugged into the same SATA 3 input port as always, just like the 3 SSDs have always been).
I even tried plugging each of the 3 SSDs into the same SATA Input Port that the HDD is in (which obviously works).
Still no love.
(Kind-a starting to feel like divorce court! - but I digress…)
So, I think all 6 (actually 8) of my SATA Ports are all still fine then. It’s got to do with the SSDs just not being seen.
I am able to boot into the ASUS BIOS and also boot into and load the original Windows 7 install disk, but the ‘Repair’ option doesn’t see any OS installed to repair, (since it doesn’t see the SSDs).
Lastly, I can also use that install disk to get into DOS Command option.
I just watched 4 youtube vids on methods to fix this in the BIOS, but most of those are based on Windows 10/11, with newer ASUS MOBOs, and some of them are repaired or reset right from within Windows, (which again, I can’t access).
The few things I did try, didn’t work - like loading the Default Config and/or setting to AHCI, (which it was already).
The SSDs simply don’t show up in the boot menu like they always did before.
So, any help would be much appreciated, as I have very many programs and several documents - some installed all the way back 13 years ago in 2011.
Therefore, some programs may not even be available anymore; some companies have come and gone, (I know this for sure about some of them); and/or maybe only now available for newer OS versions like Win 10/11.
FYI, I have done a full Acronis backup of my main drive onto another external SSD via USB 3.0, (about 6-8 months ago), but I’d still need this tower/rig to see and recognize any SSDs in order to utilize that back up.
(Otherwise, I'd have to clear and use the WD HDD, which I don't want to do.)
Thank you for reading. (Apologies for the long post.)
Jay C.
Edit: I just want to add that I have another older computer (I didn't build), also with Windows 7 on it, and a Lenovo Laptop with Windows 10 on it to utilize, if needed or possible.
Specifications:
MOBO = ASUS: P8Z68 – V PRO
BIOS = Version: 0501
CPU = Intel i7 – 2600k @ 3.40GHz
Memory = 4 x 4 Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1333 Mhz (Total 16384 MB)
SSDs = 2 - Samsung Evo 860; 1 – Crucial M4
Cables = 2 - SATA 3, 2 - SATA 6, (and 1 SATA 3 for the CD/DVD Player)
OS = Windows 7 Home Premium, Service Pack 2 – (all full and final updates)
I wonder if someone may be able and willing to help a guy out.
Previously, in 2011, I carefully researched top-quality components (back then) and then custom built a PC tower, (some specs down below), and it has worked flawlessly ever since. No issues whatsoever.
Yesterday, I unplugged all 3 of my SSDs (one of which had my Windows 7 OS on it), to double-check which SSD brands I bought that have proven to be completely reliable and 100% stable – therefore wishing to buy the same, only update them to larger sizes, as they’re older now, and also too full, (not enough free space) for my comfort level.
I also removed them and a few other things to very carefully vacuum the dust out of my tower and fan blades.
But after plugging the 3 SSDs back in, the computer wouldn’t see them after restart – it only sees a USB 2.0 Flash Drive, the CD/DVD Drive, and a Westen Digital 1TB HDD. (This WD HDD is plugged into the same SATA 3 input port as always, just like the 3 SSDs have always been).
I even tried plugging each of the 3 SSDs into the same SATA Input Port that the HDD is in (which obviously works).
Still no love.
(Kind-a starting to feel like divorce court! - but I digress…)
So, I think all 6 (actually 8) of my SATA Ports are all still fine then. It’s got to do with the SSDs just not being seen.
I am able to boot into the ASUS BIOS and also boot into and load the original Windows 7 install disk, but the ‘Repair’ option doesn’t see any OS installed to repair, (since it doesn’t see the SSDs).
Lastly, I can also use that install disk to get into DOS Command option.
I just watched 4 youtube vids on methods to fix this in the BIOS, but most of those are based on Windows 10/11, with newer ASUS MOBOs, and some of them are repaired or reset right from within Windows, (which again, I can’t access).
The few things I did try, didn’t work - like loading the Default Config and/or setting to AHCI, (which it was already).
The SSDs simply don’t show up in the boot menu like they always did before.
So, any help would be much appreciated, as I have very many programs and several documents - some installed all the way back 13 years ago in 2011.
Therefore, some programs may not even be available anymore; some companies have come and gone, (I know this for sure about some of them); and/or maybe only now available for newer OS versions like Win 10/11.
FYI, I have done a full Acronis backup of my main drive onto another external SSD via USB 3.0, (about 6-8 months ago), but I’d still need this tower/rig to see and recognize any SSDs in order to utilize that back up.
(Otherwise, I'd have to clear and use the WD HDD, which I don't want to do.)
Thank you for reading. (Apologies for the long post.)
Jay C.
Edit: I just want to add that I have another older computer (I didn't build), also with Windows 7 on it, and a Lenovo Laptop with Windows 10 on it to utilize, if needed or possible.
Specifications:
MOBO = ASUS: P8Z68 – V PRO
BIOS = Version: 0501
CPU = Intel i7 – 2600k @ 3.40GHz
Memory = 4 x 4 Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1333 Mhz (Total 16384 MB)
SSDs = 2 - Samsung Evo 860; 1 – Crucial M4
Cables = 2 - SATA 3, 2 - SATA 6, (and 1 SATA 3 for the CD/DVD Player)
OS = Windows 7 Home Premium, Service Pack 2 – (all full and final updates)
Last edited:
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