Help Needed: M.2 SSD Detection Issues with ASUS Prime B350 Plus

[SweatyChangeD3]

I'm experiencing persistent issues with my M.2 SSD not being detected by my motherboard. Here's my system configuration and the problem details:

**System Specs:**
- Motherboard: ASUS Prime B350 Plus
- CPU: Ryzen 7 1700
- GPU: Radeon 6600 (upgraded last year)
- RAM: 16GB
- Boot Drive: M.2 SSD (purchased around 2019-2020)
- System built in 2018

**Issue Timeline:**
1. Initially, my PC was crashing while playing Marvel Rivals due to overheating
2. After replacing the CPU thermal paste, my M.2 drive stopped being detected in BIOS
3. After tweaking BIOS settings and multiple restarts, the drive was detected again
4. A power outage occurred a few days later, and the M.2 again disappeared from BIOS
5. Multiple forced restarts eventually got it working, so I kept the PC running for several days to avoid the issue
6. This morning, the M.2 has stopped being detected again

**Troubleshooting Attempted:**
- Reseated the M.2 drive multiple times
- Checked all BIOS options
- Disconnected other HDD drives to isolate the issue

Nothing is working now, and I'm concerned my M.2 drive might be failing. Has anyone experienced similar issues or have suggestions on what to try next? Could this be related to the CPU overheating, the power outage, or is my drive simply failing?

Yes this was written by AI, my english sucks lol

 

[Aeacus]

Could this be related to the CPU overheating, the power outage, or is my drive simply failing?

It could be one, two or all of them.

Since MoBo has 1x M.2 slot, i'd suggest you look towards 2.5" SATA SSD for your OS drive, since when slot itself is bad, this is your only option (or you can replace MoBo).
As of if to know the M.2 slot being the issue, you need 2nd, known to work M.2 PCI-E 3.0 drive, to test it out. If even known to work M.2 drive doesn't work, then the M.2 slot is bad.

 

[SweatyChangeD3]

Hey guys, I’m having a frustrating issue with my PC and I’m running out of ideas.

Specs:

Ryzen 7 1700

Radeon 6600

16 GB RAM

ASUS Prime B350-PLUS

M.2 NVMe (boot drive)

Thermaltake Smart 700W PSU (recently replaced)

RZ608 Wi-Fi 6E PCIe Card with Bluetooth



---

The Issue:

My M.2 NVMe (which is my boot drive) randomly stopped being detected in the BIOS after my PC crashed a couple of times due to CPU overheating during gaming. I ignored the crashes for a bit before a friend gave me better thermal paste, but since then, the M.2 has been acting weird.
The m.2 sometimes is detected randomly since the problem began but after turning the pc off the m.2 disappears again

Tested the M.2 on a friend’s PC, and it works perfectly.

Left the PC unplugged overnight with the CMOS battery out and the M.2 disconnected, and it worked for a day after that, but it bluescreened and disappeared again.

Now, no matter how many times I reset or reseat it, it’s not showing up in the BIOS.



---

What I’ve Tried:

Reseated the M.2 multiple times.

Cleared CMOS and left the PC unplugged overnight.

Reflashed the BIOS (latest version).

Booted with only the M.2 installed (no other drives).

Replaced the PSU to rule out power issues.



---

Weird Stuff Happening:

There’s a red blinking light near all the PCIe slots. Though honestly i can't remember recall if its been blinking like that always before

Bluetooth from the Wi-Fi card acts weird, sometimes the bluethoot just disappears
(Or once, i unplugged a hdd and it started working again)




It’s probably the motherboard dying, maybe the PCIe controller or something related.




---

Is there anything else I should try before I go ahead and replace the motherboard?
I just want to be sure I’ve ruled everything out before I spend more money. Thanks in advance!


---

Also, most of this is written by Ai, my english sucks so i didnt know how to put all this together lol

 

[Aeacus]

Tested the M.2 on a friend’s PC, and it works perfectly.

If so, then your M.2 slot is toast.

Getting 2.5" SATA SSD is far cheaper and easier to replace, than getting a new MoBo. Since new MoBo, if different make/model, requires a clean Win install.

 

[SweatyChangeD3]

If so, then your M.2 slot is toast.

Getting 2.5" SATA SSD is far cheaper and easier to replace, than getting a new MoBo. Since new MoBo, if different make/model, requires a clean Win install.

Is there really no way to do it without a fresh reinstall?

If it there isnt, there wont be much trouble, i'll just do a fresh reinstall and back up the most important files of the m.2 with an adapter or something

I was planning to upgrade the mobo anyways

Thanks for your help

 

[Aeacus]

Is there really no way to do it without a fresh reinstall?

New MoBo = new OS install. If you keep your current OS, you'll start to see all sorts of issues down the line (system instability, BSoD, OS corruption).
Also, you may need to activate Win again as well (if you're using Win).

 

[JayGau]

New MoBo = new OS install. If you keep your current OS, you'll start to see all sorts of issues down the line (system instability, BSoD, OS corruption).
Also, you may need to activate Win again as well (if you're using Win).

That’s not true. I have done that so many times that I can't count them and never had issues. I did it at work as well as for my personal computers at home, with both Linux and Windows and it always works fine according that you do it right. The OS doesn't get corrupted because you replace the motherboard, that doesn't make sense, and if you reinstall the proper chipset driver there's no instability issue.

Before going to the trouble of reinstalling Windows, try your old drive and see if it works. It might not boot the first time (Windows might say there's a problem and tries to repair). If it happens, let it try a few times until it goes to recovery mode and then boot in safe mode. After that it should boot normally. Then uninstall your chipset driver with Revo Uninstaller (remove all files and registry entries) and install the driver for your new motherboard. And if it doesn't work then reinstall Windows.

 

[Aeacus]

I have done that so many times that I can't count them and never had issues.

And there are people out there who drive drunk, say that they never had an accident and continue to do so. But that doesn't mean it's safe or right thing to do.

The OS doesn't get corrupted because you replace the motherboard, that doesn't make sense, and if you reinstall the proper chipset driver there's no instability issue.

Windows activation key is tied to the MoBo. So, MoBo replacement, for the very least, requires activation of Win. Else-ways, trying to use the same key again will not work, since each key is for 1 system, and not for 2, 3 etc.
Further reading: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...e-change-2c0e962a-f04c-145b-6ead-fb3fc72b6665

Re-using the same Win installation on another MoBo may cause boot mode compatibility, where OS won't boot. Then there's also drivers issue, since old Win was installed for different system, where different drivers (e.g MoBo drivers) were in use. That usually leads to BSoD, crashes and poor overall performance.

 

[SkyNetRising]

You still haven't listed model name of your M.2 NVME drive.

It’s probably the motherboard dying, maybe the PCIe controller or something related.

Nah. It's probably a faulty/failing M.2 drive.

Is there anything else I should try before I go ahead and replace the motherboard?

If you suspect a faulty M.2 slot, then this can be resolved with M.2 PCIE adapter.
No need to change motherboard for this.

 

[Misgar]

I failed to get a Crucial 1TB P3 NVMe drive to work on an Asus X670 mobo. In the end I moved the P3 to an old i7-4770K rig and bought a couple of Samsung 870 M.2 drives and a Kingston KC3000 M.2 drive.

I put it down to some strange incompatibility between the ASUS BIOS and the firmware on the Crucial P3.

Try a completely different M.2 drive from another manufacturer, to see if the mobo is bad or just incompatible.

Windows activation key is tied to the MoBo. So, MoBo replacement, for the very least, requires activation of Win. Else-ways, trying to use the same key again will not work, since each key is for 1 system, and not for 2, 3 etc.

What happens if a punter buys a "genuine" Activation Key for $12 without realizing it's split from a Corporate or Educational Volume License Pack, rather than paying $100+ on Amazon, etc? They might end up with exactly the same key as 999 other gullible users on the same 1,000 license pack.

They'll all be using different mobos, but the single unique key will probably unlock Windows for most installs. Microsoft might detect unauthorized use of a Volume License pack and revoke the key, but what heck, it's only $12 for another dodgy key.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/is-your-windows-license-legal-should-you-even-care/

You could even use a Generic Product Key to install Windows but it wouldn't necessarily constitute a genuine License. Keys and LIcenses are two different things. Keys allow you to install Windows. Licenses permit you to use Windows if you're eligible. For most folk at home, a Corporate or Educational key split from a volume license pack is probably breaking Microsoft's Terms and Conditions of use.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/95922-generic-product-keys-install-windows-10-editions.html

 

[USAFRet]

That’s not true. I have done that so many times that I can't count them and never had issues.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it fails.

I've personally seen both ends of the spectrum.