[SOLVED] How to fix M.2 SSD ?

[TThornton]

Hi all,

I recently finished building my first PC build and have been very happy with its performance so far. However in the last couple days my M.2 SSD has been failing to show up in bios and stopped me from booting up into windows. I have searched for the reasoning but most answers seem to indicate the drive has failed or the motherboard. However after taking the M.2 SSD out and putting it back in it worked just fine but unfortunately its happened again.

I'm trying to not worry too much but I really want to resolve this issue without spending money on replacements.

Thank you

Motherboard - MSI MAG B560M mortar WIFI
m.2 - Samsung 970 EVO Plus 1tb

 

[dwd999]

Just random diagnostic thoughts before spending money: Is this happening when the computer is totally cold, which could indicate a bad solder that opens only when its totally cold? On the other hand if its happening when the computer might still be hot inside it could indicate that the m.2 cover heat dissipation isn't working properly. Do you have other disks available where you could clone your m.2 onto a sata ssd and try running the computer off that for a while so at least you would know that the remainder of the motherboard is OK and narrow it down to the m.2 socket? Can you run the computer with the m.2 cover off in case its a heat or pressure related problem? There doesn't seem to be much you could do without spending money.

 

[TThornton]

Just random diagnostic thoughts before spending money: Is this happening when the computer is totally cold, which could indicate a bad solder that opens only when its totally cold? On the other hand if its happening when the computer might still be hot inside it could indicate that the m.2 cover heat dissipation isn't working properly. Do you have other disks available where you could clone your m.2 onto a sata ssd and try running the computer off that for a while so at least you would know that the remainder of the motherboard is OK and narrow it down to the m.2 socket? Can you run the computer with the m.2 cover off in case its a heat or pressure related problem? There doesn't seem to be much you could do without spending money.

It tends to happen while running a game. For example I've been playing Red Dead Redemption 2 and at any given time it will freeze, pop up with a blue error screen then restart. After its restarted it will launch in bios because the m.2 has last its connectivity. I've taken my m.2 out and put it into the second m.2 slot and seems to be okay at the moment.
Thank you for your suggestions and help.

 

[dwd999]

It tends to happen while running a game. For example I've been playing Red Dead Redemption 2 and at any given time it will freeze, pop up with a blue error screen then restart. After its restarted it will launch in bios because the m.2 has last its connectivity. I've taken my m.2 out and put it into the second m.2 slot and seems to be okay at the moment.
Thank you for your suggestions and help.

That sounds like the m.2 cover definitely is not performing its heat transfer function. The problem with those covers is while they transfer the heat away from the m.2's controller to the memory chips the heat is still trapped under the cover. It may be your m.2 functions better in the open air or the second slot if your case is well ventilated. What type of pad is under the cover and did you remove the shiny film protecting the pad? I think the shiny film is supposed to be removed although some times the instructions are not clear on that. Anyway, first we had cpu coolers and fans; then gpu coolers and fans; then memory stick coolers and fans; now we need fans for the m.2s.

 

[RodroX]

Try what dwd999 wrote about making sure you removed the protective film from the motherboard m.2 "heatsink" top slot.

If the film was already removed, and this is a heat problem like what dwd999 pointed out, it may help us to guide you on a posible solution if you can share the rest of your system specs (brand and model), specially CPU, cooling solution, GPU and case (Perhaps the SSD is a little bit "trapped" between the GPU and CPU cooler and not enough air flows to lower its temp?).

Im guessing you are using the top m.2 on the motherboard, right?, Have you tried it runing the SSD without the "heatsink" motherboard cover? or... Have you tried the Samsung drive on the lowest m.2 slot?

Far as I know both slots should be the same since that Samsung drive is PCIe3.0, so moving it away from the GPU and CPU may help you keep a lower working temp.

As for cheking temps in real time, I like to use hwinfo portable (https://www.hwinfo.com/download/), which you don't need to install, only run the "Sensors Only" option, and you should find a lot of info including SSD/HDD working temp.