[SOLVED] SSD drive won't boot, shows in cmd but nowhere else ?

[Long Con]

Windows 11 won't boot. USB boot to try and rescue. The SSD drive containing Windows appears as X: in the Command Prompt, and I can access files on it like normal, BUT the drive doesn't show up anywhere else. I was going to just reinstall Windows on it, but the installer doesn't see it. Was going to try some USB boot disk repair stuff, but nothing so far has been able to see it.

But it's still there, still connected, and file access is normal.

Please help, I've been at this for a week straight.

 

[dwd999]

Windows 11 won't boot. USB boot to try and rescue. The SSD drive containing Windows appears as X: in the Command Prompt, and I can access files on it like normal, BUT the drive doesn't show up anywhere else. I was going to just reinstall Windows on it, but the installer doesn't see it. Was going to try some USB boot disk repair stuff, but nothing so far has been able to see it.

But it's still there, still connected, and file access is normal.

Please help, I've been at this for a week straight.

Try this: download a linux live distro and boot a usb containing that to see what happens. You can use its file manager to offload any essential files from your ssd and then use the Gparted app it contains to delete all of the partitions existing on the ssd to the its space is totally unallocated. You can also use it to make sure that the ssd has a GPT partition identifier so that its all ready for a new windows install. Note that the windows installer prefers that there only be 1 drive connected at the time of install; others can be added after installation is complete.

 

[Long Con]

Try this: download a linux live distro and boot a usb containing that to see what happens. You can use its file manager to offload any essential files from your ssd and then use the Gparted app it contains to delete all of the partitions existing on the ssd to the its space is totally unallocated. You can also use it to make sure that the ssd has a GPT partition identifier so that its all ready for a new windows install. Note that the windows installer prefers that there only be 1 drive connected at the time of install; others can be added after installation is complete.

Thank you. Would any of these be ideal for that? I have no experience with this, but I can learn what I need to.

 

[dwd999]

Thank you. Would any of these be ideal for that? I have no experience with this, but I can learn what I need to.

Yes, I have used LinuxMint with the Mate interface for years and its fairly simple. You boot up the usb and the desktop appears. You can then use the Disks app to see what disks it recognizes. If it sees yours then you can use the file manager app on the task bar to retrieve any essential files and copy them to another disk. Then lastly use the Gparted app to delete old windows partitions (don't forget to Apply All Operations) and then check for the GPT partition identifier, creating a new one in case the old one is MBR. Your disk will then be ready for a new windows install.

 

[Long Con]

Disks app cannot see the SSD drive. In fact, I realized I've been fooled. What I thought was the SSD drive was the Windows USB boot. It shows up (from the Command Prompt) as the USB drive (D: ) and there's also the Boot drive (X: ), which has Program Files, users, Windows, etc. They have different serial numbers, and I thought that meant they were two different physical drives.

Sooo... I guess my SSD drive is pooched? There one day, gone the next, with no apparent reason. What should I do? Can I just replace my drive? It doesn't seem to be available, don't know if that's part of that chip shortage thing that's been happening for a while.

I'm not savvy enough to pick a replacement for it if that's what is the right move. I hope I can get just a little more kind help to guide my next steps here.

 

[TerryLaze]

You often need motherboard drivers for m.2 drives to be recognized for installing windows.
Is this a new drive that you got for win 11?

 

[Long Con]

You often need motherboard drivers for m.2 drives to be recognized for installing windows.
Is this a new drive that you got for win 11?

No, it's the one that's been running Windows in my computer since I bought it. Just, one morning, poof, it wouldn't boot.

 

[Long Con]

You often need motherboard drivers for m.2 drives to be recognized for installing windows.
Is this a new drive that you got for win 11?

Also, I thought maybe some malware had deleted the driver or something, but I was frustrated when trying to find a legit download of the driver.

 

[Long Con]

Sooo... I guess my SSD drive is pooched? There one day, gone the next, with no apparent reason. What should I do? Can I just replace my drive? It doesn't seem to be available, don't know if that's part of that chip shortage thing that's been happening for a while.

I'm not savvy enough to pick a replacement for it if that's what is the right move. I hope I can get just a little more kind help to guide my next steps here.

I'm really hoping to get some advice based on this post. Just posting again so it doesn't get buried.