SSD not recognized by Bios or Windows 7, but found as empty in Disk Management

[Pestilaence]

Hey guys,
I've hit a wall with a new SSD that I recently purchased, and could use some help. I ended up getting a Sandisk 120GB drive that I planned on installing a fresh copy of Windows 7 64bit on. However, when attempting to install the OS on my home computer, neither my bios, nor Windows could detect that anything was connected. I've swapped sata cables and ports, as well as power connections from my psu, and yes, my storage setting in bios is set to ACHI mode.

The drive doesn't show up absolutely anywhere, except in Disk Management on my work computer (since it's fully up and running), and even then, it shows the size as being 0MB. Disk Management shows that something is actually plugged in, but that it's a completely empty drive. I've tried to find it on both computers using the Disk Part/ Disk List commands, but it still doesn't show on my home computer (where I'm trying to install the OS on).

Using my work computer, I've tried to clean, partition and format the SSD using Disk Part in command, but it gives me an error saying that there essentially is no disk space, and nothing can be created or extended into it.

I'm actually on my second SSD, since I exchanged the first one I bought, thinking that it may have simply been dead. Unfortunately, I'm getting the same results with this drive as well, and I'm not sure what to do. Any help you guys could pass along would be much appreciated.

 

[spooky2th]

Try installing windows with only the SSD installed, if you haven't already. Don't change the sata ports afterwards, either.

 

[Pestilaence]

I've tried that, and the SSD isn't recognized.

 

[mjslakeridge]

What Operating System does your work computer have? See the attached link that talks about initializing a new drive. It says it applies to Win 8 or 10, but I have also had to initialize a new drive on Vista.

http://www.howtogeek.com/193669/whats-the-difference-between-gpt-and-mbr-when-partitioning-a-drive/

 

[spooky2th]

Don't know what model SSD you have, but Sandisk has some free software for download with their SSD's. Maybe there is a boot disk app for the SSD, to help get it going. Or at least an app that you can use with your current system and the with the SSD installed.

 

[Pestilaence]

What Operating System does your work computer have? See the attached link that talks about initializing a new drive. It says it applies to Win 8 or 10, but I have also had to initialize a new drive on Vista.

http://www.howtogeek.com/193669/whats-the-difference-between-gpt-and-mbr-when-partitioning-a-drive/

My work computer is running Windows 7, 64bit as well. While I appreciate the effort, the link you sent me doesn't tell me how to do anything, it only explains the differences between MBR and GPT, which doesn't help. It also assumes that I have access to format the drive, which I don't.

*Edit*
I just downloaded the SanDisk SSD ToolKit program that supposedly helps manage their drives... and it doesn't recognize the SSD either.

 

[mjslakeridge]

Are you sure the sata cable is good? Are you plugging in both the sata and power cables? (Not trying to insult, just asking troubleshooting questions). Tried a different sata port?

It is unlikely that 2 different SSDs could be bad, but it is possible.

Edit: I see now from your original post that you have already tried different cables and ports.

 

[spooky2th]

What MB do you have. There are some older boards that will not support SSD's.

 

[Pestilaence]

What MB do you have. There are some older boards that will not support SSD's.

I have an ASRock FM2A88X-ITX+ FM2+ in my home computer. It supports SSD's.

 

[mjslakeridge]

Are you using the sata port that previously had your HDD connected to (ie a known working port)? If you try to use a different sata port, make sure it is enabled in the BIOS.

 

[mjslakeridge]

Here is a link to the Sandisk site explaining how to detect the SSD in the bios. Maybe you have already tried everything discussed there. I also noticed they have a live chat option.

http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/8174/~/detecting-your-ssd-drive-through-the-bios

 

[spooky2th]

Yes, that MB should support SSD's. Go into BIOS and set optimized defaults and etc than save settings and exit bios and see if the SSD is working.

 

[Pestilaence]

Yes, that MB should support SSD's. Go into BIOS and set optimized defaults and etc than save settings and exit bios and see if the SSD is working.

I've already tried loading the default settings, and ensuring that the storage option is set to ACHI. I have also tried IDE and Raid, just for the heck of it (knowing that the drive still shouldn't be recognized with those settings).

 

[Pestilaence]

Here is a link to the Sandisk site explaining how to detect the SSD in the bios. Maybe you have already tried everything discussed there. I also noticed they have a live chat option.

http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/8174/~/detecting-your-ssd-drive-through-the-bios

Unfortunately, none of the information on that page is helpful, though I appreciate the effort.

 

[mjslakeridge]

It looks like you have done everything possible to get the SSD recognized. You have tried it in 2 different computers without any luck. At this point I would either try the Live Chat option with Sandisk, or exchange it for a Samsung 850 Pro or Evo.

Let us know if you ever get this resolved. Sorry we couldn't help much.

 

[Pestilaence]

It looks like you have done everything possible to get the SSD recognized. You have tried it in 2 different computers without any luck. At this point I would either try the Live Chat option with Sandisk, or exchange it for a Samsung 850 Pro or Evo.

Let us know if you ever get this resolved. Sorry we couldn't help much.

Yeah, I'm waiting for the live chat option to open up. They don't hop online until 6am pst, and it's still a bit before that here. I'll see what they say, and relay any useful information they give me.

 

[Pestilaence]

Update; One hour and eight minutes later, the Sandisk rep has concluded that I have yet another defective drive. I'm going to take this one back to the store from which it was purchased, and exchange it for a third one.

 

[mjslakeridge]

If it were me, I would not go with another Sandisk. Samsung 850 Pro or Evo is my recommendation, based on reading on this and other forums.

 

[Pestilaence]

If it were me, I would not go with another Sandisk. Samsung 850 Pro or Evo is my recommendation, based on reading on this and other forums.

Yeah, I'm tempted to simply return it, and not exchange it, but we'll see.