Question:

How to troubleshoot NVMe SSD detection failure after a hard shutdown?

I have a TUF Gaming motherboard with an NVMe SSD installed in the M2.2 slot. The SSD has been working fine for 3 years, but recently I had to force shut down my computer because the login window screen froze. After that, I could not boot my computer because the BIOS did not recognize the SSD and the NVMe configuration showed the M2.2 slot as empty. I tried reseating the SSD, but it did not help. Is there any way to recover the SSD or diagnose the problem? Is the SSD damaged or corrupted by the hard shutdown?

Answer:

A hard shutdown is when you force your computer to turn off by holding the power button or cutting off the power supply. This can happen due to various reasons, such as a system freeze, a power outage, or a hardware failure. However, a hard shutdown can also cause some problems for your computer, especially for your storage devices. One of the possible issues is that your NVMe SSD may not be detected by the BIOS or the operating system after a hard shutdown, preventing you from booting your computer normally.

This article will explain why this issue may occur, how to diagnose the problem, and how to fix it. We will use a specific example of a TUF Gaming motherboard with an NVMe SSD installed in the M2.2 slot, but the general steps and solutions may apply to other models and configurations as well.

Why does the NVMe SSD detection failure happen?

An NVMe SSD is a type of solid state drive that uses the Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) protocol to communicate with the motherboard via a PCIe or M.2 interface. Compared to other types of SSDs, such as SATA or AHCI, NVMe SSDs offer faster performance, lower latency, and higher efficiency. However, NVMe SSDs also have some drawbacks, such as higher power consumption, higher temperature, and higher sensitivity to power fluctuations.

A hard shutdown can cause a sudden loss of power to the NVMe SSD, which may result in data corruption, firmware damage, or hardware failure. Depending on the severity of the damage, the NVMe SSD may become unreadable, unbootable, or undetectable by the BIOS or the operating system. Some of the possible causes of the NVMe SSD detection failure after a hard shutdown are:

• The NVMe SSD is not properly seated in the M.2 slot or the PCIe adapter. This can cause a loose connection or a short circuit, which may prevent the NVMe SSD from being recognized by the motherboard.
• The NVMe SSD is overheated or overpowered. This can cause the NVMe SSD to enter a protective mode or a low-power state, which may disable the communication with the motherboard or the operating system.
• The NVMe SSD is corrupted or damaged. This can happen if the NVMe SSD was writing or reading data when the power was cut off, which may cause the data to be incomplete, inconsistent, or invalid. This may affect the boot sector, the partition table, the file system, or the firmware of the NVMe SSD, making it inaccessible or unbootable.
• The NVMe SSD is incompatible or outdated. This can happen if the NVMe SSD is not supported by the motherboard, the BIOS, or the operating system, or if the NVMe SSD driver or firmware is not updated to the latest version. This may cause the NVMe SSD to be unrecognized or misconfigured by the system.

How to diagnose the problem?

To diagnose the problem, you need to check the following aspects:

• The physical connection of the NVMe SSD. You need to make sure that the NVMe SSD is securely and correctly installed in the M.2 slot or the PCIe adapter, and that there is no dust, debris, or damage on the contacts or the connectors. You can try to reseat the NVMe SSD, or use a different slot or adapter, to see if that helps.
• The power supply of the NVMe SSD. You need to make sure that the NVMe SSD is receiving enough and stable power from the motherboard or the power supply unit, and that there is no overheating or overloading issue. You can check the temperature and the voltage of the NVMe SSD using a monitoring software, or use a different power cable or source, to see if that helps.
• The BIOS settings of the NVMe SSD. You need to make sure that the BIOS is configured to detect and boot from the NVMe SSD, and that there is no conflict or error with the other storage devices or the boot order. You can enter the BIOS setup menu and check the NVMe configuration, the storage configuration, and the boot configuration, and make the necessary changes if needed.
• The operating system settings of the NVMe SSD. You need to make sure that the operating system is compatible and updated to support the NVMe SSD, and that the NVMe SSD driver and firmware are also compatible and updated to the latest version. You can use a bootable USB drive or a recovery disk to access the operating system, and check the device manager, the disk management, and the system information, and update or reinstall the NVMe SSD driver and firmware if needed.

How to fix it?

Depending on the diagnosis, you may need to try different solutions to fix the NVMe SSD detection failure. Here are some possible solutions:

• Reset the BIOS to the default settings. This can help to clear any incorrect or corrupted BIOS settings that may prevent the NVMe SSD from being detected or booted. You can do this by entering the BIOS setup menu and choosing the option to load the default or optimized settings, or by removing the CMOS battery from the motherboard for a few minutes and then reinstalling it.
• Repair the NVMe SSD using a disk utility. This can help to fix any logical errors or corruption on the NVMe SSD, such as the boot sector, the partition table, or the file system. You can do this by using a bootable USB drive or a recovery disk to access the operating system, and then using a disk utility software, such as CHKDSK, Diskpart, or EaseUS Partition Master, to scan, repair, or format the NVMe SSD.
• Recover the data from the NVMe SSD using a data recovery software. This can help to retrieve any important or valuable data from the NVMe SSD before attempting any further actions, such as formatting or replacing the NVMe SSD. You can do this by using a bootable USB drive or a recovery disk to access the operating system, and then using a data recovery software, such as Recuva, Stellar Data Recovery, or EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, to scan, preview, and recover the data from the NVMe SSD.
• Replace the NVMe SSD with a new one. This can help to solve any physical or irreparable damage on the NVMe SSD, such as the firmware or the hardware failure. You can do this by purchasing a new NVMe SSD that is compatible with your motherboard and operating system, and then installing it in the M.2 slot or the PCIe adapter, and cloning or reinstalling the operating system on it.

Conclusion

A

hard shutdown can cause a NVMe SSD detection failure, which can prevent you from booting your computer normally. This issue can be caused by various factors, such as the physical connection, the power supply, the BIOS settings, the operating system settings, the NVMe SSD corruption, or the NVMe SSD damage. To troubleshoot this issue, you need to diagnose the problem by checking the above aspects, and then fix it by trying the above solutions. If none of the solutions work, you may need to contact the manufacturer or a professional technician for further assistance.