Troubleshooting Recognition Issues for Intel® Solid State Drives
See our troubleshooting tips for when your computer doesn't recognize an Intel® Solid State Drive (Intel® SSD).
| Note | Back up your data if the solution requires you to run a low-level format. Running the low-level format erases all data stored in the Intel® SSD. |
Click or the topic for details:
System doesn't recognize Intel® SSD
- Make sure both the SATA data cable and SATA port are clean and dirt-free.
- Make sure the SATA data cable and SATA power cable have no damage and are properly connected.
- Change the SATA port where the Intel® SSD is connected.
- Make sure the BIOS setting is properly set, especially the SATA mode setting.
- If you have another system available, check the SSD in that system to see if you get the same results.
| Note | Intel® SSDs connected by a USB-SATA adapter or enclosure aren't visible in the Intel® SSD Toolbox. |
Error occurred during the operating system installation
- Make sure the operating system installation DVD isn't scratched or dirty.
- Use Secure Erase in the Intel® SSD Toolbox to run a low-level format, or use the Drive Cleanser included with Intel® Data Migration Software. Try the installation again.
Unable to complete data migration using Intel® Data Migration Software
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Intel® Data Migration Software may display the following message if you use a third-party USB-to-SATA cable to connect the SSD to your system. In this case, replace the adapter.
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If an error occurs during data migration, use Secure Erase in the Intel® SSD Toolbox to run a low-level format. You can also use the Drive Cleanser included with Intel® Data Migration Software. Try the data migration again.
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If your system is configured to start in UEFI mode, try using the Create Bootable Rescue Media option in the Intel® Data Migration Software tool.
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As a last resort, you may use the Intel® Data Migration Software Workaround Tool. The tool targets Intel® SSD identification issues with Intel® Data Migration Software. These issues happen with certain models of USB-to-SATA cables. If you have an Intel® SSD connected but IDMS doesn't recognize it or allow you to migrate data, follow the steps below:
- Close IDMS.
- Run workaround tool as an administrator. It executes immediately and shows no output on the screen.
- Open IDMS and check if Intel® SSD is now recognized.
- Migrate your data.
Download the Intel® Data Migration Software Workaround Tool.
BIOS or operating system indicates incorrect drive capacity
- The capacity on the Intel® SSD label is calculated in decimal notation. Most operating systems calculate a drive capacity in binary notation.
- For decimal notation, 1 GB equals 1,000,000,000 bytes.
- For binary notation, 1 GB equals 1,073,741,824 bytes.
- The operating system normally indicates less drive capacity than what is on the SSD label.
- If the drive capacity isn't the issue, run a low-level format. Use Secure Erase included with Intel® SSD Toolbox or the Drive Cleanser included with Intel® Data Migration Software. Try again.
| Related topics |
| Intel® SSD Tools |
| When to run a low-level format on an Intel® Solid State Drive |
| Serial ATA Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI): specification, rev. 1.3 |
