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.
- If your SSD has an U.2 port, make sure both the U.2 data cable and U.2 port are clean and dirt-free.
- If your SSD is an M.2, make sure both the M.2 connector and M.2 port in the motherboard are clean and dirt-free.
- If you have a different M.2 port available, try to connect the SSD to it.
- If the M.2 SSD is NVMe* check with your motherboard manufacturer in order to confirm that the M.2 slot in the board is compatible with NVMe* SSDs.
- If your SSD is NVMe* then make sure you're running the latest NVMe* drivers. For Client SSD NVMe drivers, click here. For Datacenter NVMe drivers SSDs, click here.
- If you have an add-in card SSD, try to reseat the drive and make sure both the PICe connector and PCIe port in the motherboard are clean and dirt-free.
- If you have an add-in card NVMe SSD, please test by moving the drive to a different PCIe slot. A slot closer to the processor is suggested.
- Make sure your motherboard is running the latest BIOS. Check with your motherboard’s manufacturer in order to download the latest BIOS for your board.
- Make sure your SSD is on the latest FW. You may download our Intel® Solid State Drive Toolbox for Client drives or Intel® SSD Data Center Tool for Datacenter drives.
| 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.
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.
If you're looking for tips or troubleshooting resources for Intel® Optane™ memory, please see more information here.
| 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 |
