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SSD not visible in Windows

Anonymous
2021-09-03T01:54:31+00:00

SITUATION

  • My MoBo (Asrock H110M-ITXac) has 4 SATA ports
  • My boot drive (SSD Samsung 860 Pro) with OS Windows 10 Pro (c/w all updates) is connected to SATA port 1
  • My optical drive (LG GH24NSD1) is connected to SATA port 4
  • I recently purchased 2 x Intenso 2.5 inch SATA III SSD's
  • I connected the first Intenso SSD to SATA port 2 and the other Intenso SSD to SATA port 3

PROBLEM

  • Both Intenso SSD's are perfectly recognized by UEFI bios.
  • But only 1 of the Intenso SSD's is visible in windows.
  • The 2nd Intenso SSD is NOT at all visible in Windows: NOT in explorer, NOT in device manager and NOT in disk management!
  • The 2nd Intenso SSD is also NOT visible in none of the third party softwares that I tried (e.g. HWiNFO, MinTool Disk Partitioning Wizard, ADATA SSD Toolbox)

OBSERVATIONS

  • If both Intenso SSD's are plugged in then only the Intenso SSD in SATA port 2 is visible in Windows and working OK
  • if I unplug the Intenso SSD in SATA port 2 then the Intenso SSD in SATA port 3 is visible in Windows and working OK
  • I have tried various combinations to definitely rule out defective SATA power and/or data cables
  • If I keep the Intenso SSD in SATA port 2 plugged in and I replace the Intenso SSD in SATA port 3 by an other SSD (ADATA SU800) then both SSD's are visible in Windows and working OK
  • If I keep the Intenso SSD in SATA port 3 plugged in and I replace the Intenso SSD in SATA port 2 by an other SSD (ADATA SU800) then both SSD's are visible in Windows and working OK
  • If I keep the Intenso SSD in SATA port 2 plugged in and I connect the other Intenso SSD to a USB port via a SATA/USB adapter then both SSD's are visible in Windows and working OK
  • If I keep the Intenso SSD in SATA port 3 plugged in and I connect the other Intenso SSD to a USB port via a SATA/USB adapter then both SSD's are visible in Windows and working OK

QUESTION

  • How can I get both Intenso SSD's running simultaneously when connected to SATA ports 2 and 3?

NOTE

  • I don't know if this is relevant for the a.m. problem, but I find it rather unusual that UEFI reports exactly the same serial number for both Intenso SSD's.
Windows for home | Windows 10 | Devices and drivers

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  1. Anonymous
    2021-09-03T20:32:15+00:00

    The Serial Numbers wouldn't confuse Windows, as it assigns it's own Hardware ID that is separate.

    Let me know how cleaning the disk and reformatting works.

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-09-03T20:07:44+00:00

    Greg, sorry, English is not my native language...

    When I said "erasing the disk" I actually did mean "wiping the disk with the Diskpart Clean Command".

    BTW, in my original post I mentioned that UEFI reports completely identical serial numbers for both SSD's.

    In your experience, is that normal? I just want to be reassured that this is definitely not part of the problem. Is it possible that two disks with the same serial number somehow confuse Windows?

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  3. Anonymous
    2021-09-03T14:19:41+00:00

    Charles, reformatting is not enough. You need to wipe the disk with Clean Command (tutorial included above) to remove any errant code or preinstalled bloatware that might interfere.

    Keep me posted on your progress as I will be here to help until the case is resolved.

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  4. Anonymous
    2021-09-03T12:14:00+00:00

    Hi Greg,

    Thanks for your input.

    Both SSD's are supposed to be brand new, and do not contain any data yet, except for a single small textfile on each SSD, with the title and body reading "Intenso1" and "Intenso2", which I have written there myself to not only verify that both SSD's are basically working properly, but also so that during my tests I could more easily identify which SSD showed up in Windows, and which did not.

    Both SSD's are formatted GPT, filesystem NTFS. Each disk has only one partition spanning the entire volume.

    Prior to posting my problem here I had already contacted Intenso support, but they referred me to Microsoft support.

    I will check if erasing the disks and reformatting makes any difference.

    Regards,

    Charles

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  5. Anonymous
    2021-09-03T03:14:32+00:00

    Hi Charles. I'm Greg, 10 years awarded Windows MVP specializing in installation, performance, troubleshooting and activation, here to help you.

    Were these SSD's ever bootable, and still have bootable code in their boot sector and partition table that should have been wiped off when they were repurposed as data drives?

    If not are they formatted GPT in Disk Mgmt?

    Have you checked the manufacturer's website for a toolkit to check their condition? You can contact their Support which is included along with the one year warranty that come with all hardware

    If nothing else works then I'd move the data off, wipe the drive which is not displaying or blocking the display of the other, with Diskpart Clean Command and reformat in Disk Management:

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/85819-erase...

    https://www.windowscentral.com/how-format-new-h...

    I hope this helps. Feel free to ask any questions. Based on the results you post back I may have other suggestions if necessary.

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