Share via

PC not detecting SSD even though it's not dead

Anonymous
2025-05-04T19:30:24+00:00

Hello, last night while I was asleep my SSD seemed to stop being recognized. When I woke up I saw a screen saying:

"No bootable devices found.
Press F1 key to retry boot.
Press F2 key for setup utility.
Press F5 key to run onboard diagnostics"

I have tried all the above options multiple times.

  • When I press F1 it shows to Dell logo for a few seconds and goes back to that screen
  • When I press F2 It shows many options and it shows that my drive isn't connected to any SATA ports and isn't found under the "Devices" tab. I've tried 3 different troubleshooting tutorials and none of them have worked.
  • When I press F5 it tells me something along the lines of "No storage device was found, would you like to continue the test"
    So that gives me no information.

I know that the SSD isn't 100% dead because by some stroke of luck the PC managed to go to my desktop for a few minutes and I was able to open some files, I was able to do that until the "No boot devices found" screen came up, I can see that maybe the SSD may be failing and that was just some juice it had left but I don't think that's the case as I've had no other problems with it, even the day before this happened.

Sometimes (almost randomly) when I try to turn on my PC it gives me a BSOD loop like this:

Dell logo shows up for a few seconds. -> Bluescreen saying PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA and it says the failure is Wimfsf.sys isn't found. -> Repeat

Here is a list of everything I've tried:

  1. Reseating the SSD
  2. Connecting different cables to SSD and motherboard
  3. Running PC without SSD then running PC with SSD
  4. Changing BIOS settings
  5. Messed with Setup Utility
  6. Running Onboard Diagnostics
  7. Attempting to open Automatic Repair screen (I can't manage to get to it, I've tried the turning off PC three times method a few times and I've tried the F8 method)
  8. Moving RAM sticks
  9. Removing flash drives

What I can't try:

  1. Get it professionally looked at (No one looks or repairs PC's in my area)
  2. Buy a new SSD (Can't afford a good one)
  3. Test current SSD on another PC (Don't have another PC)

I'll try to do any suggestions as I've tried troubleshooting on and off for nearly 10 hours.

Thank you

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Performance and system failures

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

5 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Mario Bressan 3,190 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-05-05T17:29:59+00:00

    I'm sorry if the steps didn't work. It seems that the issue is complex than what I expected.

    It may be best if I release your question to other advisors so they can take a look at it and let them share some other ways that can fix the issue.

    You take care and keep safe always.

    Sincerely,

    Mario B.

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2025-05-05T16:40:05+00:00

    > I've had no other problems with it, even the day before this happened.

    The same thing happened to me, with an automobile tire.

    What you seem to have is a problem with the SSD.

    I doubt that it is a problem with the computer's BIOS, or any settings within the BIOS.

    When you pressed "F5", the motherboard tried to launch the diagnostics that were installed on the (non-responding) SSD.

    Since the disk-drive was not working, that option was no help to you.

    What I can't try:

    1. Get it professionally looked at (No one looks or repairs PC's in my area)

    2. Buy a new SSD (Can't afford a good one)

    3. Test current SSD on another PC (Don't have another PC)

    Ouch to #1. Do you have any non-professional friend who can help?

    Ouch to #2. That very-much limits your options.

    Ouch to #3. Do you have a family-member with a computer who can help? There do exist inexpensive adapters, e.g., USB-to-SATA that can connect to their PC and to your SSD, at half the price of a new SSD, that, I think, will just confirm that your SSD is "dying", and that you should have NOT spent the money on that adapter.

    > Wimfsf.sys isn't found.

    This is an indication that the file-system on the SSD is corrupted.

    Imagine a book with a Table Of Contents that has been removed.

    All the pages of each chapter are still in the book, but you cannot use the missing ToC to locate any chapter.

    If it were me, I would purchase a new disk-drive, install it, install Windows onto it, and then attach the current SSD, to try to read all your personal files/folders (Documents, Pictures, Downloads, Music) from the "dying" SSD., while there still is a bit (pun intended) of "residual" life remaining for the current SSD.

    There is no software that can "repair" (logically or physically) a "failing" SSD. It is important to copy what you can, while you can.

    Yes, you need to spend some money for a replacement SSD.

    For me, I had to purchase a new automobile tire, since "patching" the tire was not possible (nor safe) to do).

    P.S. I know that some moderator(s) on this forum may object to me recommending any expenditure. But, given what you have described, replacing the SSD is the economical way to revive your computer.

    The very-expensive alternative would be to purchase a complete brand-new computer. But, obviously, that is not what you want to do.

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2025-05-05T08:48:51+00:00
    • Open Windows explorer;
    • Go into the "C:\Windows\Minidump" folder;
    • Move the entire contents to a new folder on your desktop;
    • Compress the entire contents of the folder and upload it to any free file cloud service.

    Hello Mario, thank you for replying I really appreciate it. Sadly I am not able to access my desktop so I cannot get to File Explorer, my PC is stuck during the boot-up process and I've been unable to recreate the one time it loaded my desktop. I've managed to get it to a point where it usually says "Automatic repair" followed by "PAGE FAULT IN NONPAGED AREA". The only things I can access right now are the following:

    1. One-time boot menu
    2. Bios Settings
    3. Diagnostics
    4. UEFI Startup option
    5. Legacy Startup option

    UPDATE: 6. Advanced repair options

    Everything via F8 + F12 on the first Dell screen that pops up (The One-time boot menu)

    The attached screenshot isn't mine, my Boot Menu has my SSD replace the Windows Boot Manager in UEFI BOOTImage

    0 comments
  4. Mario Bressan 3,190 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-05-04T23:25:55+00:00

    Hello, my name is Mario, and I would be happy to assist you with your issue.

    I’m sorry for what happened!

    One way to really check what this error represents is to look at the generated file that is located inside the minidump folder.

    Do the procedure below to attach the file to this thread:

    • Open Windows explorer;
    • Go into the "C:\Windows\Minidump" folder;
    • Move the entire contents to a new folder on your desktop;
    • Compress the entire contents of the folder and upload it to any free file cloud service.

    Paste the link in this thread so I can check and analyze it for you, ok?

    Best regards,

    Mario B.

    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2025-05-04T22:45:33+00:00

    Update: I've managed to get my PC to recognize my SSD again, however, I am now getting 2 different bluescreen errors, one is the PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA BSOD and one is KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE. I am still unable to get past the booting phase so I cannot get to my desktop.
    I feel like I'm close so I haven't lost hope yet.

    0 comments