My m.2 ssd is recognized in bios, but not as a boot device

Question

Hi everyone, I put my western digital m.2 ssd with windows installed into my motherboard, an ASUS rog strix b650 Wi-Fi motherboard, it is showing up in BIOS as storage, but not as a boot device.

I have tried all three m.2 slots, but it has not worked.

M.2:
WD - Blue SN580 1TB Internal SSD PCIe Gen 4 x4 NVMe

I bought it from Best Buy

Thanks, Stephanie

Answer 1

Thank you very much for reaching out! As an Independent Advisor and fellow Microsoft user, I'm more than happy to assist you.

Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve this issue:

1. Check BIOS Settings

Ensure that your BIOS settings are correctly configured to recognize the M.2 SSD as a boot device:

• Enable CSM (Compatibility Support Module): Sometimes, enabling CSM can help the BIOS recognize the SSD as a boot device. You can find this option under the Boot tab in the BIOS settings.
• Set Boot Priority: Make sure the M.2 SSD is set as the first boot device in the boot priority list.

2. Update BIOS

Updating your motherboard's BIOS to the latest version can resolve compatibility issues with new hardware:

• Visit the ASUS official website to download the latest BIOS update for your ROG Strix B650 Wi-Fi motherboard.

3. Reinstall the SSD

Ensure that the M.2 SSD is properly installed:

• Remove the SSD and reinsert it firmly into the M.2 slot. Make sure it is securely fastened with the screw.

4. Initialize the SSD

If the SSD is new, it might need to be initialized:

• Boot into Windows using another drive, open Disk Management, and initialize the SSD as either MBR or GPT.

5. Check for Drive Mode Compatibility

Ensure that the M.2 slot you are using supports the type of SSD you have (SATA vs. NVMe):

• Some M.2 slots only support either SATA or NVMe, not both. Refer to your motherboard manual to confirm compatibility.

6. Repair Boot Configuration

If the SSD has Windows installed but is not recognized as a boot device, you might need to repair the boot configuration:

• Boot from a Windows installation USB, go to the command prompt, and use the following commands:

bootrec /fixmbr bootrec /fixboot bootrec /scanos bootrec /rebuildbcd

This can help rebuild the boot configuration data.

7. Check for Hardware Issues

If none of the above steps work, there might be a hardware issue with the SSD or the motherboard:

• Test the SSD in another system to see if it is recognized as a boot device.
• If the SSD works in another system, the issue might be with the motherboard. Consider contacting ASUS support for further assistance.

Please feel free to reach out if you require any additional assistance. I'm here to help!

Answer 2

Thank you! All fixed