Windows 10: Missing SSD

Every so often Window 10 Pro 64 bit seems to lose one of my old SSDs. I used to be able to fix the problem by shutting down the computer and reconnecting the sata cables. I thought that the sata cable had somehow gotten loose. Now I just upgraded this system to 14393.3 from the non-preview version and this reconnecting the sata cables does nothing. I am thinking that this SSD is kaput but I wonder why the bios sees it just fine?

:)

 

Strange "C Missing" in Restore window

Results of testing Acronis clone and Image restore.

Boot SSD 1 – verified that there is no C Missing.

Created a second restore point for this drive.

Wipe SSD 2.

Clone SSD 1 to SSD 2 using Acronis 2016 booted from Rescue USB.

Boot from SSD 2.

C Missing exists on SSD 2

System Protection turned OFF for C System.

System Protection ON for C Missing.

Wipe SSD 2.

Image SSD1 to External backup drive using Acronis 2016 booted from Rescue USB.

Restore image from external drive to SSD2 with Acronis 2016 booted from Rescue USB.

Boot SSD2.

System Protection turned OFF for C System.

System Protection turned ON for C Missing.



My Results of testing;

Macrium clone creates C Missing folder on cloned drive.

Macrium Image restore does NOT create C Missing on imaged drive



Acronis clone creates C Missing folder on cloned drive.

Acronis image restore creates C Missing on imaged drive.



Turning Protection OFF on C Missing removes it from System Protection window.

Must turn protection on for C System.

These are my results - Others may have different results.

 

SSD Drive Missing

Hi Reil,

Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.



There are several reasons why devices might not get detected on Windows. Install the latest (Sep 12, 2013) Magician software from this link and check.



Support | Samsung US



I would suggest you to follow these methods and check if it helps:



Method 1: Run the Hardware troubleshooter



a. Type troubleshooting in search bar and click it

b. Click Hardware and Sound

c. ClickHardware and Devices
and follow the instructions



Method 2: Check if the hard drive is detected in Device Manager



a. Press the Windows key and the
R key to get the Run prompt

b. In the Run Prompt, type devmgmt.msc
and press Enter

c. Browse to Universal Serial Bus Controllers

d. See if the external hard drive is detected or not. If yes, right click on it and click on
Uninstall

e. You may be prompted to delete the drivers completely from the computer

f. Select Yes and click on
Ok

g. Once the driver is uninstalled, restart the computer

h. After the restart, windows will automatically try to install the drivers for External hard drive



If the issue still persists, follow next method.



Method 3: Assign drive letter from Disk Management and check:



1. Press Windows key +
X, click Disk Management

2. Check if external hard disk is detected, if it’s detected assign different drive letter and check

3. To assign a drive letter if one has not already been assigned, click
Add, click the letter that you want to use, and then click
OK

4. To change a drive letter, click
Change, click Assign the following drive letter, click the letter that you want to use, and then click
OK

5. Once done, check if the external hard drive is detected or not



You can also refer to the link given below and follow the instructions provided.



Why isn't Windows finding my device?
(information holds good for Windows 10 as well)

Hope this information is helpful. Please feel free to reply in case you face any other issues with Windows in future.

 

You could have several problems. One is intermittent loss of BIOS recognizing SSD and OS would loose it at that time of course.
Other one, in case BIOS recognizes it all the time, is that it may be shutting down due to power saving options. If you go to your Power saving plan > advanced settings and find Drives section, you could set it not to go to sleep and see if that helps.
You could also check it's health with: Hard Disk Sentinel - HDD health and temperature monitoring and/or Download SSD-Z - MajorGeeks as well as with Samsung utility.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I pulled out that SSD and tested it with another computer and it showed up there as unallocated. I formatted the drive and put it back into this system and I had no problem copying back all the files to that drive. SSD-Z tells me that SSD is more than 5 years old and it has written more than 8TB. Not bad for a 240GB drive. I think I got my money's worth out of that SSD. Next time it acts up I will toss it into the garbage.