New Samsung 860 Evo sata m. 2 ssd not showing up anywhere

I recently purchased a Samsung 860 Evo sata m.2 SSD for my Acer Nitro 5 laptop and installed it, following the instructions to the letter. When I booted my laptop back up, I couldn't find the SSD anywhere.

I've been scouring the internet for the past week, and I tried everything that was recommended (as apparently, this is a relatively widespread issue): storage settings, disk management, BIOS, third party formatting software, and even returning the SSD and getting a new one. I've had no luck whatsoever.

Should I just call it quits, return the SSD, and shop for a different brand? Can anyone help me or give me advice?

Accepted answers

brummyfan2

Hi,
You have two slots, one slot is only for M.2 NVMe SSD and the second slot is for NVMe/SATA SSD, so I would suggest you switch to the other slot and see whether it shows up.

billsey

The Samsung 860 Evo SSD is a SATA drive, so won't work in the slot that's only NVMe. Check to make sure you are using the right drive in the right slot.

All comments

brummyfan2

Hi,
Could you please post the full model name of the laptop, like AN515-xx.

EliFrost

It's an AN515-54-54W2

brummyfan2

Hi,
You have two slots, one slot is only for M.2 NVMe SSD and the second slot is for NVMe/SATA SSD, so I would suggest you switch to the other slot and see whether it shows up.

EliFrost

That slot came with an ssd already installed - should I plug that ssd into the slot I've plugged the new one into? And if so, should I back up anything?

brummyfan2

Hi,
Have you cloned the original dive to this new drive? If you haven't, please let me know whether you have a spare HDD and a sata cable.

EliFrost

I have not cloned the original drive, and I don't have a spare HDD or a sata cable.

brummyfan2

Hi,
What is the original SSD make and model? Is it a NVMe SSD?

EliFrost

I'm not sure whether or not it's a SATA or NVMe, but it reads as KINGSTON RBUSNS8154P3256GJ1.

billsey

The Samsung 860 Evo SSD is a SATA drive, so won't work in the slot that's only NVMe. Check to make sure you are using the right drive in the right slot.

brummyfan2

OK, it looks like a M.2 NVMe type SSD, I couldn't find any detailed information about this drive but the speeds are similar to a NVMe type SSD, anyway, install the original drive in the same slot it was installed, install the new SSD in the other slot, download and install Macrium Reflect free program, run the program and clon the original drive( source disk) to the new SSD(destination disk), please read the tutorial and follow the instructions for cloning, once you have successfully cloned the drive, remove the original drive and boot with the new drive.
https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree
https://blog.macrium.com/techie-tuesday-cloning-a-disk-764bed0ad6e1

EliFrost

The new ssd doesn't appear so that I can complete the clone. Should I try switching what slots the drives are in?

EliFrost

billsey said:

The Samsung 860 Evo SSD is a SATA drive, so won't work in the slot that's only NVMe. Check to make sure you are using the right drive in the right slot.

Is it possible to tell which slot is which?

brummyfan2

EliFrost said:

billsey said:

The Samsung 860 Evo SSD is a SATA drive, so won't work in the slot that's only NVMe. Check to make sure you are using the right drive in the right slot.

Is it possible to tell which slot is which?

One near the fan is NVMe only, the other slots is for NVMe/SATA.

EliFrost

Looks like that may be the issue. I don't have a screwdriver the right size to remove the default ssd right now, but I've ordered a set and will give it a try in a couple of days. If both drives don't show up after I swap slots, do you have any recommendations on NVMe drives I could get for $100 or less?

brummyfan2

Hi,
You can use any M.2 NVMe SSD but Samsung, Crucial and WD SN520 are good brands.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=nvme+ssd+500gb&adgrpid=58773147252&gclid=Cj0KCQjwoPL2BRDxARIsAEMm9y9UuyVKDHEqMiCOpG1XYeleeOa-h6ju00xXY-15P0nAUthYWbunu44aAkpXEALw_wcB&hvadid=259181145262&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9045530&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=2032255091248052449&hvtargid=kwd-330718689003&hydadcr=19078_1719660&tag=googhydr-21&ref=pd_sl_6uelwg6b0g_e

StevenGen

First, show us a caption of the Samsung 860 Evo SATA M.2 SSD. These are the different keys for M.2's keys most commonly used:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/pc/wyortw8zq5ah.jpg

The Samsung 860 Evo SATA M.2 SSD (is the B&M key type, as shown above) and can only be put into a specific M.2 slot or a slot like shown below that caters for both PCIe/SATA which can take either an M.2 PCIe or a SATA key type M.2, also all Samsung M.2's and 2.5" SSD's come with their excellent "Data Migration" software that makes it very easy to clone your existing boot drive to the new Samsung 860 Evo SATA M.2 SSD. All you have to do is insert the new Samsung 860 Evo SATA M.2 SSD into the correct slot into the mainboard and then it will show up on the "Disk Management" Win-10 software as your Disk1, otherwise you can use a USB to SATA key or PCIe key combo adaptors that are very cheap on the market. These keys are also referred to as either the: B&M key (5 pin and 6 pin ends combined) or B key (6 pin wide one end) or M key (5 pin wide one end).

I've used Samsung SSD's be they 2.5" or M.2's for many years and I've never ever had any problems, as a matter of a fact, the Samsung SSD's are the easiest to install and clone of all M.2's and 2.5" SSD's on the market with the "Data Migration" software . Do what brummyfan2 is suggesting with this caption:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/rp/r0n23cw0xjf3.jpg

One near the fan is NVMe (PCIE) only, the other slots is for either PCIE or either SATA ends, this is a very simple process.

EliFrost

Solved! Thank you all for your time and help. My screwdrivers came in today, and I was able to switch my drives' places. Now both drives are online and everything shows up as it should. Is there anything else I should do after initializing, or can I go ahead and download things onto it as normal?