SSD in enclosure does not show up in file explorer or disk management. Can't clone.

[Ch0so]

Hi, 

I bought a new SSD, namely, the 2TB Kingston Fury Renegade PCle 4.0 NVMe M.2.

As I only have one M.2 slot to utilize, which is already occupied by my one and only SSD, I had to by a NVMe M.2 SSD enclosure to clone my old SSD to my new one. 

However, when I plug it in, it doesn't show up in File explorer. Also, when I try to initialize it in disk management, it just says "incorrect function". I tried to open the BIOS settings but there is nothing there that takes me to the "Storage configuration" part, that some articles say I have to access. It just takes me to the HP bios settings, which doesn't look like the images I've seen of the BIOS settings on google, at all.

All articles tell me the same thing, either the cable is not inserted properly (I have checked that), I have to initialize the disk (Can't do that), or access BIOS to change IDE to AHCL in Storage Configuration (I cannot access it). My computer recognizes that I have plugged something in under "devices" but that's about it.

It feels like I've hit a wall, to be honest. 

Thank you beforehand.

[Bill_To]

Hi @Ch0so 

Are you using a M.2 NVME to USB 3 enclosure or an internal M.2 NVME to PCIe adapter?

I don't know if the PCie x1 MB slot can handle a PCIe 4 drive. I have never tried this. The x1 slot only provides one PCIe 3.0 data lane.

The new drive would have unallocated space but you can't bring the drive online in Disk Management to format the drive.

Maybe the adapter or the new NVME drive has a problem. Can you try the new drive or the adapter and the drive in a different PC to verify both components work?

You should be able to check "Storage" in BIOS settings on this PC to verify the drive is detected if you remove the existing NVME drive and install the new drive. Just trying to see if you have a bad adapter, a bad NVME drive, or a problem with the x1 PCIe slot.

Have you tried all front USB 3 ports if you are using a USB adapter?

An interesting problem to say the least.

I use Aomei Backupper free to create a system image of the current NVME drive on external media. Then install the new NVME drive in the MB M.2 socket. Finally copy the image from the external backup drive to the new NVME drive using Aomei's USB rescue media. Never had a problem when doing it this way when the new drive is detected in the BIOS.

You need to install the correct Windows PE version for your operating system to create the Aomei USB rescue media.

Regards

[Ch0so]

I'm using a M.2 NVMe to USB 3 enclosure ORICO M2 NVME SSD Enclosure, PCIe to USB C Adapter, USB 3.1 Gen2 (10Gbit/s) External Hard Drive Encl... from amazon.

This is what another guy replied on another post I had:

"The Intel chipset specs for the chipset PCIe generation is confusing.

It indicates both Gen 3.0 and Gen 4.0, so I don't know whether or not a Gen 4.0 SSD will run at its maximum advertised read/write speeds."

Does that have anything to do with what you just mentioned regarding a PCle 4 drive?

I did try all the USB ports even the USB-C one, but nothing...

The SSD also came with it's own key to the Acronis cloning software, which I think I'm going to use. I don't think there will be any problem with the cloning, but first my drive needs to be detected.

I'm going to try to plug it into another computer to see if there's any problem, will get back to you after!

[Ch0so]

I tried plugging it into my Macbook, however it doesn't show up in disk utility, so I don't know.

[Bill_To]

Hi @Ch0so 

I can't say for sure, not familiar with Apple stuff, but it sounds like the NVME drive may have a problem if the Macbook does not see the drive and the drive is compatible with this device.

As far as NVME 4.0 compatibility on a Gen 3 MB goes, it will work but at Gen 3 data transfer rates.

I thought you might be trying to use the x1 PCIe slot on your MB. The NVME drives run best with x4 PCIE slots or higher.

Regards

[Ch0so]

Do I connect my SSD directly to the PCIe slot?

Nothing seems to be working :(, I might just have to return the enclosure at this point if I can't find a solution; return it and just install the OS onto a USB and just add the new SSD without cloning anything onto it.

[Bill_To]

Hi @Ch0so 

NVME drives like to have four data lanes. The x1 slot only provides one data lane to the drive.

You would have to get a PCIe x1 to NVME adapter if you are going to try cloning to the new NVME drive using the x1 slot on the MB.

You really don't know if the USB adapter or the NVME drive, or both, have a problem at this point in time.

Regards

[Ch0so]

They don't seem to have a problem, as far as I know, as the enclosure lights up when I connect it, and in disk management it shows up as "disk 1". If I right click on it and then click "Properties" it seems to be there but that's about it.

I believe the problem lies with my PC not being able to recognise it as a drive, if I'm not mistaken.

I did email the company that manufactured the adapter, if they might know some additional info.

[Bill_To]

Hi @Ch0so 

I don't know what is going on.

Now it shows in Disk Management as disk 1. This suggests the drive is detected in the BIOS.

The disk does not have to be formatted. I have done clones on new disks in the past. Stopped doing clones around 2013.

I moved to doing images because I had hits and misses when using the free cloning software provided by the drive manufacturers.

Try the clone if you have not done this. I am fuzzy on if you tried to do the clone. See if you can select the new drive as the destination drive using Acronis.

Regards

[Ch0so]

"I use Aomei Backupper free to create a system image of the current NVME drive on external media. Then install the new NVME drive in the MB M.2 socket. Finally copy the image from the external backup drive to the new NVME drive using Aomei's USB rescue media. Never had a problem when doing it this way when the new drive is detected in the BIOS."

Regarding what you said about aomei. Do I download this backupper, get a harddrive, install the backup on it, put in my new NVME and copy the backup onto it and voila? 

I did try the clone (Acronis) but it doesn't detect the SSD in the adapter, either.

When I went to the Event Viewer after trying to initialise the disk again in disk management I got this error code: VDS fails to write boot code on a disk during clean operation. Error code: 80070001@02070008. I don't know if it helps.