Booting device not found - SSD visible in Bios but not in windows installer

[Alf_It]

Hello

since some time I encountered some issues on Windows.

Lately I ended up having booting problems, SMART Hard Disk Error etc.

Once after playing a bit with the Bios I still did manage to boot windows, but next day problem was back again and no way to manage to boot windows 10.

I have 2 hard disks in my laptop.

A 256 GB SSD M.2 that is the one having Windows 10 installed

a 1 TB HDD used for data storage, no OS on it

The first error message I get is:

"

SMART Hard Disk Error. The SMART hard disk check has detected an imminent failure. To ensure no data loss please run the Hard Disk Test in system Diagnostic.

Hard Disk 1 (301)

"

 If I press ender to continue the startup I then get the following error:

"

Boot Device Not Found.

Please install an operating system on your hard disk.

Hard Disk (3F0)

"

i have been running the diagnostics, both quick and extensive one and both PASSED.

I tried changing the boot sequence, to enable the legacy, and there I can notice that the Bios do see both my Hard Disks, including the SSD as first.

But despite these tentatives  problem is still there.

I notice that my Bios version is still the original one, version F.10 that might be outdated.

Finally, considering I already did the backup of the data in my SSD I decided to reinstall Windows 10, but I encounter problem there also.

I created a Booting USB media using the USB media tool of Microsoft.

When I launch the booting from the USB key and enter the Windows installer, I first tried to reset my windows, but without success.

I then tried to install windows 10 from scratch, but when reaching the step of choosing the right partition, I can see my 1 TB HD partially occupied by my data, but I don't see at all the SSD.

Assuming the diagnostic tests were passed and that in the Bios I do see listed my SSD, and the erratic behavior of windows in the past months, I assume the problem is not hardware.

Still I cannot see the SSD in the partition list from the Windows installer.

I also downloaded from HP support driver and software page 2 different Driver Storage, and loaded them in the page of partition selection in Windows installer, but still my SSD doesn't appear.

Here below the 2 Driver Storage I installed:

Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver- Kaby Lake / Sky Lake

15.9.8.1050 Rev.D

Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver - Kaby Lake (Windows 10 v1709)

15.7.3.1019 Rev.C

I am kind of running out of options here.

I only last thought to install Windows 10 on my 1TB HDD hoping it will not delete all the data in that partition, and once installed Windows I hope I can check the SSD from there.

Do you have any other suggestion or advice on how I could reinstall windows on SSD and use it as booting?

thanks

ALF

[VH2000]

If you have a GPT-Drive, you are not allowed to switch to LEGACY and you will not be able to install Windows.

[Alf_It]

Hi

thanks for your reply.

I actually have no idea if my SSd is GPT or not.

Anyhow, I tried to install windows in both modes, either having boot sequence UEFI or legacy, there is no difference, when I reach the step of selecting a partition I cannot see the SSD

ALF

[VH2000]

When you run the setup and you are in the 1st page (country&language selectin) hit

Shift+F10

then in command prompt type

diskpart

list disk

you should find 2 disks and the USB-device

post the result

[Alf_It]

Hi

thanks for your reply.

Unfortunately I already tried diskpart and list volumes from all possible starting point.

I did also try your approach, and unfortunately the list volume only shows me the 1TB HDD and the boot USB key.

No sign of the SSD

Alf

[VH2000]

And your HDD is a GPT-Drive?

You see that in diskpart (sel disk)

Do you have a possibility to check your SSD on a different machine?

May be with an USB adapter

[Alf_It]

I see my HDD in list volume, as well as I see my boot usb key.

I didn't try sel.

I don't know if my HDD is GPT, I only see it is NTFS.

How cannI see if it is GPT?

Anyhow, how does this change the situation with the SSD not visible?

[Alf_It]

P.S.: no I don't have the possibility to check my SSD on another machine.

for the moment I didn't yet want to open my laptop to try hardware procedures.

Assuming I could see my SSD listed in the Bios when I selected legacy mode, I assume the hardware should be working. So before messing up with my laptop hardware I wanted to make sure I did try all possible software possibilities

[VH2000]

When you type in command prompt

diskpart

list disk

you see the right column GPT

is there a *

You have to switch to UEFI when you use GPT!

[Alf_It]

Hi

thanks for your inputs.

here below the screen shot of List Disk and List Volume, as well as the screen shot from windwos installer

From List Disk I understand that :

My 1TB HDD is GPT

The information regarding the free space seems wrong or not reliable

What is listed as Disk 1 doesn't seem to be my SSD but rather the unallocated partition corresponding to the Disk 1 of the screen shot of Windows installer

The Disk 2 seems to be my USB booting 64GB key

If my interpretation is correct, there is still no trace of the SSD