Additional causes include the system being set to an incompatible SATA mode and the SSD not being connected properly. As we have discussed the causes, let’s jump to the solutions to this issue.
1. Load SSD Driver
In most cases, this issue has been resolved by loading the correct SSD driver when installing Windows. There are circumstances where you need to manually install the SSD driver even though it comes preinstalled in the Windows installation media. If you have a newer SSD drive or if your SSD uses RAID configurations or Intel’s Rapid Storage Technology (RST), you might need to manually download and install the SSD driver to install the operating system.
2. Enable AHCI Mode
AHCI (Advanced Host Controller Interface) is a standard mode for SATA drives that is often recommended as it allows better compatibility with the operating system. When you enable AHCI mode, it will ensure the BIOS and OS communicate with the SSD using standardized commands, which can resolve this issue.
3. Disable the VMD Controller
The VMD (Volume Management Device) is an Intel technology that is designed to manage SSDs and NVMe. Your Windows installation media might not include drivers for the VMD controller, potentially leading to an issue with the SSD not being detected. Therefore, you can try disabling the VMD controller to force the system to use the driver installed in the Windows installation media for the SSD drive.
4. Clean the SSD and Try Again
If the problem is still not resolved, you can try formatting the SSD drive, but remember you won’t be able to boot your previous Windows. Formatting the SSD can resolve the issue if the SSD has improperly formatted partitions, as the Windows installation may not recognize it. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you try formatting the hard drive and see if the issue is resolved. Boot your Windows installation media and follow the simple on-screen instructions until you get to the Windows setup screen. Then, press the Shift + F10 keys simultaneously to open the Command Prompt window.
5. Re-seat the SSD
I have also encountered this issue when installing Windows. I simply disconnected and reconnected the SSD, which worked for me. However, if the problem persists, try changing the SATA cable and see if that resolves the issue. Further, you can recreate the Windows installation media, as it might be outdated or may not contain the necessary drivers for the SSD. If this also fails, test the SSD drive on a different computer, as it may have a hardware issue preventing the installer from recognizing it.
