M.2 drive/boot drive disappears/needs reseating

link575

So this is the second time now that I've experienced this. I come home and turn the computer on and rather than waking from sleep, it restarts into bios and I realized the boot drive can't be found. It is fixed once I take the drive out and put back in but this shouldn't be. I could try moving the boot drive to a different slot but the stock heat sink for the drive only fits in that spot. Any ideas?

PowerSpec_MikeW

@link575

Would a discharge fix it as well? Just unplugging power for a minute then plugging it back in and turning it on? What model is it?

Edit: I see our previous conversation on the G443. Please confirm, I have a new qualified BIOS for this board I'll upload tomorrow. It's based on 7D25vAE.

link575

@PowerSpec_MikeW

I will try that if it happens again. Yes, i was also the one with the blue screen issues which haven't happened since updating to the MSI's stock upgraded BIOS but i can try the one you post. Where would I find it?

PowerSpec_MikeW

@link575

I can post it here, but if you're already on the BIOS it doesn't matter. What we change is defaults. Secure boot to maximum security. Resume on USB enabled under Wake-Up Events. Under H/W monitor, change the header the fan controller is on to PWM.

Edit: One other factor. When you flash our custom BIOS, we're the manufacturer. We handle what driver updates are made available for the board on Windows Update rather than MSI.

PowerSpec_MikeW

@link575

E7D25IZ1.zip

1. Enter the BIOS.
2. Press Control + Alt + T
3. Flash as you normally would with M-Flash.

Note: This is only for G441/G443. Do not flash this on any other model or retail MSI boards.

link575

@PowerSpec_MikeW

Ok thank you. I guess I'll keep this BIOS then and I'll just see if either the blue screen or the M.2 issue happens again.

link575

@PowerSpec_MikeW

Ok so I had the issue where the boot drive was missing again and I turned off the PSU and unplugged then plugged it in and started the computer like like you said and that did work. Why would something like that occur and is it something I can fix?

PowerSpec_MikeW

@link575

Just doesn't detect the drive until you discharge the board. Not sure, but I just built three new models with this exact board on the AMF BIOS I linked and did not encounter the issue, nor could I replicate it. Though consider you had the BSOD's and now you're encountering this there's definitely something going on. Could be a drive issue as well. Bad drives cause different symptoms when they're operating on the PCIe rather than the SATA bus.

PowerSpec_MikeW

@link575

I'll look up your build tomorrow and see if I can replicate anything. Is your SSD a WD SN550 or 570?

link575

@PowerSpec_MikeW

Thank you, I would appreciate that a lot. I have the SN570. I also have not had the BSOD since updating the BIOS, whether or not those two things are related I guess I can't tell yet but so far so good.

PowerSpec_MikeW

@link575

Could you install WD Dashboard and see if their are any available firmware updates for the drive?

https://support-en.wd.com/app/answers/detailweb/a_id/31759/~/download%2C-install%2C-test-drive-and-update-firmware-using-western-digital

link575

@PowerSpec_MikeW

Did that, no updates. I also flashed the BIOS you posted just an FYI.

PowerSpec_MikeW

@link575

Are you comfortable moving the NVMe drive to a different M.2 slot? I'd like to see if it happens in other slots.

link575

@PowerSpec_MikeW

Yea I could do that, the only issue with that is the heat sink provided will only fit in that slot. Is it ok to run that drive without one?

PowerSpec_MikeW

@link575

Yes, the heatsink is not required for the drive.

link575

@PowerSpec_MikeW

Ok, I'll switch it out tomorrow or the next day and keep you updated.

link575

@PowerSpec_MikeW

So I haven't switched yet since I wanted to see if it happened on your BIOS but I just started my computer from sleep and bluetooth, wifi and my ethernet were dead and I had to disable/enable to get them working again.

PowerSpec_MikeW

@link575

Disable in Device Manager or the BIOS? Were they throwing an error or just gone entirely? Or just weren't functional?

link575

@PowerSpec_MikeW

Not in BIOS, ethernet I disabled in network settings and bluetooth I disabled and re-enabled. I guess I don't know if Wifi wasn't working as I don't have that set up or antennas connected. No errors, they were visible but wouldn't connect and the ethernet wouldn't see the network. The computer took a bit longer to wake from sleep than normal when this occurred also.

Edit: There were errors that showed up in the Event viewer for all three devices, bluetooth, wifi and ethernet.

PowerSpec_MikeW

@link575

You're having a lot of odd issues on that board that I can't replicate on the original BIOS or the new BIOS. I have three setup right now running on the new BIOS with none of these issues. Board seems to be the common component in all of your issues.

link575

@PowerSpec_MikeW

So do you suggest I bring it in to the store? Is there even a way for them to test in a timely manner if I bring it in?

PowerSpec_MikeW

@link575

You certainly can bring it in. As for the diagnostic time frame, you've got a lot of odd issues that seem difficult to replicate at times. Biggest thing would be isolating the sleep issue down to the drive/board.

link575

@PowerSpec_MikeW

Hm, ok..I guess I'll keep it for now and see what happens. So far I haven't had a BSOD since updating the BIOS the first time and I haven't had the drive disappearing since updating to your BIOS. If I do I'll switch the drive to another slot and wait again I guess. Thanks for the help thus far.

PowerSpec_MikeW

@link575

Understood. Something I would look to have addressed under the warranty eventually. We just need something obvious to diagnose as a board failure, so that we can get that through service. As it stands, it's fairly likely they won't be able to replicate any issues. If you do take it later on and they're not able to diagnose a failure, let me know.

link575

@PowerSpec_MikeW

Hey, just wanted to put out a little update. I haven't had any issues since updating the bios using your file. Is it possible that the issues were all BIOS/driver related?

PowerSpec_MikeW

@link575

It's possible, but unusual considering we haven't had any other similar issues reported. Could be something that the BIOS flash reset with how the drive was enumerated on startup.