SSD into Laptop - not working?

Peerzy

Peerzy

Peerzy

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Popping this in GH as not entirely sure where else it would go.

I have 2 Toshiba Satellite Pro L450's that are getting on a bit, great I though - I'll grab an SSD and plonk that in to keep them going another year or so.

SSDs arrived today, popped one in and popped the Windows DVD in only to be told there were no drives available, all very odd. Pulled the drive out again and had a quick check and then booted into the BIOS - HDD all showing and fine.

Rebooted the laptop and checked the BIOS again - HDD completely missing.....

It seems like the HDD will show for a few minutes the first time it is connected (direct replacement for the old mechanical drive) but then disappears.

Laptop BIOS is on the latest version, I can't think what else to do. The drives are 'Kingston 120GB SSDNow V300 2.5inch SSD' and I've since popped one of them into an Acer Travelmate 5335 I've got and it works fine.

I'm having the problem with both laptops and both drives. The laptops are fine with the original HDD's and the new SSD's are fine in any other machine so it's got to be some sort of compatibility thing or a setting somewhere.

Any ideas?
 
What interface is set to be used in bios? Try swapping it to another see if windows sees it.

Another possibility is windows doesn't have the right sata drivers for it so download them from the manufacturer and put them on a usb. Then point windows at them during the install.
 
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Mynight said:
Another possibility is windows doesn't have the right sata drivers for it so download them from the manufacturer and put them on a usb. Then point windows at them during the install.
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Won't make a difference if the bios isn't seeing them!

Can you try the SSDs in a PC and see if you get the same symptoms? Maybe a bad batch if that is the case.
 
PaulyD said:
Won't make a difference if the bios isn't seeing them!

Can you try the SSDs in a PC and see if you get the same symptoms? Maybe a bad batch if that is the case.
Click to expand...

My bad I missed that bios forgot about it afterwards.

He's already said it works on other machines :confused:.

Edit: my other suggestion of swapping interface wouldn't work either now if it sees it first time but not afterwards :confused:.
 
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I've tried AHCP and Compatibility modes in the BIOS but no luck. The drives work in another laptop so I know they are fine.

The drives fit perfectly into the laptop SATA connections.

They go missing from the BIOS as well which makes me think it isn't just Windows drivers.
 
Is there a firmware update for the SSDs?

If it's not bios or drivers there's few options left. Unlikly to be hardware fault from what you've said :confused:.
 
Mynight said:
Is there a firmware update for the SSDs?

If it's not bios or drivers there's few options left. Unlikly to be hardware fault from what you've said :confused:.
Click to expand...

There does appear to be a firmware update for the SSDs, but I've no idea if they have the latest version as I cannot get to use them at the moment.

I plugged the Kingston SSD into a brand new MSI H81M-P33 and that doesn't detect it either.

Is there some known issue with the Kingston 120GB SSDNow V300 as that's 2 out of 3 devices now not reading it at all!

Just checked - the SSD doesn't show up in Win 7 or Win 8 installation or the BIOS. It's attached to a SATA3 port on the motherboard. The firmware upgrade requires the SSD to be working and with Windows installed on it (how useless).
 
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Personally I'd try and send them back at this point. It's not supposed to be a pain in the arse and you've tried every logical answer.

Seeing as its 2/3 devices it's not a duff drive but maybe they're just not compatible with what you need. Sod all idea why or how though :(.
 
I think you're missing something, Peerzy, as the firmware instructions seem to imply that you can update secondary drives.

If that doesn't work, then just quickly install Windows 7 and run the firmware update program. It shouldn't take you longer than 30 minutes to install Windows.
 
darael said:
I think you're missing something, Peerzy, as the firmware instructions seem to imply that you can update secondary drives.

If that doesn't work, then just quickly install Windows 7 and run the firmware update program. It shouldn't take you longer than 30 minutes to install Windows.
Click to expand...

If they don't even show up in the BIOS I can't update them! Can't put them as a secondary drive as the laptops only have space for one drive.
 
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