NP305E5A SSD upgrade - Bios won't recognize SSD?

Trying to install a Crucial M500 SSD in my Samsung rig, and although I have enabled AHCI, BIOS just will not recognize that there is a drive sitting there. What's my next step?

 

Assuming your notebook came with Windows 8 / 8.1 then see this, this and http://forum.notebookreview.com/samsung/746708-fast-boot-uefi-bricked-my-system.html#post9583744 for various possible obstacles.

John

 

Great links -thank you. It's Windows 7 I'm trying to install, and I can successfully set up the machine to boot from USB. In reading through the info provided here, I immediately recognize that for one thing, I lack the ability to select UEFI. I can get to the windows install screen, but am then told there are no drives detected. I contacted Samsung today (mistake), and was told that the NP305E5A is not SSD compatible. When I asked if a modded BIOS would solve the problem, it became clear that the "tech" was some random person reading prompts off a screen, and I got nowhere with my question. It really is a great little machine, and I'd love to drop some more power under the hood, but I wouldn't know where to go for the BIOS I need.

 

Am I right in thinking that this model has an AMD chipset? That might add some complications such as those discussed here. Can you did into the hardware details (running using the supplied HDD) to see what SATA access modes are supported (HWiNFO and SiSoftware Sandra are two programs that can do this). It's possible that the computer might be happy with a 3 year old SSD that doesn't go faster than SATA 2. I thought that the interface in a SATA 3 SSD would step down to SATA 2 if it couldn't communicate using SATA 3. However, it might not do this quickly enough to get recognised by the BIOS during the initial hardware check.

I doubt if Samsung would have deliberately introduced any SSD incompatibility but I also doubt they would do more than the minimum work required to make the hardware being shipped work OK. AMD + Samsung + SSD can work as shown by the Ativ Book 9 Lite.

You've already checked that UEFI is not a potential obstacle. Have you tried whatever storage access and compatibility modes are offered in the BIOS? Also try any option for a thorough hardware check.

John

 

Yes, it is in fact an AMD chipset, an A6 Llano APU. Interesting info on backward compatibility. HWiNFO is showing the drive controller to be SATA 3Gb/s. I too would have thought that a SATA 3 6Gb/s drive would simply run at a lower transfer rate, but I have to suspect that this may be contributing to my problems with recognition. As to storage options in BIOS, this particular firmware seems particular limited. My only option may be to look for a SATA 2 SSD and hope for better results.

 

You will have to look for an SSD that was made around 2010 possibly 2011 and it will probably be used. I'm sure there are plenty out there that have out-lived the computer they were put into but there may also be some that have had a hard life and are close to death. Something like this Intel 320.

I hope my rational explanation for the SATA 3 incompatibility is correct, but can't promise. If you get an SATA 2 SSD then please give us an update. You could ask round your friends to see if any have a suitable SSD that you can borrow to see if the BIOS recognises it before paying out any money.

John