How to add a 2nd SSD (not for boot, just extra storage)

bgardne7 · Jan 11, 2016

So I recently bought a Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250gb so that I can download some extra games and whatnot. My first SSD that I installed is a 250gb Crucial and my motherboard is a Gigabyte H97M-D3H. I attached the SATA cable to the new SSD and Motherboard, and connected my PSU to the new SSD as well, but my computer will not recognize the new SSD and the Samsung Magician software to go along with the SSD is also saying that it is not recognizing the SSD.

I saw this link because it looked very similar to my situation, but my SSD did not even show up in "disk management"

I appreciate any help that I can get. Thank you!

Notlawjosh · Jan 11, 2016

I had this issue with my second hard drive, but if you go back to disk management and scroll down it should be there. It just isn't put in an obvious location

USAFRet · Jan 11, 2016

Go to the bottom portion of the Disk Management window.
If it does not appear there...you have major issues.

Right click on it...what options does it give you?

bgardne7 · Jan 11, 2016

Notlawjosh :

Hmm, I went back to "disk management" to check on that, but there's nowhere to scroll. All I see under "volume" tab are 3 things, one is blank with a max capacity of 450mb, beneath that is "(C: )" which is my initial SSD, and beneath that it says "system reserved" with a max capacity of 350mb. Nothing left, and I cant seem to find any hidden-ish locations.

USAFRet · Jan 11, 2016

bgardne7 :

Notlawjosh :

Hmm, I went back to "disk management" to check on that, but there's nowhere to scroll. All I see under "volume" tab are 3 things, one is blank with a max capacity of 450mb, beneath that is "(C: )" which is my initial SSD, and beneath that it says "system reserved" with a max capacity of 350mb. Nothing left, and I cant seem to find any hidden-ish locations.

Does the drive appear in the BIOS?

bgardne7 · Jan 11, 2016

USAFRet :

On the bottom portion, if I right click any of the 3 options (none of them being the Samsung SSD), it gives me options like "mark partition as active" or "change drive and letter paths" or "shrink volume"

bgardne7 · Jan 11, 2016

USAFRet :

bgardne7 :

Does the drive appear in the BIOS?

First time computer builder here who has done absolutely no overclocking, so I'm very unfamiliar with the BIOS. I can look into it, might take me a while.

USAFRet · Jan 11, 2016

bgardne7 :

USAFRet :

On the bottom portion, if I right click any of the 3 options (none of them being the Samsung SSD), it gives me options like "mark partition as active" or "change drive and letter paths" or "shrink volume"

Leave those other 3 alone.

Notlawjosh · Jan 11, 2016

Can you upload a screen shot of the disk management?

bgardne7 · Jan 12, 2016

Notlawjosh :

Yes, here's the screen shot

Notlawjosh · Jan 12, 2016

bgardne7 :

It does appear to be missing, the problem could be a faulty ssd or the wires are loose. did you use both a sata connection to the motherboard and a power source?

USAFRet · Jan 12, 2016

hmmm...I don't see the screencap

bgardne7 · Jan 12, 2016

Notlawjosh :

http://imgur.com/c9wQrpR thats the link

I'll double check the wiring, but I'm 100% sure that I've got both the PSU and SATA cables hooked up to both of my SSDs

USAFRet · Jan 12, 2016

bgardne7 :

If it does not appear there, either it is actually broken, or not connected.

bgardne7 · Jan 12, 2016

USAFRet :

I just double checked the wiring, it is the exact same as my first SSD. It is connected to the PSU, and the SATA cable connects it to the Motherboard. Should I be looking for a refund/replacement?

I hope this SATA cable that I bought isn't the problem. I ran out of SATA cables that came with the motherboard and had to buy an extra one. Could this cheap cable be the problem?

Notlawjosh · Jan 12, 2016

bgardne7 :

Notlawjosh :

http://imgur.com/c9wQrpR thats the link

I'll double check the wiring, but I'm 100% sure that I've got both the PSU and SATA cables hooked up to both of my SSDs

If you have a spare sata cable try hooking the new one up to that going into another motherboard socket

USAFRet · Jan 12, 2016

bgardne7 :

USAFRet :

I just double checked the wiring, it is the exact same as my first SSD. It is connected to the PSU, and the SATA cable connects it to the Motherboard. Should I be looking for a refund/replacement?

I hope this SATA cable that I bought isn't the problem. I ran out of SATA cables that came with the motherboard and had to buy an extra one. Could this cheap cable be the problem?

Does your system have a DVD drive?
If so, temporarily repurpose that SATA cable for that new SSD.
See what happens.

Gillerer · Jan 12, 2016

Check in BIOS whether the SATA connector is disabled.

If you have a modular PSU, double-check that the SATA power cable is hooked to the right connector on the PSU. (And when connecting the SATA power connector to the SSD, it should "snap".)

bgardne7 · Jan 15, 2016

USAFRet :

bgardne7 :

Does your system have a DVD drive?
If so, temporarily repurpose that SATA cable for that new SSD.
See what happens.

Awesome, that worked. The SSD is showing up now, do I use MBR or GPT partition style for this SSD?

Does this also mean that I need to enable more SATA ports in the BIOS to be able to have more than 2 SATA connections?

(also, sorry about the 3 day hiatus...got busy)

USAFRet · Jan 15, 2016

bgardne7 :

That just seems to be a case of 'crappy cable'. There is nothing you need to do in the BIOS to 'enable' the SATA ports.

Or possibly (low probability), a bad SATA port on the motherboard.

bgardne7 · Jan 16, 2016

USAFRet :

So basically a bad choice on my part going for the 5$ amazon SATA cable? I'll see if I can get a refund. But what about the partition style that it asks me for? Do I choose MBR or GPT?

USAFRet · Jan 16, 2016

Inexpensive cables are fine. Just maybe not that particular one.
Refund? They might just say "Here's your $5 back. Keep the cable." Not worth the time and shipping for you to send it back.
Try a different cable or different port on the motherboard.

GPT partition.

How to add a 2nd SSD (not for boot, just extra storage)

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