I just upgraded my computer, my new motherboard (MSI Z370m Mortar) has two m.2 slots. The top m.2 slot isn't reading my m.2 drive. When I install my m.2 drive in the bottom slot it reads it but the bottom slot only has a screw hole for a 2280 m.2 ssd and I have a 2242 m.2 ssd. I don't know a lot about computers but i'm assuming it probably ins't a good idea to leave my m.2 drive unsecured in the bottom slot. So I need to get the top m.2 slot working. The only thing I've tried so far is updating the BIOS but that didn't fix the problem. Any help is appreciated, thanks in advance.
M.2 Slot Not Working
- Thread starter tulinho
- Start date
Solution
- Mar 16, 2013
- 171,486
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As suspected.
That is a SATA m.2 drive.
It can only work in the M2_2 slot. Which only takes a 2280 length drive.
It will never ever work in the other m.2 slot. There is no BIOS update to fix that.
You purchased the wrong drive for your system. In addition to wasting money on a teeny 32GB drive, unless it was free.
https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/Z370M-MORTAR/Specification
M2_1 supports up to PCIe 3.0 x4, 2242/ 2260 /2280 storage devices
M2_2 supports up to PCIe 3.0 x4 and SATA 6Gb/s, 2280 storage devices
That's a SATA SSD, meaning it needs an M.2 slot that's compatible with SATA drives. Only your second M.2 slot will take a SATA drive, the other slot is for PCIe SSDs only.
Unfortunately if you want to use that drive in an M.2 slot, it needs to go into the second slot.
Your other option is a cheap M.2 to SATA adapter. They're fine to use because it's just re-wiring the pins, there's no complex controllers or anything. That allows you to mount the M.2 drive somewhere else in your case and use a standard SATA cable and SATA power to connect it, just like other hard drives.
Unfortunately if you want to use that drive in an M.2 slot, it needs to go into the second slot.
Your other option is a cheap M.2 to SATA adapter. They're fine to use because it's just re-wiring the pins, there's no complex controllers or anything. That allows you to mount the M.2 drive somewhere else in your case and use a standard SATA cable and SATA power to connect it, just like other hard drives.
So something like this is what I was talking about in my previous message and would work: https://www.amazon.com.au/MagiDeal-MSATA-Convertor-Adapter-Board/dp/B074KFY4XB/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1525737730&sr=8-4&keywords=m.2+to+sata
Apologies for the Amazon Australia link, I can't seem to hit Amazon US right now. The US site will have similar options.
You then use a standard SATA cable (not included, you'll need one) and a SATA power connector from your PSU and it'll function identically as it would if it were in the M.2 slot. You may end up needing to zip tie it somewhere in your case, so it's hardly a neat solution. There are ones that sit nicely in a 2.5" drive bay, like a normal SSD, but they're more expensive (and too expensive to make sense for that cheapy drive you have).
Honestly though, spending any money to get that 32GB drive working seems like pouring good money after bad to me. Budget 250GB SSD which store your entire operating system and key programs start at like $60 and will be way faster than that tiny 32GB Drive you have. $10 more gets you into the category of very capable drives like the Crucial MX500.
Is there are particular reason you wanted to get that 32GB drive going?
Apologies for the Amazon Australia link, I can't seem to hit Amazon US right now. The US site will have similar options.
You then use a standard SATA cable (not included, you'll need one) and a SATA power connector from your PSU and it'll function identically as it would if it were in the M.2 slot. You may end up needing to zip tie it somewhere in your case, so it's hardly a neat solution. There are ones that sit nicely in a 2.5" drive bay, like a normal SSD, but they're more expensive (and too expensive to make sense for that cheapy drive you have).
Honestly though, spending any money to get that 32GB drive working seems like pouring good money after bad to me. Budget 250GB SSD which store your entire operating system and key programs start at like $60 and will be way faster than that tiny 32GB Drive you have. $10 more gets you into the category of very capable drives like the Crucial MX500.
Is there are particular reason you wanted to get that 32GB drive going?
Thanks for your help, I wondered if my problem was caused by incompatibility issues but i didn't know how to confirm my suspicions. The m.2 drive I have worked perfectly fine with my old setup and i found it cheap on ebay, I thought it would work fine with my new setup. I guess i'll buy a new drive, thanks again for your help.
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