Installing Second M.2 NVMe SSD onto Asus B450-F Motherboard - Goes Straight to BIOS

Flying Ace on 14/08/2023 - 13:34

Hiya, not too familiar with PCs, but hoping someone can help. I bought a 2tb NVMe SSD to install into my PC as my motherboard ( https://rog.asus.com/au/motherboards/rog-strix/rog-strix-b45… ) has two M.2 sockets. Installation was fine but as soon as I start up the PC, it goes straight to the BIOS screen, and I can't work out what I'm meant to do from there.

The motherboard manual lists the two slots:

2 x M.2 Socket 3
‧ 1 x Type 2242-2280, supports SATA & PCIe 3.0 x4 modes
‧ 1 x Type 2242-22110, supports PCIe 3.0 x4 modes

This is the SSD I bought:
https://www.umart.com.au/product/corsair-mp600-core-xt-2tb-g…

But for some reason the moment I install it, the PC starts in BIOS and I can't figure out what I need to do next.

Is anyone able to shed some light on what I should be looking for after installation?

Thank you!

Computing ASUS Computer Component Motherboard SSD

Comments

  • altomic on 14/08/2023 - 13:39
    +1

    swap the SSDs over in the opposing slots.
    maybe a boot order issue?

    • RichardL on 14/08/2023 - 13:47
      +1

      swap the SSDs over in the opposing slots.

      This might not be possible if the original boost drive is a 2.5" SSD, so you can either change the boot order or move everything to the new SSD.

    • Flying Ace on 14/08/2023 - 15:33

      I tried that, but then I get an error saying that there was no boot drive found (or something along those lines).

  • OMGJL on 14/08/2023 - 14:00
    +4

    refer to the manual.

    When the M.2_1 Socket 3 is operating in SATA or PCIE mode, SATA6G_5/6 ports will be disabled.

    if your original boot drive is SATA then that explains everything.

    otherwise press F8 while POST and try other boot entry see if it works, and set the correct one in BIOS again.

    • Flying Ace on 14/08/2023 - 15:34

      I did read the manual, but I don’t know what any of that means ☹️

      • GordonD on 14/08/2023 - 16:26
        +2

        What it means is when yoo plug an M.2 SSD into M.2 socket 1, SATA ports 5 and 6 are disabled. So if your boot drive is plugged into either of those ports, SATA port 5 or 6, it will no longer work. And that would give ytou exactly the behavior you are seeing, the PC not seeing any boot drive any longer, and going straight to the BIOS when you power it up. What you have to do to fix that is move your SATA boot drive to any one of SATA ports 1 though 4. If doing that works, you know what the problem is.

      • Gnilgorf on 14/08/2023 - 16:30
        +1

        What OMGJL is saying is that if you ever use slot M.2_1 (the slot roughly in the middle of the board), you will never be able to use SATA ports 5 or 6 (The SATA ports closest to the RAM sticks). SATA5/6 quite literally get turned off. If your old boot drive is plugged into either of these two ports, the motherboard wont be able to detect them anymore.

        But reading through your other replies, it sounds as if your old boot drive is also a M.2? As you mentioned you tried swapping the drives. And your original attempt just left the original drive where it was, and plugged the new M.2 into the 2nd M.2 slot (M.2_2, surrounded by the PCIE slots). If so, I don't think OMGJL's response is applicable.

        Just in case, let us know exactly how many drives, and what type, you have plugged into what ports.
        But do try Transient's suggestion. Sometimes the Motherboard gets confused.

        • OMGJL on 14/08/2023 - 16:54

          I did say

          if your original boot drive is SATA

          as well as

          otherwise … F8

          (if OP's new M.2 mess up the boot order of the previous M.2)

          • Gnilgorf on 14/08/2023 - 16:59

            @OMGJL: Aye alls well! Will need to wait until OP clarifies with more information.

          • bmerigan on 14/08/2023 - 22:15

            @OMGJL: They said installing a second NVMe drive, so I don't think either would be on SATA ports 5 or 6.

            • OMGJL on 15/08/2023 - 08:53

              @bmerigan: scenario 1:

              OP have 2 NVMe drive AND a SATA SSD, the sata ssd happen to be the boot drive.

              scenario 2:

              OP originally have a NVMe drive and a SATA drive(wither SSD or HDD doesn't matter), because in Windows installation it is very likely to list the SATA drive as drive 0 and NVMe as Drive 1, whilst initialize the drive, OP didn't pay attention and made the ESP partition (UEFI boot partition) on Drive 0 and the actual OS file in drive 1.

              scenario 3:

              installing the second NVMe have screwed up the boot order set in BIOS, OP just need to re-configure it.

              You never know.

  • Transient on 14/08/2023 - 14:36
    +3

    Sometimes a motherboard cannot work out where the OS is located or expects the drive with OS to be in a certain slot but can't find it so boots to BIOS. You then navigate to Boot Priority and choose the drive that has your OS.

    • Flying Ace on 14/08/2023 - 16:03

      I'll give it another go - thank you!

    • bmerigan on 14/08/2023 - 22:16

      But when it was swapped around it then complained it couldn't find the BIOS, makes me think that's not the issue.

      • Transient on 14/08/2023 - 22:23

        Where did OP say that? I might have missed that.

        the moment I install it, the PC starts in BIOS

        I tried that, but then I get an error saying that there was no boot drive found

        • bmerigan on 14/08/2023 - 23:00

          sorry - typing mistake - couldn't find the BOOT DRIVE.

      • Transient on 14/08/2023 - 22:24

        If computer not even posting to BIOS then could be a MB fault but strange it is only happening after installing new drive

  • bugsucher on 15/08/2023 - 08:58

    I don't think they are compatible:
    ‧ 1 x Type 2242-2280, supports SATA & PCIe 3.0 x4 modes
    Corsair MP600 CORE XT 2TB Gen 4 PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD

    • bmerigan on 15/08/2023 - 09:56

      Pretty sure PCIe is backwards and forwards compatible.

  • Sinnerator on 15/08/2023 - 09:05

    can you change the boot order in BIOS?

  • Soundwave on 15/08/2023 - 10:18

    Hi,

    If your issue is not solved yet, we may need more info on your setup.

    1 - What is your Boot Drive and how is it plugged in?
    If it is a SATA drive, try plugging the cable that's in the motherboard from the SATA drive to a SATA port on the opposite end.

    As people have mentioned those SATA ports may have been disabled when adding a M.2.

    2 - Set up Boot Drive order with the Boot Drive being on top of the list in BIOS.

    3 - The M.2 you purchased is PCIe 4 but your MB only support PCIe 3.
    This is fine as PCIe 4 is backwards compatible but you may need to check your BIOS settings and whatever PCIe slot the M.2 is plugged into (Top one would be preferable) set that manually to PCIe 3 if the setting is set to Automatic. This may help out as well.

    4 - Last of all, maybe update your BIOS.

  • Flying Ace on 15/08/2023 - 11:23

    Hi sorry for not getting back sooner -

    My boot drive is an M.2 NVMe in the lower slot on the motherboard.
    The second M.2 I was trying to install in the middle NVMe slot.

    I also have a 2tb standard 3.5" HDD plugged in with SATA cables.

    As soon as I plug in the second SSD, the PC boots into BIOS.

    I haven't had a chance to check into the BIOS further since I posted this, so as soon as I do I'll report the outcome.

    • duckdodgers245 on 15/08/2023 - 15:50

      Remove all first
      Try moving your boot drive to the middle slot and see if that works.
      If yes, then add your new m.2 drive to the bottom slot and see if that works.
      If yes, connect your 2TB drive to SATA slot 1.

      I always thought that the M.2_1 slot (middle slot) will take preference as boot drive. I'm sure someone will disagree with what i'm saying but anyways.

  • Flying Ace on 21/08/2023 - 07:50

    I didn't have time to move the drives around over the weekend - but I did try again to install the second SSD in the middle slot - again it goes straight to BIOS, and even when I select the original boot drive (which is in the second, lower slot on the motherboard), the PC will not start up and tells me to insert the boot drive or select the boot drive in BIOS.

    I'll try again to swap the drives around and see if I'm able to select the boot drive again when I have some time to fiddle around more.

    • xxBARGAINGODxx on 22/08/2023 - 10:37

      Did you try OMGJL's suggested fix?

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