SSD drive invisible in Windows 8.1

Hi.

First of all, let me say that I know there is already plenty of threads regarding this kind of issue. I've read through lots of them, but I can't find anything that matches my problem. Hence, I've found no solution to this.

So, the problem:

I have a Samsung 530U3C laptop with a 500 GB HDD and an internal 24 GB SanDisk SSD. For some reason, the SSD is suddenly invisible to my system. It does not show up in Disk Management, it does not show up in DiskPart and it does not show up in Device Manager. Nowhere to be seen.

The BIOS has never displayed the SSD drive, so I can't see it there either. I don't know if it's connected with SATA or PCIe. All I know is that it's built in somewhere, and I don't see it if I open the laptop case. I also know that it's not a HDD/SSD hybrid.

However, if I boot up from a recovery USB and start a command prompt, I am able to see the SSD drive in DiskPart. But if I do the same after booting the OS, it's not visible.


Here's some details:

I've installed ExpressCache and Intel Rapid Start Tech to work with the SSD. This is what I did to the SSD:

• Cleaned the drive with DiskPart
• Create partition msr size=6200 (partition for Intel Rapid Start, 6 GB RAM)
• Set the partition id=84 (hibernation partition)
• Installed ExpressCache, which automatically created a partition of the remaining unallocated space.

This setup worked fine for a few days, but somehow the SSD drive is now invisible.

Any ideas?

If the Bios does not show the SSD. Try placing the drive in an external USB case, and see if it can be seen as a USB device. Newer laptops use SATA, not PATA.

The 24 GB SSD is used as a cache for the 500 GB Spinner. There should be a special utility/software installed to make it work. I do believe its hidden as far as Windows is concerned, not sure about the BIOS though.

It may be Mini PCIe or mSATA.

Most likely it is a Hybrid drive. What is the model # of the drive you have installed in the laptop. The newer units are coming out of the factory with the hybrid drives installed in them. Even though SSD's are cheaper than the hybrids.