Lost M2 SSD after BIOS 2.50.1 update Precision 5820

A few ideas:

Make sure BIOS is set to boot from Windows Boot Manager.

Try the F12 Boot & Diagnostics menu to see if the drive shows there.

If still no go, replace the size 2032 CMOS battery and do a BIOS reset via the blue jumper method.

This is what Google's AI came up with.  I'm using copy & paste so hopefully it's not all jumbled.

dell precision 5820 no longer sees m.2 ssd after bios update +5 Access the Dell Technical Support portal for specific downloads, or apply the following fixes to your Dell Precision 5820. A BIOS update often resets the SATA operation mode to default (RAID) or changes Intel VMD settings, hiding M.2 NVMe SSDs.If your SSD isn't showing up, try these steps:Adjust SATA/NVMe Operation:Restart the PC and tap F2 to enter the BIOS.Go to Storage or SATA/NVMe Operation.Change the mode from RAID On to AHCI / NVMe.Click Apply Changes and Exit.Disable Intel VMD (Volume Management Device):Intel VMD controllers can prevent pre-boot environments from recognizing NVMe drives.Go to the System Configuration or Intel VMD section of the BIOS.Select Disable VMD (or Enable VMD Controller - depending on your exact drive and PCIe setup, you may need to toggle this state).Check PCIe FlexBay Profiles:If your M.2 SSD is in the front FlexBay, the controller profile may have been reset.On boot, press F12 and enter Device Configuration to open the MegaRAID controller menu.Navigate to Main Menu -> Controller Management -> Advanced -> Profile Management -> Choose Profile.Ensure the profile is set to 11_PCIe4 (NVMe only) or 13_PD64-PCIe4 (SATA/SAS + NVMe).

I also looked at other threads, but none of them had an accepted solution.

Hi

I got nothing new or better to suggest, but I still will...

"Many BIOS updates revert this to RAID, which can hide NVMe from the BIOS device list while Windows still boots with its RAID/VMD driver"

""Windows still sees the drive via its cached driver""

Precision 5820–specific things to verify

• Modular FlexBay / NVMe cage:
  On 5820 Tower, the front bays can be configured as SATA, SAS, or NVMe. The daughter board in the back of the NVMe/SAS cage can cause “drive not detected” if the connections are loose or the wrong bay type is used. Reseat the M.2 in its caddy and the caddy in the bay; check the rear connector board. dell

• BIOS version specifics:
  You’re on 2.50.1. If this started exactly after that update:

  • Try Load Defaults first.

  • If that fails, consider downgrading to the previous BIOS (e.g., 2.4.x) via Dell’s BIOS recovery or flashing an older EXE from Dell’s support page, then retest detection. Many users stabilize by rolling back one version when a new BIOS breaks NVMe visibility. dell+1

• SSD firmware:
  If the drive is detected inconsistently, update the SSD firmware (Samsung, KIOXIA/Toshiba, WD, etc.) using the vendor’s tool from another system or a bootable USB. Some NVMe drives had firmware issues that manifested after motherboard BIOS changes. learn.microsoft+1

Step‑by‑step practical sequence

1. Power off, unplug, open case.

2. Reseat the M.2 SSD:

   • Remove mounting screw, pull SSD out, inspect contacts, reinsert firmly, retighten screw.

3. Boot → F2 → BIOS:

   • Load Defaults → Save & Exit.

   • Reboot → F2 again → check Storage list.

4. If still missing:

   • Adjust SATA Operation / NVMe / VMD settings as above (match your original setup).

   • If using a PCIe M.2 card, try a different slot (e.g., move from slot 5 to 4). dell

5. If BIOS now sees it but Windows doesn’t:

   • Use Disk Management to initialize/assign letter, or load the correct Intel RST/VMD driver during Windows setup if you’re reinstalling. youtube+1

6. If BIOS still doesn’t see it:

   • Test the M.2 in another system or use a USB‑to‑NVMe adapter to confirm the SSD itself is good.

   • If the SSD is fine, downgrade BIOS one version and retest. dell+1

Hello, 

in the installation of win11 that sees correctly the drive, can you do

Control Panel > Device Manager > disk drives > the hynix drive , and see which driver is being used ? (properties > driver details).

@mazzinia_​ I took a couple of scren shots of the drive and controller information, also the diskmanger and the Windows installer, let me know if you need anything else.  I also tried to manualy download drivers(RSTe_f6_iaVROC_win8_64).  made no difference. Thanks for any help.  

@bradthetechnut​ I tried seral times of enable/disable Raid and ACHI.  In BIOS I can see the serial number of the drive, so it seems to be recognized, but always '"0" volume.  I have a PCIE adapter so I currently have it removed from the Flexbay and connected directly to the motherboard PCIE connector.  BIOS sees it as Mass storage again no size.  But Windows sees it as a 1TB drive.  I am also limited on using my Keyboard in BIOS and the onetime boot(F12).  My mouse workes, but I can not enter any data using my keayboard.  I have tried 3 differnt USB keyboards and servasl of the back USB ports.  Thanks for the help. 

At this point if there are also keyboard issues and such... maybe a bios reset ? (after writing down any setting currently in use)

@ejbommer​ The keyboard issue you are facing is plaguing everyone with this version of bios. There is a separate thread https://www.dell.com/community/en/conversations/precision-fixed-workstations/precision-5820-tower-keyboard-and-bios-issues-after-installing-2501/6a5e584e993c1b1fb4dc95c9 here if you want to follow.

I did a BIOS reset and made no difference.  I also pulled a working M2 Samsung drive from another computer and it showing the same issues.  I’m really thinking the problem is a bug with the BIOS.  It’s my understanding once "BIOS 2.50.1" is installed, you cannot roll back, is that true.

After the BIOS reset I did need to use the trouble shooting boot features.  An interesting thing was my Keyboard work with that.  Thought that maybe it had to do with the BOIS reset, but the keyboard still doesn’t work with BIOS or one time boot.

I’m at least working running by using a Sata drive, but I hate the fact that 2 of my Flexbay’s are devoted NVME drives, which now does not work.  The 4 bays was one of my main reasons for selecting this PC.  Guess Ill have to try and find parts.

@rahduro​ Thanks for the information.  Im hoping this issues gets rasied so it has a chance to get fixed.

@ejbommer​ yes, downgrading the bios is not feasible. It's a thing enforced every time a bios with a new ... lets call it baseline, is issued.

In this case 2.50.1 includes the new uefi 2023 certificates, so they made it impossible to reflash an older one that would include the old 2011 certificates.

@ejbommer​  Think a computer shop might help.

Based on your testing, this doesn't look like an SSD failure. The fact that Windows can read and write the drive normally, while the BIOS and Windows Setup report 0 bytes, strongly points to a BIOS/NVMe compatibility issue introduced in BIOS 2.50.1. I'd recommend resetting BIOS defaults, re-seating the SSD, and checking whether there's a newer BIOS available. If not, Dell should investigate this as a regression, your evidence clearly shows the drive is healthy but isn't being initialized correctly by the firmware during pre-boot.