No single BIOS setting “configures” an SSD. In practice you do three things: confirm the firmware detects the drive, make sure the drive holds something bootable, and then put the right boot entry first. Leave the storage mode (AHCI, RAID or Intel RST) alone unless you have a specific reason to change it. Menu names and setup keys vary by PC and motherboard maker, so treat the paths below as examples and check your own manual.
Step 1: Open the BIOS/UEFI setup
From Windows
Microsoft documents this route, which avoids guessing a startup key:
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- Open Settings > System > Recovery.
- Next to Advanced startup, select Restart now.
- Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings, then Restart.
The screen may be labelled BIOS or UEFI. Microsoft notes the interface depends on the PC manufacturer and advises changing only what you need.
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Look up the key in your PC or motherboard manual. ASUS alone shows the variation: its NUC article uses F2, while its motherboard boot-priority article describes Del or F2. There is no universal key.
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Step 2: Check that the SSD is detected
Look at the firmware’s storage, SATA, NVMe or device-information pages. ASUS’s NUC guidance (last updated 2026-04-21) gives example paths such as Advanced > Devices > SATA or Advanced > Storage, where you check whether a drive is identified on a SATA or M.2 port. That is one vendor’s product-specific layout, not a guaranteed path.
If the SSD is missing
- Power down fully and reseat the drive. An M.2 drive must sit fully in a supported slot.
- For a 2.5-inch SATA SSD, check both the data and power connections.
- Check the manual for supported M.2 length, interface (SATA or NVMe), slot sharing, and whether populating one slot disables a SATA port.
- If it is still absent, try another supported drive or contact the manufacturer. A failed drive is possible, but one BIOS screen is not enough to diagnose it. No BIOS toggle can make an incompatible or defective drive appear.
Step 3: Set boot priority, but only for a bootable drive
Detection is not the same as bootability. A blank SSD has no operating system or boot files, so it will not appear as a boot choice until you install one. If you are installing Windows, boot the installer from USB first and install to the SSD. Then change the order so the SSD’s entry comes first.
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If Windows is already on the SSD, select its boot entry, usually named Windows Boot Manager, as the first boot option. Microsoft’s Secure Boot troubleshooting guide (2026-03) tells readers in its scenario to put the on-disk Windows Boot Manager first. That advice is scenario-specific, but it matches the general idea. ASUS’s boot-priority guidance (last updated 2024-05-09) shows lists that can include M.2 SSD, SATA SSD, USB and other devices. Exact screens differ.
Save with the firmware’s save-and-exit control. ASUS examples use F10.
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Step 4: Leave AHCI, RAID and Intel RST alone unless you have a reason
AHCI and RAID/Intel RST are different controller modes. The ASUS ROG STRIX Z370-I GAMING manual, for example, lists AHCI as a SATA mode and Intel RST Premium with Intel Optane acceleration/RAID as a separate option. That applies to that board and firmware only.
Do not tell yourself “switch to AHCI” or “switch to RAID” as a general fix. An existing installation may depend on the mode it was installed under, and changing it can stop it from booting. Before touching it:
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- Note the current mode.
- Check whether you use RAID or Optane caching.
- Read your maker’s exact instructions for the change you want.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | What to check |
|---|---|
| SSD absent from firmware | Seating, power and data connections, the correct slot, and model compatibility. |
| SSD visible, no boot entry | Is an operating system installed, and are its boot files present? Then review boot mode and boot priority using your device’s guidance. |
| Windows Boot Manager listed, but another device starts first | Move the Windows boot entry to the top of the order. |
| Boot failure after a storage-mode change | Restore the previous setting if it is safe, and follow the PC maker’s recovery instructions. Avoid repeated blind mode changes. |
If you need a replacement SSD
Check the manual before buying. Compare interface (SATA or NVMe/PCIe), form factor and supported length, capacity limits, slot availability, and whether a heatsink or a particular installation arrangement is required. The official sources here establish this compatibility-first approach. They do not rank models or give current prices.
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- Ultra-low power consumption
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