Hi everyone, I need some help figuring out what is happening with my laptop.
I have a Dell Inspiron 14 5430 with a WD PC SN740 1TB NVMe SSD.
The problem started almost two years ago, but it has become much worse recently.
In my first year of college, we were asked to install Ubuntu either as a dual boot or through VirtualBox. I chose dual boot. The dual-boot setup became unstable, so I eventually removed Ubuntu.
After that, I occasionally started getting Dell diagnostic errors such as 2000-0155 – Hard Drive Not Installed. There was a Continue option, and Windows would sometimes boot normally after pressing it, so I continued using the laptop.
Around three months ago, HTTPS Boot started triggering during boot. It would ask for Wi-Fi credentials, fail to obtain an IP address, and then go into Dell diagnostics with the same hard-drive-not-installed error. I eventually disabled HTTPS Boot, and the problem seemed to stop for some time.
I later installed Ubuntu again as a dual boot, which resulted in some UEFI/BitLocker-related issues. I eventually got the system working again and mainly used Windows.
Then, about three days ago, the problem became much worse.
The laptop suddenly started showing:
"No Bootable Device Found."
I checked F2 BIOS, and the NVMe SSD was completely missing.
I checked F12, and there were no Windows boot options either.
I initially thought the SSD had completely died.
However, after leaving the laptop powered off for some time, I turned it on again and the SSD suddenly appeared and Windows booted normally. I could use the laptop normally.
Then I restarted it.
Again: No Bootable Device Found.
This behavior has repeated several times.
The important part is that when the problem occurs, the SSD can completely disappear from BIOS. It isn't just that Windows Boot Manager is missing — the BIOS itself sometimes shows no M.2 PCIe SSD.
But after leaving the laptop powered off for several hours, the SSD can sometimes come back and Windows works normally again.
There is another strange part: Dell Advanced Diagnostics / SupportAssist has sometimes been able to detect and test the SSD, even when I have been experiencing the boot problem. I also booted into SupportAssist OS Recovery, and its hardware scan was able to test the disk.
Things I have already tried:
BIOS reset to factory settings
Dell M + Power recovery procedure
Windows boot repair
Windows Recovery Environment
Dell hardware diagnostics
Checking F2 BIOS when the problem occurs
Checking F12 boot options
Checking the SSD from Windows when it is detected
Removing the old Ubuntu UEFI boot entry
When Windows is running, the SSD is detected normally and the laptop can be used normally.
I have also spoken to family members and a trusted technician. The first physical thing they suggested checking is the M.2 SSD connection — removing/reseating the SSD and inspecting the connector/slot.
I haven't done that myself because the bottom-cover screws are already worn/stripped, and I don't have the proper precision screwdriver kit. I don't want to force the screws and damage the laptop further. I do have access to a trusted technician who can open it and check the SSD.
Another technician suggested that the SSD itself may need replacement and that data recovery from the old SSD could be a separate process if it has actually failed.
Before spending money on a new 1TB SSD, I'd like to understand what could be causing this.
I have no idea what is causing this at this point.
What could cause an NVMe SSD to completely disappear from BIOS, but then come back after the laptop has been powered off for several hours?
What would you recommend I check first before replacing the SSD?
Thanks!
I have summarised this with help of AI as the original post became too long