M2 bricked? Need help.

[BBB59]

So the other day I was using my computer as normal and programs suddenly stopped responding. I tried to restart via Windows software but could not bring up the windows menu. At this point I force offed the machine. Since then I have tried various components in and out and have come to the conclusion that when the M2 drive is plugged in the computer will not even make it to BIOS. It starts briefly, then goes off, comes back on and sits at a black screen forever. Without the M2 drive in it goes to BIOS, and with a USB drive with TAILS it boots just fine into that. Unfortunately I currently don't have a USB drive with a Windows installer and I'm waiting on a friend to bring me one within the next few days. As far as I understand I cannot fix this problem without either buying a new M2 and installing Windows on it or using an enclosure which I don't have. This is a garbage M2 anyway, it's not even a real NVMe just a team group 1tb SSD that functions via the M2 (didn't realize this when I purchased it on Black Friday two or three years ago)so I am leaning towards just getting a real NVMe. I am quite poor though so I'd rather just fix what I have if possible. Thank you all in advance. 

 

Btw my specs are as follows.

 

i7 8700k

EVGA 1070 sc

32gb 3200 ddr4

Teamgroup 1tb TM8PS7001T m2

2 other drives not currently plugged in

MSi Z390-A PRO board

 

[PenguinMaster]

Can you get into the BIOS of your motherboard? Does it detect the M.2 Drive?

 

To do this shut down the PC completely > push the power button > spam the DEL key until the BIOS menu pops up

 

From there depending on your BIOS revision the place where the drive is listed could be different but in EZ mode there should literally just be a button that says: STORAGE

 

Let me know the results

 

[BBB59]

7 minutes ago, PenguinMaster said:

Can you get into the BIOS of your motherboard? Does it detect the M.2 Drive?

 

To do this shut down the PC completely > push the power button > spam the DEL key until the BIOS menu pops up

 

From there depending on your BIOS revision the place where the drive is listed could be different but in EZ mode there should literally just be a button that says: STORAGE

 

Let me know the results

 

I can only get into the BIOS without the drive in. With it in If I spam delete which I know is the bios key it just does the whole black screen thing like always

[PenguinMaster]

5 minutes ago, BBB59 said:

I can only get into the BIOS without the drive in. With it in If I spam delete which I know is the bios key it just does the whole black screen thing like always

Hmmm that is very weird. If you had very important data on it I would try to get an M.2 reader and use a computer to try and pull the information off it if you can. Then I would do a fresh windows install like you said. If you cant pull the data off the drive but you really need it you might need to send it off to a company like DriveSavers which can be very pricy, so it might be worth trying something like a $25 M.2 reader first.

[BBB59]

40 minutes ago, PenguinMaster said:

Hmmm that is very weird. If you had very important data on it I would try to get an M.2 reader and use a computer to try and pull the information off it if you can. Then I would do a fresh windows install like you said. If you cant pull the data off the drive but you really need it you might need to send it off to a company like DriveSavers which can be very pricy, so it might be worth trying something like a $25 M.2 reader first.

The only "important" data I have on it is the memes I've saved over the past year or so. Which would suck to lose but I've been much more proactive about backing up photos and videos I've taken. Things like that. I have been talking to my brother who reminded me I had a hard drive with Windows Server 2012 on it in the garage. I booted into that, however I don't know the password to it to be able to make a Windows install USB. The last time I dealt with that install was running a Minecraft / TeamSpeak server almost10 years ago... pretty sure at this point I'm just going to get a new NVME and reinstall windows.... Thanks for the help tho

[PenguinMaster]

Good thing you have backups!  It is always good to keep on top of those.  If you want a solid NVMe Drive that will last you a long time I would get either a WD SN850 or Samsung 980 Pro (if your motherboard supports PCIe 4.0 SSDs).  If not I would still go either WD SN750 or Samsung 970 EVO or Samsung 980 (non-pro).  I have never had issues with these SSDs before.