Windows Update and the disappearing M.2 OS

[sinR-8]

Hello,

I am once again coming to you for help after such fantastic help with a new PC Specialist machine almost two years ago. (In this thread; https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/forums/threads/new-computer-no-monitor-signal.75223/ )

I (yesterday evening now) clicked on the system notification that there was a new update that was ready to install and told it to do so now, having first shut all applications (should’ve also backed up the files I was working on, but didn’t because idiot).

Restarted and everything seemed fine. GPU fans spin up and down as per. Working in Photoshop and listening to an audiobook in iTunes. Then pencil tool stops drawing, although the cursor continues to move, then also freezes. Screens frozen, Task Manager showing Up Time 28:05. Front fans are the yellowish green like starting up (rather than the harsher green of Lock Screen or later starting up). Media keys on Bluetooth keyboard have no effect on the still playing audiobook. Single press power button has no effect. Long press shuts it down.

Booting up again resulted in;

>>Checking Media Presence……
>>Media Present…… (Shows as Not Present if the Ethernet cable isn’t plugged in)
>>Start PXE over IPv4 on MAC: 24-4B-FE-04-96-6B.

And then a brief flash of a message saying No valid offer received.

Then off to the ASUS UEFI BIOS Utility. https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/883362603089412147/974477327356530698/IMG_6111.jpg

Which shows the external drive I connected (and have since disconnected just in case), but not the M.2 that my OS is on (Photo taken from back when I first was trying to solve the GPU issue https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/883362603089412147/974477912629727262/IMG_3709.jpg )

The PC specs as bought;

Case
CORSAIR iCUE 220T RGB AIRFLOW MID TOWER GAMING CASE

Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i7 Eight Core Processor i7-10700K (3.8GHz) 16MB Cache

Motherboard
ASUS® PRIME Z490-P (LGA1200, USB 3.2, CrossFireX) - ARGB Ready

Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3000MHz (2 x 8GB)

Graphics Card
8GB NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 3070 - HDMI, DP

1st Storage Drive
2TB SEAGATE BARRACUDA SATA-III 3.5" HDD, 6GB/s, 7200RPM, 256MB CACHE

1st M.2 SSD Drive
512GB PCS PCIe M.2 SSD (2000 MB/R, 1100 MB/W)

Power Supply
Corsair 750W RMx series modular 80 plus Gold Ultra Quiet

Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)

Processor Cooling
PCS FrostFlow 120 Series RGB High Performance Liquid Cooler

Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING

Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)

Wireless Network Card
WIRELESS INTEL® Wi-Fi 6 AX200 2,400Mbps/5GHz, 300Mbps/2.4GHz PCI-E CARD + BT 5.0

USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS

Operating System
Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence


Currently using it with an old iiyama HD monitor via DisplayPort and a Wacom screen tablet via HDMI.

This shows all the red flashing that occurs on the M.2 during the start up attempt now (ie less than a second right at start up, then nothing); https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/883362603089412147/974472704293998602/IMG_6121.mov

I’ve recently been having an issue with the screens cutting out at random points, which is why I’ve taken to having Task Manager open, but thought that had stabilised with a Nvidia update.

Just looked at the photo I took of the frozen Task Manager, and the SSD at 100% might be a thing? https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/883362603089412147/974483840695410728/IMG_6109.jpg

I have a Windows 10 installer USB stick, but not sure the best path to take with it. Start Up Repair, or Uninstall Update (and if so; Quality or Feature, or what?), or something else given that the M.2 isn’t showing in the bios?

I’m heading to bed now because it’s gone 3am and I’m feeling witless, but if there’s any other information I can provide (or clarify; I could probably have phrased / formatted all this better - I’m still unfamiliar with all the PC stuff - sorry) I’ll happily supply it.

Thank you for any help you can give.

 

[sinR-8]

I’ve just edited the power supply entry here because the 850W was out of stock at the time, so went with the Corsair 750W RMx series modular 80 plus Gold Ultra Quiet as opposed to the CORSAIR 850W RMx SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET that was still listed on my details.

 

[sinR-8]

Tried the Windows 10 Installer USB. Went to Repair > Troubleshoot > Start Up Repair. Got the circular PCSpecialist logo and Diagnosing your PC, followed by;

Start-up Repair couldn’t repair your PC
Press "Advanced options" to try other options to repair your PC, or "Shut down" to turn off your PC.
Log file:

And the Shut down or Advanced options buttons.
Tried uninstalling updates which just gave me;

Uninstall the latest quality update
We ran into a problem and won't be able to uninstall the latest quality update of Windows.

Uninstall the latest feature update
We ran into a problem and won't be able to uninstall the latest feature update of Windows. Try resetting your PC
instead (Troubleshoot > Reset this PC).

I suspect it’s a problem with the M.2 SSD. Looking at the ASUS Prime Z490-P motherboard booklet it’s currently in socket A, but there’s also socket B. Would it be worth trying putting it in that? Or would that be a terrible idea?

 

[Scott]

It sounds like the M2 drive has gone faulty. I would attempt to remove it and replace it though as that might be an option.

Otherwise I would enter the BIOS into the advanced mode, so that you can see the more typical menu offerings

 

[sinR-8]

It sounds like the M2 drive has gone faulty. I would attempt to remove it and replace it though as that might be an option.

Otherwise I would enter the BIOS into the advanced mode, so that you can see the more typical menu offerings

Thanks - The M2 was my guess, so I’ve ordered a replacement via the upgrade options PCS has which should arrive later today.
I’m sufficiently inexperienced in this to not know what I should be looking at with the advanced settings.

Other than time I don’t think I’ve lost anything too important workwise with the M2; but if anyone can recommend a trustworthy data recovery service (or a different approach) there was definitely files on there I’d like to get back.

 

[Scott]

Thanks - The M2 was my guess, so I’ve ordered a replacement via the upgrade options PCS has which should arrive later today.
I’m sufficiently inexperienced in this to not know what I should be looking at with the advanced settings.

Other than time I don’t think I’ve lost anything too important workwise with the M2; but if anyone can recommend a trustworthy data recovery service (or a different approach) there was definitely files on there I’d like to get back.

If you move across to "Boot" you should see what hardware you have in place and the boot order.

 

[sinR-8]

If you move across to "Boot" you should see what hardware you have in place and the boot order.

I’ve not seen the M2 show up in any list since it happened. The led on it flashes briefly at the start of start up, but that’s it.

 

[Scott]

I’ve not seen the M2 show up in any list since it happened. The led on it flashes briefly at the start of start up, but that’s it.

I guess you have no options in the drop down other than the network?

The only thing I can advise is to remove the M2 and replace it, this will reseat it. In case it's became dislodged.

Other than that, it's highly probable that the drive is gone so the replacement should solve the problem.

You will need access to another PC to download the Windows 10/11 media creation tool onto a USB pen if you don't have one already.

 

[sinR-8]

Just the boot options already showing.

I’ve tried reseating it to no avail. Thinking once the replacement turns up I’ll use the packaging from that to take the old M2 to try in a friend‘s computer. I don’t expect it to show, but not sure there’s anything to lose in trying.

 

[Scott]

Yip, always worth a shot