Articles · new computer · Batumi
Windows installer can’t find the SSD: “We couldn’t find any drives”
You made an official USB stick, booted, reached the drive selection — and the list is empty: “We couldn’t find any drives”. It is common on new laptops and PCs with Intel processors, and the drive is usually fine.
Why it happens
- Intel VMD / RST mode. On many new Intel laptops and boards the drive is connected through VMD. The standard Windows installer needs a storage driver for it.
- The M.2 drive isn’t fully seated or screwed in — in custom-built PCs.
- An M.2 slot shares lanes with SATA — on some boards one port is disabled when another is used.
- A faulty drive — rare, but then it isn’t visible in the BIOS either.
The proper fix
- The Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RST/VMD) driver from the laptop or board manufacturer’s official site goes on the USB stick and is loaded in the installer with “Load driver”.
- Don’t turn VMD off in the BIOS blindly if the drive already has a system — it will stop booting.
- In a custom PC — check that the drive is visible in the BIOS under Storage/NVMe.
How I can help
I do the whole installation: the right storage driver from the manufacturer, official Windows 11, all other drivers and software. Windows installation — from 50 ₾, turnkey — from 80 ₾. More on a new laptop — guide.
FAQ
Questions and answers
Is the drive broken?
Usually not: if it is visible in the BIOS it works — the installer just lacks a driver.
Can I just turn off VMD?
On an empty drive sometimes yes, but installing the driver is better: all manufacturer features work and there are no problems later.