The SSD Didn’t Show Up — Until I Followed a Manual

The First Time I Saw It Happen

When I got the ASUS UX301LA, I was ready to set it up and install Windows. I had created a bootable USB, opened the BIOS to check the settings, and everything seemed fine at first. But once I launched the setup and reached the part where I needed to select a drive — the SSD was missing. There was nothing on the list. No storage. No drive.

I restarted the process and tried again, hoping it was just a small glitch. Still no result. I opened the BIOS one more time and searched through every menu, but the SSD didn’t appear there either. I couldn’t figure out what was going on. I tried changing settings. I unplugged the USB and recreated the bootable image using different tools. I even flashed a new image and made sure it was clean. But no matter what I did, the installer wouldn’t detect the SSD.

Trying to Fix It Without Help

I spent several hours trying to solve it on my own. I switched between different USB ports, changed settings in BIOS, and used both Rufus and the Microsoft media creation tool to rebuild the installation image. But the result stayed the same. No drive. Just the blank screen where the disk should be.

At that point, I thought the SSD might be broken or not connected properly. I didn’t want to return the laptop, but I started to think I had no other option. Still, I decided to look around online, just in case someone else had been through the same situation.

The Post That Changed Everything

While browsing forum posts, I noticed many users had the same issue. Some said they had spent four hours or more looking for a fix. One comment stood out — someone explained the problem clearly and shared what worked for them. They didn’t just say “you saved me” or “thanks,” like most others. Instead, they shared specific steps and mentioned that they found the solution in a user manual from manymanuals.

They said they had the same problem with the SSD not showing up and explained that the fix was simple: the Intel VMD setting in BIOS was causing the problem. That was the first time I saw the term VMD. I followed their link to the manual.

What the Manual Told Me to Do

The fix started when I visited ManyManuals and searched for the UX301LA. The guide I downloaded was named “Manuale di installazione” — probably because the device was also distributed in Italy. Still, the instructions were clear and easy to follow. The manual explained how the Intel Volume Management Device (VMD) setting could prevent the SSD from showing up during Windows setup, and it also mentioned updating the BIOS to make everything work as expected.

Here’s what I did, exactly as shown in the manual:

1. Update the BIOS

My BIOS was running an older version. The guide showed how to download and flash the correct file. I followed the steps and updated the BIOS without problems.

2. Turn Off Intel VMD

Once I restarted, I went into BIOS again. I navigated to the advanced settings and found the Intel VMD controller option. I disabled it, saved the changes, and restarted the machine.

3. Load the IRST Driver

During Windows setup, I clicked “Load Driver” and pointed to the IRST files I had placed on the USB stick. Right after that, the SSD appeared on the screen. Finally, I could continue the installation without any issues.

I Was Not the Only One

After finishing the install, I went back to the forum to share my result. While reading other messages, I noticed many people had gone through the same thing. Some were from Portugal, France, Malta, and even Australia. One person said, “You’re a legend.” Another wrote, “I was about to return the laptop.” A few even said they signed up just to say thank you. One guy said, “I love you,” and another added, “I kiss your eyes.” I understood exactly how they felt — I was there too.

Simple Steps That Work

If you can’t see your SSD during Windows installation, try this before giving up:

Make sure your BIOS version is up to date
Disable the Intel VMD controller in BIOS
Load the correct IRST driver during Windows setup

These three steps were all I needed, and they were all listed clearly in the user manual I found. No extra tools. No strange workarounds. Just working instructions.

You’re Not Alone

Seeing how many people had the same issue helped me realize this wasn’t rare. I wasn’t the only one stuck with a blank screen and no drive to install Windows on. For all of us, the real fix came from reading the right manual.