How to Fix SSD Not Initialized Error - 5 Fixes with Guide

I have 3 disks on my desktop : 1 M.2 disk (boot disk) , 1 SSD drive and 1 HDD drive . Everything was working well until yesterday i was unable to access some files on the SSD drive . After restarting the computer the SSD drive doesn't appeared anymore . 
In disk management appears as "Disk 1 - Unknown - Not initialized". When I clicked to initialize, I got the error "A device which does not exist was specified.". What can be the cause of this? How can I initialize the drive? - from Microsoft

If you cannot use your SSD drive and are constantly facing the SSD not initialized error (the SSD shows as Disk 1 Unknown not initialized in Disk Management), this article from EaseUS comes up with some top solutions. The following are its common causes:

• MBR corruption/damage
• Missing or lost partition
• Bad sectors on the SSD
• Corrupt file system
• Virus infection
• Corrupted/Incompatible/Outdated driver

All the reasons above may lead to SSD showing a Disk Unknown Not Initialized error. While it is essential to troubleshoot the problem, you should be aware of the solutions that help you fix this problem, as Windows can't recognize your uninitialized SSD drive.

How to Fix SSD Unknown Not Initialized Error

To start with the first solution, we present the best option to help you fix "SSD not initialized" and similar disk issues. EaseUS Partition Master Professional exists as a comprehensive, safe process that does not require users to have knowledge of disk partitions and management. Using its user-friendly interface, you can check and repair bad sectors on SSD, fix corrupted file system, and rebuild MBR to fix "SSD unknown, not initialized" error.

Guide 1. Check Bad Sectors

Too many bad sectors can also lead to an "SSD unknown not initialized" error. EaseUS Partition Master comes with a "Disk surface test" feature that allows you to check for bad sectors on uninitialized SSD. Here is how:

Step 1. Open EaseUS Partition Master. Right-click the disk that you want to check, and then click "Surface Test".

Step 2. The operation will be immediately performed and all bad sectors will be marked as red.

If it's a new SSD, you can use EaseUS Partition Master to initialize an SSD to fix an SSD incorrect function error.

Guide 2. Repair Corrupted File System 

The corrupted file system is one of the main reasons for SSD not initialized errors; EaseUS Partition Master allows you to check the file system and fix any potential errors. Here is how:

Step 1. Open EaseUS Partition Master on your computer. Then, locate the disk, right-click the partition you want to check, and choose "Advanced" > "Check File System".

Step 2. In the Check File System window, keep the "Try to fix errors if found" option selected and click "Start".

Step 3. The software will begin checking your partition file system on your disk. When it completes, click "Finish".

Guide 3. Initialize the SSD

You may have tried initializing the SSD through Disk Management or Command Prompt, but neither of them can help you fix this issue. You can try a third-party tool to initialize the SSD to resolve the error, which is marked as "Unknown and uninitialized." Here is how to use EaseUS Partition Master to initialize the SSD.

Step 1. Open EaseUS Partition Master and got to Partition Manager.

Step 2. Right-click the target disk - HDD or SSD and select "Initialize to MBR" or "Initialize to GPT". Click "Execute Task" and "Apply" to save the changes.

0:00-0:18 Initialize to MBR; 0:19-0:44 Initialize to GPT;

If you cannot initialize SSD, use EaseUS Partition Master to try again.

Guide 4. Rebuild MBR

EaseUS Partition Master allows you to rebuild the Master Boot Record (MBR) to fix various boot issues, including the "SSD uninitialized" error. Its "Rebuild MBR" feature rewrites the MBR code on the selected disk, restoring the boot sector and enabling the computer to recognize and boot from the SSD correctly.

Step 1. Create a WinPE bootable disk

• Launch EaseUS Partition Master, and click "Bootable Media" on the toolbar. Select "Create bootable media".
• Click "Next" to finish the process.

Step 2. Boot EaseUS Partition Master Bootable USB

• Connect the bootable USB or CD/DVD to your PC. 
• Press F2 or Del when you restart the computer to enter the BIOS screen. Set and boot your computer from "Removable Devices" or "CD-ROM Drive". And then EaseUS Partition Master will run automatically.

Step 3. Rebuild MBR

• Click "Toolkit" and choose "Rebuild MBR".

• Select the disk and the type of MBR. Then, click "Rebuild".

• After that, you can see "MBR has been successfully rebuilt on Disk X".

While you've understood how EaseUS Partition Master helps set up your SSD drive, it is advisable to download it to your PC to resolve SSD incorrect functions, such as NVMe SSD not initialized error.

EaseUS Partition Master can also fix the "unable to initialize SSD" error by recovering the lost partition on Windows 11 or Windows 10.

3 Ways to Fix SSD Not Initialized Error Manually

When you try to initialize an SSD in DM or DiskPart, you will be prompted with "Disk Unknown Not Initialized." You will also be unable to access the data on the SSD. Here are three manual methods to help you fix the SSD that cannot be initialized error.

Fix 1. Check the Connection

If your SSD displays the error "Disk 1 unknown and not initialized" in Disk Management, and the SSD shows no disk space, you should reconnect the hard drive to check if there is a bad connection.

• Remove the SSD or disconnect it from the computer
• Reinstall the SSD or connect it using a USB cable.
• Alternatively, connect the hard drive to another computer to see if it can be recognized normally.

Fix 2. Run CHKDSK 

You can use CHKDSK commands to check and repair bad sectors on your SSD. This may be a little more difficult than EaseUS Partition Master. Please follow the guide below carefully.

Step 1. Press Win + R and type cmd in the Run box.

Step 2. Press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to launch Command Prompt as administrator.

Step 3. Type "chkdsk E: /f /r" and press Enter. Please replace "E" with the correct SSD label.

Share this article and let more users know how to fix when their SSD shows as "Disk unknown, not initialized."

Fix 3. Update Disk Driver

If the SSD is connected properly but still cannot initialize the disk, you can check if the driver is outdated or incompatible. Updating the outdated driver as follows may work.

Step 1. Type "Device Manager" in the search box and select Device Manager.

Step 2. Right-click the target SSD and select "Update Driver".

Step 3. Select "Search automatically for updated driver software" and follow the prompts to complete the driver update. Then, restart the computer to check if the SSD is displayed normally.

Conclusion

With all the provided solutions, you are able to resolve the SSD not initialized error and make it accessible again. Where Windows is unable to recognize the data present in the SSD, the provided solutions will help you resolve the connectivity problem. However, if you seek a quick and easy resolution to the initialization problem, EaseUS Partition Master is the optimal option to fix the "can't initialize disk" error.

Combining basic disk management operations to advanced functions such as cloning disks, EaseUS Partition Master does it all. You can find this platform as an effective solution to initialize your SSD drive, without any comprehensive knowledge of disk management.

FAQs About SSD Unable to Initialize Error

If you seek more information about the "SSD not initialized" error, we've listed some top-rated questions users might ask involving this topic:

1. How do you initialize an SSD in BIOS?

No, you cannot initialize an SSD in BIOS because it is mainly responsible for hardware configuration and boot processes. For initializing an SSD, you have to use a Disk Management tool or third-party tools that offer this feature.

2. Why is my SSD marked "Unknown Not Initialized" in Disk Management?

There can be several reasons why your disk is marked "Unknown Not Initialized" in Disk Management. It might involve corrupted or outdated drivers, MBR format corruption, or bad sectors in the hard drive. Similar issues like virus infection and corrupted system files can lead to initialization problems in your SSD.

3. How do I initialize my SSD again?

To initialize your SSD again, it is advised that you should consider using EaseUS Partition Master. With no requirement of prior knowledge in this sector, it can easily guide you into initializing your SSD through simple steps.