240GB SSD only Showing 146GB Available (Solution)

When you install a new 240GB SSD on your computer and it’s only showing 146GB available, there are several potential reasons why this may be the case. Here are some troubleshooting steps you can follow to determine the cause of the issue:

There is already an issue with the user on Quora who asked this question so, I thought it would be helpful for other users. Here I linked that discussion for further information.

1. Check if the SSD is partitioned:

If the SSD has been partitioned, it’s possible that the remaining unallocated space is not yet formatted or assigned a drive letter. You can check this by right-clicking on “This PC” or “My Computer” and selecting “Manage”. In the Disk Management section, locate the SSD and check if it shows an unallocated space. If so, you can right-click on it and select “New Simple Volume” to create a new partition.

2. Check for hidden files:

Another potential cause of missing storage space is hidden files or folders that are taking up space on the SSD. You can check this by enabling the option to show hidden files and folders. To do this, open File Explorer, click on the “View” tab, and check the box next to “Hidden items”.

3. Check for overprovisioning:

Some SSDs have a feature called overprovisioning, where a portion of the drive’s capacity is reserved for performance and maintenance purposes. This reserved space is not visible to the user and can account for the missing storage capacity. You can check if your SSD has overprovisioning enabled by checking the manufacturer’s website or user manual.

4. Check if the drive was formatted with the wrong file system:

If the drive was formatted with a file system that doesn’t support large drives, it can result in reduced storage capacity. For example, if the drive was formatted with the FAT32 file system instead of NTFS, it can limit the drive’s capacity. You can check the file system of the drive by right-clicking on the SSD in File Explorer and selecting “Properties”.

5. Check if there are bad sectors on the drive:

If the drive has bad sectors, it can result in missing storage capacity. You can check for bad sectors by running a disk check. To do this, open File Explorer, right-click on the SSD, select “Properties”, click on the “Tools” tab, and then click on “Check”.

If none of the above solutions work, it’s possible that the SSD may be faulty or incompatible with your computer. In this case, you may need to contact the manufacturer for assistance or return the drive for a replacement.

Updating Driver Software in Device manager:

What type of SATA cable can be used with Samsung SSD?

Samsung SSDs typically use standard SATA cables, specifically SATA Revision 3.0 (also known as SATA III or SATA 6Gbps) cables. These cables have a 7-pin data connector and a 15-pin power connector and are designed to be backward compatible with previous SATA revisions.

It’s worth noting that some Samsung SSDs, particularly those intended for use in laptops or other small form factor devices, may use a smaller form factor SATA connector known as mSATA or M.2. In these cases, you will need a corresponding mSATA or M.2 SATA cable. However, for most desktop applications, a standard SATA III cable will work with a Samsung SSD.

M.2 vs NVME and SATA interface Explained:

M.2 and NVMe are related but distinct technologies, while SATA is a different interface altogether. Here’s a brief explanation of each:

1. M.2: M.2 is a form factor for solid-state drives (SSDs), which means it specifies the physical size and shape of the drive. M.2 drives are much smaller than traditional 2.5-inch drives and can be installed directly onto the motherboard. M.2 drives can use either the SATA or NVMe interface, depending on the drive and the motherboard.
2. NVMe: NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) is a newer interface for SSDs that is designed to take advantage of the higher speeds and lower latency of modern solid-state storage. NVMe is a protocol that communicates directly with the CPU over the PCIe bus, bypassing the slower SATA interface. NVMe drives can be much faster than SATA drives, especially for tasks that involve a lot of small, random reads and writes.
3. SATA: SATA (Serial ATA) is a legacy interface for connecting storage devices to a motherboard. It has been widely used for many years and is still found on many older and lower-end systems. SATA has a maximum transfer rate of 6Gbps, which is significantly slower than the newer NVMe interface. SATA is compatible with both hard disk drives (HDDs) and SSDs, and is typically used for 2.5-inch drives and some M.2 drives.

Final Words

M.2 is a form factor for SSDs, while NVMe is a newer and faster interface for SSDs. SATA is an older and slower interface that is still widely used, but is being replaced by NVMe on newer systems. It’s important to note that not all M.2 drives use the NVMe interface, and some M.2 drives use the older SATA interface instead.