How to Fix Internal SATA Drives Showing Up as Removable Media on Windows 11, 10, or 8?

Internal SATA drives being detected as removable media can be a confusing and frustrating issue for Windows users. While it doesn’t affect the functionality of the drives, it can lead to confusion and potential data loss. In this user-friendly guide, we will walk you through the steps to fix this problem on Windows 11, 10, and 8/8.1, ensuring that your internal drives are correctly recognized as internal storage.

Important Note: Before proceeding with any changes, it’s recommended to create a backup of your system to safeguard your data.

How to Fix Internal SATA Drives Showing Up as Removable Media on Windows 11, 10, or 8/8.1?

Follow these easy steps to fix internal SATA drivers on Windows 11, 10, or 8/8.1:-

Step 1. Press Windows + X keys simultaneously on your keyboard, and in the pop-up menu, select “Device Manager.” Or, click on the Start button, type “Device Manager,” and click on its name on the search result. This will open Device Manager on your PC.

Step 2. In the Device Manager window, expand the “Disk drives” category.

Step 3. Here, look for the SATA drive that is being recognized as removable media. Right-click on the SATA drive that you want to fix.

Step 4. Select “Properties” from the context menu.

Step 5. In the Properties window, navigate to the “General” tab.

Step 6. Locate the “Bus Number” value and remember it for the next step.

Step 7. Now, click on the Start button and type CMD.

Step 8. In the search results, right-click on Command Prompt and select the Run as administrator option.

Step 9. Now, type the following:-

reg.exe add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\storahci\Parameters\Device" /f /v TreatAsInternalPort /t REG_MULTI_SZ /d BUS-NUMBER

Note: In the above command line, replace BUS-NUMBER with the actual number of your SSD that you noted above. For example, to fix the storage drive with Bus Number “2,” use this command:-

 reg.exe add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\storahci\Parameters\Device" /f /v TreatAsInternalPort /t REG_MULTI_SZ /d 2

Step 10. Press Enter on your keyboard.

Step 11. Close the Registry Editor.

Step 12. Restart your computer to apply the changes.

After your computer restarts, check if the SATA drive is now correctly recognized as internal storage. It should no longer appear as removable media in your system.

If you have multiple internal drives being detected as removable media, repeat the steps for each affected drive.

Conclusion

By following these simple steps, you can resolve the issue of internal SATA drives being recognized as removable media on Windows 11, 10, or 8/8.1. Ensuring that your drives are correctly identified as internal storage helps prevent confusion and reduces the risk of data corruption or loss. If you encounter any difficulties or are unsure about making changes to the Registry, it is advisable to seek assistance from a knowledgeable individual or contact Microsoft support for further guidance.

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