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Fresh Windows 10 install on brand-new HP ENVY cg100 CTO (11th gen i7 2021 model) using new M.2

Anonymous
2020-12-22T01:51:50+00:00

HP installs an M.2 Optane 512Gb in this new laptop which is not sufficient for my needs. I bought a Sabrent Rocket NVMe 4.0 2TB M.2 and installed it. The laptop's BIOS detects the new SSD just fine. When I boot from USB and begin the Windows install process, the setup does not see any drives to install Windows onto. The laptop does not have a "legacy" option, only UEFI.

Here's what I have done so far:

Turned off "Secure Boot" in BIOS

Tried loading various Intel RST drivers.

Opened DISKPART|List Disk (it only sees the USB drive I booted from)

Installed a regular 2.5" SSD in the laptop bay (again, BIOS detects it correctly, but windows setup does not see it)

Made sure BIOS and other firmware was up to date

Deconcatinated Optane SSD before removing it.

This Sabrent M.2 SSD should work. The 2.5" Toshiba SSD should work... but Windows setup just doesn't see it.

Windows setup USB drive was made with media creation tool 5 days ago.

I'm puzzled. What am I missing here?

Jeff Miller

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Install and upgrade

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-12-22T18:15:06+00:00

    Greg, Thanks for the post however as it turns out, there was nothing wrong with the media.

    Also if you read my first post, I mentioned that I tried Diskpart and nothing was listed.

    It isn't an NVMe issue either.

    Here's what it turned out to be:

    11th Generation Intel systems (i5, i7, i9) and the chipsets that support them now REQUIRE RST (Intel's Rapid Storage Technology) drivers in order to install Windows. Microsoft Windows setup (20H2 or earlier) does not "see" the hardware on 11th gen systems. Furthermore, there is no provision for "legacy" or UEFI-recognized drives that do not natively use RST drivers, that is, non-intel made SSDs. (I'd hardly call the 'bleeding edge' Sabrent Rocket NVMe 4.0 a "legacy" SSD...)  That said, I found an article (link below) buried in HP's support site that explains what to do, however, the article isn't complete. I will note below what else is needed:

    https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c06983517

    So the above page is very helpful and gets you on the right track however it mentions the F6 folder. What it does not say is that the F6 folder has two subfolders; x64 and VMD. While x64 seems like the logical choice it isn't the one you want. Select VMD and the driver that worked for me was the one marked 9aB. Also, make sure that your BIOS boot order is set with the USB boot device in second place, not first as logic may tell you... since once Windows setup boots the first time if the USB is first in BIOS Boot order, it will not be able to communicate with your new SSD and complete setup.

    I presume that this will be the case for all 11th gen systems. It would make sense to me that, going forward, Windows setup should have the means to detect this, load the appropriate driver and move on with the setup since this is not a RAID setup, per se. Otherwise less experienced folks are going to have a heck of a time figuring this out.

    Also note that I deconcatinated the factory-installed Optane SSD prior to removing it. This may also be required before installing a non-optane SSD. To do this you will need to either run Intel's RST application inside of Windows, or there may be a means to do it inside your BIOS (I had to use the app as my BIOS did not have the ability to do it.)

    Jeff Miller

    CTO & Systems Engineer, L2SI

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  1. Anonymous
    2021-05-25T17:09:27+00:00

    It's end of may 2021, may, 25 2021 to be precise. Tiger lake CPUs are out in the wild since october 2020. Yet here's me with asus UX425EA and intel 660p series nvme ssd with exactly the same issue. Microsoft doesn't include latest Intel RST drivers with support of intel's VMD technology into their distributions. Yes right now you can go create installation disk from their media creation tool 20H2, and it will not see intel ssd , which requires this VMD drivers. Only after you go to intel site and download their latest (at the moment) RST VMD with support of optan and RAID drivers 

    https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/30314/Intel-Rapid-Storage-Technology-Driver-Installation-Software-with-Intel-Optane-Memory-10th-and-11th-Gen-Platforms-

    and load them, you'll be able to continue with microsoft windows installation. Why is it so hard to include those drivers by default? Old RST drivers are not enough , you need drivers with intel's new VMD (volume management device) support.

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-12-22T04:46:09+00:00

    Hey Jeff. I'm Greg, an eleven years awarded MVP, Volunteer Moderator, and Independent Advisor here to help you until this is resolved.

    If no drives are seen it sounds like bad media. Test it in another PC to see if it will queue up and show drives at the selection screen.

    There are also some special steps for NvME drives here:

    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

    If nothing else I give helps check the health of the drive as we do see bad new SSD's here regularly: https://www.percona.com/blog/2017/02/09/using-n...

    _________________

    TROUBLESHOOT INSTALLATION:

    I will give you all possible steps to troubleshoot Windows installation failure which work in about 90% of cases. If not we'll go from there:

    Follow the illustrated Clean Install steps in this tutorial which compiles the best possible install that will stay that way as long as you stick with the tools and methods given: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

    Make sure all other drives and peripherals are unplugged. Update the BIOS or UEFI firmware to latest, or reset to Defaults, making sure (if you have it) UEFI is enabled, CSM or Legacy BIOS disabled, Windows Boot Manager set first to boot, if necessary disable Secure and Fast Boot until after install, set SATA controller to AHCI, Save changes and Exit. Access BIOS/UEFI Setup as shown here: https://www.mydigitallife.net/comprehensive-lis...

    https://www.groovypost.com/howto/reset-pc-bios-...

    Create the latest Windows 10 Installation Media by installing Media Creation Tool and following the directions here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m.... If you're using another PC to do this uncheck the box for Recommended Settings to choose the exact version and bit rate for the target PC only.

    Insert media, boot it by powering up PC while pressing the BIOS Boot Menu Key: https://www.sysnative.com/forums/hardware-tutor...

    If the media won't boot you may need to enter BIOS/UEFI Setup (pressing key given in chart in link above) to turn off Fast Boot or Fast Startup first. If you can start Windows enter UEFI firmware here: http://www.isunshare.com/windows-password/four-...

    The media may also be bad, so confirm it boots and queues up per these steps in another PC, or else recreate it. You can also try a DVD, or the alternate download site from MS TechBench here: https://tb.rg-adguard.net/public.php. Burn to DVD using WIndows Image Burner or create bootable flash using one of the options here: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2376-create...

    Choose the boot device as a UEFI device if offered, on first screen press Shift + F10 to open a Command Prompt, type the following commands, each followed by Enter key:

    DISKPART

    LIST DISK

    SEL DIS # (replace # with the disk # of the Windows disk from list in previous command)

    CLEAN

    EXIT

    Close Command Box, on second screen choose Install Now, then Custom Install, then at the drive selection screen choose Unallocated Space, click Next to let it create needed partitions and start install - this makes it foolproof.

    Make sure to follow the setup steps in the first link tutorial to complete your install. Drivers are important enough that those steps are printed in red.

    You will get and keep the best possible install to the exact extent you stick with the steps, tools and methods in the first linked tutorial. It's a better install than any amount of money could buy and a great learning experience that will make you the master of your PC.

    If all else fails you can move the hard drive to another PC to do the install with it plugged in alone. Windows 10 is remarkably adaptive to new hardware without needing adaptive restore. If it will start it will swap out all drivers requiring several restarts. You can also try applying a same-version System Image to the intact SSD/hard drive.

    I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

    ________________________________________________________

    Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-12-22T23:56:15+00:00

    We may need to clear up your system's configuration.  Optane is memory used in conjunction with an M.2 SATA or PCIe drive.

    I don't have a system like that so not really familiar with how it is configured.  The newer Intel drivers are a combination SATA/PCIe compatibility so it might depend how the M.2 slot is configured for the SSD in the Bios regarding the SATA controller.

    I think, if I looked at the correct system, HP offers a 512 GB NVMe drive + 32 GB of Optane memory.   Make sure you are using an UEFI version of the boot media so the system can see the NVMe drive and load the SATA drivers during the install..

    Once you confirm you configuration and Bios settings, maybe we can get it straightened out.  If it does have Optane memory, I assume the SATA controller is set to RAID..

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-12-22T20:39:43+00:00

    Jeff -

    Thanks for the update on this important issue, and I agree the driver should be already loaded into Windows Media. If you want to suggest this to Microsoft use the Feedback Hub app in Start Menu where developers are tasked to process consumer feedback and may interact with you. But Microsoft will not even see it here because this is a tech forums where we are mostly volunteers trying to help solve your problems.

    If you want to post back a Share link from your completed feedback (see Share link in feedback box) others who find this thread can vote it up and add to it.

    We haven't changed Boot Order in UEFI setup since UEFI was tested in beta in thousands of cases at Seven Forums. Windows Boot Manager must always be set first to boot in UEFI installs or flash stick will auto-restart installation at the restart during install. Use only the BIOS Boot Menu key.

    What is your opinion on M2 Optane you replaced on this HP?

    Thank you again for this addition to the knowledge base on NvME M2.

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