Installing new W7 onto Samsung 970 Evo NVMe M.2: possible method?

[teckneeculler]

I'm building a new W7 PC with a 250GB Samsung 970 Evo NVMe M.2 SSD boot drive.

From what I'm reading online, it seems that this might be a complicated process.

It's occurred to me that an easier method might be to install Windows onto a conventional SATA HDD, add all the necessary updates and drivers, then clone it to the SSD.


Comments?

 

[MeOnMine]

Hi, I load Operating Systems to SATA and NVME M.2's all day every day for my work.
It is no different to loading to SSD or HDD's albeit a little faster.
Just disconnect all other drive's and use your prefered media to load Windows to it.
Then all Drivers starting with Chipset and a reboot.
Once your Device Manager tree is looking complete, re-connect other drives and load your prefered software.
For myself I would also be taking strategic Images on the way just so if I stuff up I can put my OS drive back to a better position to continue to loading.


Good Luck


WayneB

 

[Megahertz07]

On new systems, the main problem isn't the 970 Evo NVMe but the MB chipset.
CoffeeLake CPU and chipsets aren't compatible with Win 7 as the previous SkyLake and CabyLake.
On a CoffeeLake you don't have Win7 drivers for internal graphics and USB, so you wont have mouse & keyboard. You have to install a graphics and USB cards.

 

[teckneeculler]

Thanks, guys.
MeOnMine: Problem is, the Samsung 970 isn't recognized by the BIOS, so I don't see how I can load the system. Unless, as I said, I load the system onto a regular SATA drive then clone it to the SSD.
Megahertz07: I didn't know that about CoffeeLake, durn it. The CPU actually is a Coffee Lake Core i5 8400 6 Core LGA 1151 and the board is an Asus Prime H3730-M Plus.
Gawd! I can't contemplate installing W10. I'd rather eat toads stools

 

[Megahertz07]

Unfortunately, M$ and partners are pushing hard towards Win 10 (and Linux) and with time they will succeed on killing Win 7.

The 970 Evo NVMe M.2 isn't listed as a SATA SSD. On my GA-Z170-HD3P BIOS, my SM951 M.2 it is listed on a dedicated tab.

 

[MeOnMine]

Hi, in response.
Why would a M/B with a M.2 socket not be recognized by the BIOS and or Chipset.
Unless, the plot thickens and you are using a M.2 - PCIE adaptor.
But you are not, as already stated you are using a gen 8 M/B.
If you M/B has 2 x sockets for M.2 then you will find that only 1 of these will support NVME, usually the one away from the CPU (at the bottom) This can very and is shown in the manual and on the M/B if you look close.
I believe you can get around the win 10 dedicated syndrome but yes you need some skills.
I too can not digest the Win 10 idea, besides the telemetry it is the no Windows Media Centre that kills me.
WMC is some of the best software M$ have produced and then they kill it.
M$ sounds like a government some times hey!

 

[teckneeculler]

MeOnMine: You asked, 'Why would a M/B with a M.2 socket not be recognized by the BIOS and or Chipset?'
I assume you meant, 'Why would an M2 drive not be recognized by the BIOS on this motherboard?'
I have no idea, but I've seen it mentioned online, several times. Tom's Hardware, IIRC.

Anyway, I can try the other M.2 socket. (And no, I'm not using a M.2 - PCIE adaptor)