Windows 7 + NVME booting/working fine but can't get s.m.a.r.t. to work

[fierygt]

Hello, as the title says, I am trying to get s.m.a.r.t. to work. I have windows 7 booting from the nvme just fine, and seems to be working at full speed, but nothing I try will get s.m.a.r.t. functioning. I've tried a couple of different drivers that are supposed to be for that nvme but one seems to not change anything and the other one bsod. Is there something else besides a specific driver for the nvme that I should try? Motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-h170 Gaming 3. I peeled back the sticker to figure out the controller for the NVME, though I can't find any specific driver for it. Thanks

 

[SIW2]

View attachment samsung-nvme3-generic-community.zip

merge the reg file first

 

[fierygt]

Dang, that worked, thanks! I been racking my brain for a couple days trying to figure out what was going on. Never would have even thought to use a Samsung driver here.

While I was working on that, I realized this motherboard looks like it has some hardware limitations on the m.2/sata ports. If I use both m.2 ports it looks like it will limit my sata ports. You seem to be a pretty good guru...know any workarounds for that? I have a feeling that's just the way it is with the hardware, but you did solve the other problem Thanks again.

 

[SIW2]

You could put a pcie to nvme adapter in a pcie x4 slot. Check your motherboard manual . It might be worth getting a gen 4 adapter they are backward compatible with gen 3 pcie slots.

 

[fierygt]

Yeah, that was my backup plan. I have a singular m.2 to pci-e expansion sitting around, so i'll test that first. Will that Samsung driver you provided work with pretty much any nvme? Thanks for the help. I did a search for my original problem first before I posted, and tried some of your other solutions, like the hotfixes for the nvme, but they didn't help, so I had to post.

 

[SIW2]

Yes it should recognize any nvme. It is useful for lesser known brands.

However windows 7 needs the two nvme hofixes first then the community driver.

 

[fierygt]

Ok, thanks. Any recommendations on pci-e to nvme adapter? I can't really find any bifurcation setting in my motherboard but I might be overlooking it. How crappy would this ebay one be and think it would work? https://ebay.us/m/i8yOQv

 

[SIW2]

Use a single adapter such as this

GLOTRENDS PA09-HS M.2 NVMe to PCIe 4.0 X4 Adapter with M.2 Heatsink for M2 NVMe SSD