Samsung 950 Pro not detected on Asus Z170-A in bios or windows

[rotaman]

I'm having a hell of a time trying to install windows 10 via usb to a Samsung 950 Pro on an Asus Z170-A motherboard.

My system setup:
Intel i7-6700k
Asus Z170-A
EVGA Gtx 1080
16 GB dual channel gskill ram

My USB is a UEFI boot drive of windows 10. My bios is the latest version 2202.

I have changed the following setttings in all combinations:

CSM - auto, enabled, disabled
Secure boot - Windows UEFI mode, Other OS
Key management - cleared all keys, default keys
SATA Mode Configuration - SATA Express, M.2
PCI-EX16_3 - Auto, x4

I've tried going through the windows installer and installing the Samsung NVME drivers with each installation attempt with no luck. I have still yet to see any evidence that the system sees the M.2 drive at all.

I have reflashed the bios, cleared cmos, and tried a different M.2 drive with no success. Asus support is suggesting it may be a problem with the M.2 slot itself. Going to install windows on an external drive and see if I can at the very least see the M.2 drive with drivers installed. Looking for any input before I send the board back.

Edit December 16, 2016.

Installed windows on a HDD and tried to install Samsung NVME drivers. It refuses the install because it detects no drive present. Also in device manager nothing comes up under storage controllers. As a matter of fact, no unknown hardware comes up at all.

I'm confident the board m.2 socket or the samsung nvme drive is bad. Since another M.2 drive wasn't showing up either, I'd bet it is the socket itself. I'll try to RMA the board tomorrow. Does anyone have some thoughts on this?

 

[Multipack]

The SATA 1 and 2 (SATA Express) slots share bandwidth with your M2 drive. Make sure you dont have any hard drives plugged into those two slots.

To be doubly sure you could disable those two ports in your BIOS.

 

[rotaman]

The SATA 1 and 2 (SATA Express) slots share bandwidth with your M2 drive. Make sure you dont have any hard drives plugged into those two slots.

To be doubly sure you could disable those two ports in your BIOS.

The HDD was in slot 3, moved to slot 4, disabled the other two in bios with no success. Tried the newest bios version just released yesterday. Still no luck.

Also the 950 pro is PCIe based, wouldn't it be sharing bandwidth with the PCIe lanes?

I appreciate the input.

 

[Multipack]

No SATA Express is the new (redundant) bus that shares chipset PCIE lanes with NVME. The CPU provides the PCIE lanes for GPU. Check this image

Have you checked it's properly clipped in? I know it's a dumb question but is worht checking. I was surprised how much force an NVME needed to clip in. I doubt it's a faulty board just because your BIOS didnt recognize two different NVME's. Is more likely related to settings/compatibility.

It is a common problem though, and you see this problem on here a lot. Look for any settings in BIOS relating to M2. You may need to change the PCIE M2 setting from Auto for example. It wouldn't hurt re-flashing your BIOS again too.

 

[rotaman]

No SATA Express is the new (redundant) bus that shares chipset PCIE lanes with NVME. The CPU provides the PCIE lanes for GPU. Check this image

Have you checked it's properly clipped in? I know it's a dumb question but is worht checking. I was surprised how much force an NVME needed to clip in. I doubt it's a faulty board just because your BIOS didnt recognize two different NVME's. Is more likely related to settings/compatibility.

It is a common problem though, and you see this problem on here a lot. Look for any settings in BIOS relating to M2. You may need to change the PCIE M2 setting from Auto for example. It wouldn't hurt re-flashing your BIOS again too.

That was exactly it, it wasn't pushed in far enough. It really installs like sodimm memory in laptops. I feel like a clown. I really appreciate the help though. Looking forward to using this finally.

 

[Multipack]

Haha phew. Thought we were gonna be here all night lol. Am just glad you got it sorted. That's all that matters.