[SOLVED] SSD not "bootable" from BIOS

[leandrocm86]

Hi. I have an SSD XPG S41 TUF, which I'm trying to use on a B85M-D3PH mobo through a PCI-e adapter.
The SSD is seen by the system when I boot through a Live USB, and also by the Window's installer. Both the Live Linux and Window's installer are able to write data on it, but the BIOS seems to ignore the drive as a boot option.
I've read some other posts with advices regarding disabling CSM and enabling UEFI, but none of that worked. What else could it be?

 

[Bob.B]

Hi. I have an SSD XPG S41 TUF, which I'm trying to use on a B85M-D3PH mobo through a PCI-e adapter.
The SSD is seen by the system when I boot through a Live USB, and also by the Window's installer. Both the Live Linux and Window's installer are able to write data on it, but the BIOS seems to ignore the drive as a boot option.
I've read some other posts with advices regarding disabling CSM and enabling UEFI, but none of that worked. What else could it be?

Unplug all disk except this ssd.

Boot the windows install flash stick and install windows on the ssd.

Remove the flash stick and see if you can boot from the ssd.

 

[leandrocm86]

Unplug all disk except this ssd.

Boot the windows install flash stick and install windows on the ssd.

Remove the flash stick and see if you can boot from the ssd.

I did it. Actually there isn't even another drive in this PC. This ssd will be the only drive.

 

[BFG-9000]

Booting from NVMe requires BIOS support, without it means you can only use it as a storage drive. A number of manufacturers have added support in later BIOS revisions for Haswell chipsets like B85, or it is also possible to add the missing NVMe module into your UEFI with a BIOS mod.

 

[Bob.B]

I did it. Actually there isn't even another drive in this PC. This ssd will be the only drive.

Perhaps the best thing to do is get a 2.5 ssd and use a sata port.

 

[USAFRet]

A B85 motherboard is highly unlikely to be able to boot from a drive in a PCIe adapter.

And even if you could get a fancy NVMe drive to boot up, you'd see little or no difference vs a SATA III SSD. Which is natively bootable.

As above, get a 2.5" SATA III SSD, and use that.

 

[leandrocm86]

Booting from NVMe requires BIOS support, without it means you can only use it as a storage drive. A number of manufacturers have added support in later BIOS revisions for Haswell chipsets like B85, or it is also possible to add the missing NVMe module into your UEFI with a BIOS mod.

I guess you nailed it. I thought that BIOS support was for both storage and boot at the same time, I didn't know it could use a disk as storage but not boot from it.

 

[leandrocm86]

A B85 motherboard is highly unlikely to be able to boot from a drive in a PCIe adapter.

And even if you could get a fancy NVMe drive to boot up, you'd see little or no difference vs a SATA III SSD. Which is natively bootable.

As above, get a 2.5" SATA III SSD, and use that.

I guess you're right. Since I was able to use it as storage, I assumed it should be bootable too, which seems not to be the case.
I was trying to build a PC from spare parts and that's what I had. I'm not too worried with performance. Plus, I like that NVE requires no cables and looks so neat.
But now it seems I will have to find a 2.5" to boot. That's ok too, I guess my nephew has one eating dust.

 

[BFG-9000]

You could ask around on a BIOS mod forum for someone to insert the NVMe module into your Gigabyte UEFI for you if you don't want to DIY.

Generally it's only boards that come with a NVMe M.2 slot that include this, which is why it was so surprising for Asrock to update all their B85/Z87 BIOSes to include it.

 

[USAFRet]

You could ask around on a BIOS mod forum for someone to insert the NVMe module into your Gigabyte UEFI for you if you don't want to DIY.

Generally it's only boards that come with a NVMe M.2 slot that include this, which is why it was so surprising for Asrock to update all their B85/Z87 BIOSes to include it.

And even then, I wouldn't bother on this board.

Of the 3x PCIe slots, only 1 is PCIe 3.0.
The others, 2.0

If that PCIe 3.0 slot is consumed by a GPU, then the PCIe adapter and NVme drive are further hampered.

While in some cases a thing can be done, it is not always beneficial to jump through hoops to actually do it.

 

[leandrocm86]

You could ask around on a BIOS mod forum for someone to insert the NVMe module into your Gigabyte UEFI for you if you don't want to DIY.

Generally it's only boards that come with a NVMe M.2 slot that include this, which is why it was so surprising for Asrock to update all their B85/Z87 BIOSes to include it.

And even then, I wouldn't bother on this board.

Of the 3x PCIe slots, only 1 is PCIe 3.0.
The others, 2.0

If that PCIe 3.0 slot is consumed by a GPU, then the PCIe adapter and NVme drive are further hampered.

While in some cases a thing can be done, it is not always beneficial to jump through hoops to actually do it.

I just found a BIOS mod that enables boot from NVE. Since it's just putting it on a pendrive and flashing, I'm thinking it may worth a try.
But the PCIe version is a good point. I do intend to use a GPU, but it's a 1050 Ti. Would there be any harm to use it on the PCIe2? I've read somewhere that even a 1060 didn't have enough bandwith for PCIe3.

 

[USAFRet]

I just found a BIOS mod that enables boot from NVE. Since it's just putting it on a pendrive and flashing, I'm thinking it may worth a try.
But the PCIe version is a good point. I do intend to use a GPU, but it's a 1050 Ti. Would there be any harm to use it on the PCIe2? I've read somewhere that even a 1060 didn't have enough bandwith for PCIe3.

Well, any BIOS update is a potential hazard.
3rd party, even more so.

If you feel confident, go for it.

 

[SkyNetRising]

I just found a BIOS mod that enables boot from NVE. Since it's just putting it on a pendrive and flashing, I'm thinking it may worth a try.

Risky update.
If something goes wrong with flash process you'll end with bricked motherboard.