[SOLVED] Unable to boot SSD

[finner44]

Hi there. I recently purchased an M.2 NVME SSD, and am using a PCIE 3.0 adapter. I installed the windows 10 media creation tool on a USB stick, and followed the steps to install Win10 on my SSD.
When I try to boot back up (with the USB removed) all I get is a black screen telling me to reboot and select proper boot device. Unfortunately, I cannot see or select the SSD from my boot menu whatsoever. I have a Gigabyte GA-H77 DS3H motherboard from around 2013. I've tried tinkering with the boot options, but to no avail. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[extreme_noob]

What exactly do you mean by PCIE 3.0 adapter? Like a PCI-e x16 to M.2?

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

You won't be able to use it as a Boot Drive...Sorry.

 

[alexoiu]

Hi there. I recently purchased an M.2 NVME SSD, and am using a PCIE 3.0 adapter. I installed the windows 10 media creation tool on a USB stick, and followed the steps to install Win10 on my SSD.
When I try to boot back up (with the USB removed) all I get is a black screen telling me to reboot and select proper boot device. Unfortunately, I cannot see or select the SSD from my boot menu whatsoever. I have a Gigabyte GA-H77 DS3H motherboard from around 2013. I've tried tinkering with the boot options, but to no avail. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hi, Similar here: https://forums.tomshardware.com/thr...e-recognized-as-a-boot-drive-in-bios.3559033/
I posted some links. See if helping.

 

[finner44]

You won't be able to use it as a Boot Drive...Sorry.

Could you be more specific as to why I cant use it as a boot drive? I'm looking for a solution. If i need to buy a new motherboard and use my m.2 SSD without an adapter, that's fine as well. I just want to know what I can do to make this M.2 SSD my primary boot device for Windows 10.

 

[USAFRet]

Could you be more specific as to why I cant use it as a boot drive? I'm looking for a solution. If i need to buy a new motherboard and use my m.2 SSD without an adapter, that's fine as well. I just want to know what I can do to make this M.2 SSD my primary boot device for Windows 10.

The Z77 era boards came out long before NVMe drives were a thing. As such, they don't know how to converse with them properly.
The BIOS has no facility to boot from one.

Even in an adapter in a PCIe slot.

What will this system be used for?
Contrary to popular beliefs, NVMe drives are not always 'faster' than SATA III SSD's.
Yes, the benchmarks show much bigger numbers.
The user facing benefit can be much much smaller.

 

[finner44]

The Z77 era boards came out long before NVMe drives were a thing. As such, they don't know how to converse with them properly.
The BIOS has no facility to boot from one.

Even in an adapter in a PCIe slot.

What will this system be used for?
Contrary to popular beliefs, NVMe drives are not always 'faster' than SATA III SSD's.
Yes, the benchmarks show much bigger numbers.
The user facing benefit can be much much smaller.

So if I were to buy a newer motherboard with an M.2 slot, would I be able to boot from it then? Or if I purchased a smaller SATA3 SSD and used that to boot off of, and my M.2 drive for general storage, would that work?

Thank you for your more detailed response

 

[USAFRet]

So if I were to buy a newer motherboard with an M.2 slot, would I be able to boot from it then? Or if I purchased a smaller SATA3 SSD and used that to boot off of, and my M.2 drive for general storage, would that work?

Thank you for your more detailed response

A newer motherboard would need new CPU and possibly new RAM.
In effect, a new PC.

Even with boards 2 generations newer, Z97, support for booting from an NVMe drive in a PCIe adapter was spotty.

A SATA III SSD connected to a regular SATA port on the motherboard. That will absolutely work.
That is exactly how my system is configured. (parts and drive list below).

 

[finner44]

A newer motherboard would need new CPU and possibly new RAM.
In effect, a new PC.

Even with boards 2 generations newer, Z97, support for booting from an NVMe drive in a PCIe adapter was spotty.

A SATA III SSD connected to a regular SATA port on the motherboard. That will absolutely work.
That is exactly how my system is configured. (parts and drive list below).

I suppose the easiest option would be to buy a SATA3 SSD then I suppose. It would sure be a hassle to return this SSD to the online retailer I bought it from and so I'm trying to avoid that option if I can. In my opinion, getting a new motherboard would be better in the long run do to future compatibility issues, no? If I got another Intel board, I could continue using my current processor, but may need new RAM. Money is not a huge conern.

 

[Nemesia]

I suppose the easiest option would be to buy a SATA3 SSD then I suppose. It would sure be a hassle to return this SSD to the online retailer I bought it from and so I'm trying to avoid that option if I can. In my opinion, getting a new motherboard would be better in the long run do to future compatibility issues, no? If I got another Intel board, I could continue using my current processor, but may need new RAM. Money is not a huge conern.

If money isn't a concert than go for a new board, cpu and ram. There are some amazing deal at the moment. It wouldn't break the bank either. A good Ryzen 7/9 with some good DDR4 RAM and a decent board.

 

[USAFRet]

I suppose the easiest option would be to buy a SATA3 SSD then I suppose. It would sure be a hassle to return this SSD to the online retailer I bought it from and so I'm trying to avoid that option if I can. In my opinion, getting a new motherboard would be better in the long run do to future compatibility issues, no? If I got another Intel board, I could continue using my current processor, but may need new RAM. Money is not a huge conern.

Keeping that CPU means the same generation motherboard chipset means the same non boot from this NVMe drive.

You can use that drive as a secondary in a PCIe adapter with no problem.

If you're currently using a spinning HDD, just go for a new SATA SSD.
Crucial MX500 or Samsung 860 EVO. Huge performance increase over the spinning HDD.

 

[finner44]

A newer motherboard would need new CPU and possibly new RAM.
In effect, a new PC.

Even with boards 2 generations newer, Z97, support for booting from an NVMe drive in a PCIe adapter was spotty.

A SATA III SSD connected to a regular SATA port on the motherboard. That will absolutely work.
That is exactly how my system is configured. (parts and drive list below).

Sorry for the double reply, but in relation to my question earlier, can this M.2 SSD be used at all

Keeping that CPU means the same generation motherboard chipset means the same non boot from this NVMe drive.

You can use that drive as a secondary in a PCIe adapter with no problem.

If you're currently using a spinning HDD, just go for a new SATA SSD.
Crucial MX500 or Samsung 860 EVO. Huge performance increase over the spinning HDD.

So just to clarify, if I got a SATA3 SSD to boot windows, I could use all of my existing hardware including to M.2 SSD in a PCIE adapter for other things? I'm just confused as to whether my computer does not at all support the NVME M.2, or if it just doesn't support it as a boot device.

Thank you all so much for your help. I've been pulling my hair out for hours over this.

 

[USAFRet]

So just to clarify, if I got a SATA3 SSD to boot windows, I could use all of my existing hardware including to M.2 SSD in a PCIE adapter for other things? I'm just confused as to whether my computer does not at all support the NVME M.2, or if it just doesn't support it as a boot device.

Thank you all so much for your help. I've been pulling my hair out for hours over this.

Yes.
You can use a SATA III SSD to boot from, and that M.2 drive in a PCIe adapter as a secondary drive.

With an Intel 660p drive, I have this adapter for exactly that purpose:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GFDVXVJ