[SOLVED] Wondering if any know how to activate or unlock an M.2 slot left deactivated/locked by factory. HP Laptop 14 fq0010ca

[BarryMo67]

So on my searches I have only found 2 or 3 attempts (all no joy), of people trying to add an NVME SSD to the built in M.2 slot. As there are more then a few models that use the same Motherboard the Low end seems to come factory locked/disabled.
As the HP Laptop 14 fq0010ca is the low end or what HP Stream became after they dropped the Stream name, it's my latest Upgrade Project. I was half expecting this to be the case before starting, and I am almost 100% sure the same Upgrade workaround I used on my 2017 HP Stream, will also work here, but if there is a chance to use the available slot the faster access would be preferred. As the other way of using the WIFI/BT Module M.2 with adapter only allows for access to 1 lane of PCIe so will be slower then the slot made for an NVME SSD.

Some are thinking it is because the BIOS for the model is limited in it's options and Support, others think it may be missing bits up the data lines (diodes, fuses), so dead M.2 from factory.
If you have any clues, or info to follow I will Thank you in advance if you share or comment !! Heck even if you call me crazy Thank you !!!!!!!

Progress so far, as I am taking my time on this one,
Original Spec: HP Laptop 14 (2020 Model) AMD 3020e 64GB eMMC 4GB DDR4 Ram and a 1366 x768 Panel
Upgrade Spec when finished 1TB NVME SSD 16GB DDR4 RAM (already in 1 x 16) and a 1920 x 1080 IPS Panel
So this will be my my second Upgraded Stream in my growing collection, as the Streams have become my IBM ThinkPad obsession, hence the ok to call me crazy !!

 

[helpstar]

you could try to remove the emmc chip from the motherboard (desolder) and then use the m.2 slot to have a look if it´s recognized after that

 

[USAFRet]

An M.2 port can have many functions.

WiFi, NVMe, SATA....
Often, not ALL in one specific port.

It is simply the same size connection.
Does not mean that it can speak the relevant protocol.

 

[BarryMo67]

you could try to remove the emmc chip from the motherboard (desolder) and then use the m.2 slot to have a look if it´s recognized after that

Far more advanced then I can do. Thank you for the thought !!!

 

[BarryMo67]

An M.2 port can have many functions.

WiFi, NVMe, SATA....
Often, not ALL in one specific port.

It is simply the same size connection.
Does not mean that it can speak the relevant protocol.

Yes Sir 100% correct.
As I have already done this same Upgrade on a 2017, it is a simple matter of key change ( the job of the Adapter), WIFI/BT slot to NVME Slot. The down side is you are not fully using the NVME speed available.

 

[USAFRet]

Yes Sir 100% correct.
As I have already done this same Upgrade on a 2017, it is a simple matter of key change ( the job of the Adapter), WIFI/BT slot to NVME Slot. The down side is you are not fully using the NVME speed available.

And that significant downside might end up with a case of "why bother with an NVMe?"

 

[BarryMo67]

And that significant downside might end up with a case of "why bother with an NVMe?"

In my case, it just happens to be what I have on hand. Plus as I found in my research, there is a ZIF connection also available that is active but requires a flat cable and a 2.5" SATA drive. However it also requires removal of support plastic inside the body so a drive will fit. Being the shell is plastic I didn't want to risk cracks breaking through.

 

[USAFRet]

In my case, it just happens to be what I have on hand. Plus as I found in my research, there is a ZIF connection also available that is active but requires a flat cable and a 2.5" SATA drive. However it also requires removal of support plastic inside the body so a drive will fit. Being the shell is plastic I didn't want to risk cracks breaking through.

And if it is a SATA interface, at SATA speed....again...why bother with an NVMe?

Repurpose that NVMe drive elsewhere.

 

[BarryMo67]

And if it is a SATA interface, at SATA speed....again...why bother with an NVMe?

Repurpose that NVMe drive elsewhere.

As the swap of hardware is easy. To add the SATA requires risk on my part and so much more work. I do not have steady hands so to Dremel out the plastic tabs risks me blowing through the plastic body. There is alot of plastic to remove that is in the space the drive would fill.

 

[Bob.B]

In my case, it just happens to be what I have on hand. Plus as I found in my research, there is a ZIF connection also available that is active but requires a flat cable and a 2.5" SATA drive. However it also requires removal of support plastic inside the body so a drive will fit. Being the shell is plastic I didn't want to risk cracks breaking through.

If you already have the m.2 put it in the slot and test.

 

[BarryMo67]

If you already have the m.2 put it in the slot and test.

Yes I did that, and as it did not show up in BIOS, Explorer, or Disk Manager, is why I asked the question.

 

[BFG-9000]

I'm going to assume your 2017 method is replacing the WLAN card with SSD adapter and setting it to network boot first.

I'm pretty sure that is the only way, as there are many requests for bios-mods to enable the M.2 slot but none seem to have ever been supplied. Too bad as it would be useful even if not bootable, as you could workaround that with a USB boot or just use it as extra storage since the eMMC is so small.

Whitelisting WLAN cards is bad enough, but RAM amount and M.2 sounds like BMW wanting a subscription fee for the heated seats you already bought the hardware for.

 

[Bob.B]

Yes I did that, and as it did not show up in BIOS, Explorer, or Disk Manager, is why I asked the question.

Proper bios?

 

[BarryMo67]

I'm going to assume your 2017 method is replacing the WLAN card with SSD adapter and setting it to network boot first.

I'm pretty sure that is the only way, as there are many requests for bios-mods to enable the M.2 slot but none seem to have ever been supplied. Too bad as it would be useful even if not bootable, as you could workaround that with a USB boot or just use it as extra storage since the eMMC is so small.

Whitelisting WLAN cards is bad enough, but RAM amount and M.2 sounds like BMW wanting a subscription fee for the heated seats you already bought the hardware for.

On my 2017 (32GB) which does not support what Ivan's Stream Supports, as his was a 64GB model.
As HP requires Boot to happen from eMMC (BIOS locked to eMMC), it otherwise throws an error of "No Boot Device Found", I use a Boot Manager Duet with rEFInd.
For a couple of reasons, Duet with rEFInd mainly it provides NVME drives with a support driver, as HP Streams do not support NVME Natively. It also starts as a Bootable USB Thumb Drive to allow Install and initial booting. Once the eMMC is wiped clean it can be partitioned into 2 drives with Disk Manager, a 150MB Boot Drive, and the Rest as Fat32 Storage like a built in SD Card.
You simply copy the EFI folder from the Thumb Drive of Duet with rEFInd to the 150 MB Partition, then in Disk Manager Remove the drive letter of the 150MB partition so it basically becomes like a system partition. The BIOS boots Duet with rEFInd from eMMC and you select Windows tap enter and your off to the races.
HP Stream Booting to NVME SSD

 

[BarryMo67]

Proper bios?

Standard HP BIOS that came with the Laptop no hacks or mods made. As said in first post the Model I have is the Low End model, this same Motherboard is used in higher end also. They have use of the M.2 slot, low end is locked out.
BFG-9000 just said above No BIOS Mods seem to be available, so I will go the WIFI/BT Module swap for Adapter method. If someone gets the built in M.2 slot working later I can always switch back.

 

[Bob.B]

Standard HP BIOS that came with the Laptop no hacks or mods made. As said in first post the Model I have is the Low End model, this same Motherboard is used in higher end also. They have use of the M.2 slot, low end is locked out.
BFG-9000 just said above No BIOS Mods seem to be available, so I will go the WIFI/BT Module swap for Adapter method. If someone gets the built in M.2 slot working later I can always switch back.

If there is a newer bios you might want to try it.....it's free.

 

[BarryMo67]

If there is a newer bios you might want to try it.....it's free.

One of the search results I did a bit ago, the person attempting to also get the M.2 active Upgraded and downgraded his BIOS. No Joy.
HP is not going to release a BIOS Update that will allow a lower model to catch up to a Higher Model. This is a True statement for HP as The Official HP Support Community site has 100's of posts asking if my 2017 HP Stream 32 GB eMMC can be Upgraded, HP Standard answer is "No". As allowing for Upgrade cuts into sales of newer models.

 

[BarryMo67]

If a Mod happens to read, this topic can be closed or marked solved, I was looking to see if there was an option for me to close it. Thanks to any who gave ideas or info!!!!!
So a quick couple of Updates, and I will start with the shocking one, An HP Service Rep actually gave a straight forward honest answer on the HP Support Website 😮. Yes indeed the M.2 slot is D.O.A. for low end models with eMMC installed. Would require soldering and parts to bring it to life + wiring diagram.

I used the same method to bypass the eMMC as I used on the 2017 HP Stream, WIFI key change adapter, however no need to step around the BIOS with a boot manager, Windows picked up the SSD no need to preload driver. Windows installed No issues. So eMMC is wiped and formatted as just extra built in storage.
This leaves only the display swap of 1366 x 768 to a 1920 x 1080 IPS Panel.
So that is 2 HP Streams kept out of e-waste, upgraded and ready to rock for a few more years. Oh well call me crazy but I had fun and learned and didn't spend a whole bunch cash.