Can't install Windows 7 64-bit on Samsung SM951 256GB NVMe M.2 SSD

Marine-RX179 · 21 Oct 2015 at 17:22

Having quite a bit of nightmare try to install Windows 7 onto the Samsung SM951 NVMe M.2 SSD.

Have tried using the Windows 7 DVD, as well as the USB Windows 7 bootable pendrive that I made booting in UEFI mode, and both approaches would see the Window installer reaching the part where we'd normally be able to see the list of hard-drive, only to be greeted with the message of driver is missing, and the SM951 NVMe M.2 SSD is not showing up.

I have read around it seem to be something to do with Windows 7 not having NVMe driver natively like Windows 8 and 10 do...anyone got and advice of what I should do?

Motherboard is the Asus Maximus VIII Gene, so it should have no issue with supporting NVMe. I have already updated bios to the latest version, which one of the release note mention improved compatability with Samsung M.2 drive.

stulid · 21 Oct 2015 at 17:40

Google brings a few fixes up.

You basically need to make Windows7 NVME ready,

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2990941

Or maybe get a NVME driver, place onto a USB stick and when at the strat of the install it says cant find a drive/where is a driver, point it to the file on the stick

Marine-RX179 · 21 Oct 2015 at 17:57

stulid said:
Google brings a few fixes up.

You basically need to make Windows7 NVME ready,

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2990941

Or maybe get a NVME driver, place onto a USB stick and when at the strat of the install it says cant find a drive/where is a driver, point it to the file on the stick

I've seen quite a few people and few places mentioning a "driver" that can be installed before the installation of the Windows, but no one seem to provide information regarding the exact driver file that I require for that stage. Any idea what driver I'd need, and where to get it?

stulid · 21 Oct 2015 at 18:02

I looked at the boards main page and nothing is there.

Try the Intel NVME driver?

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/do...ate-Drive-Data-Center-Family-for-NVMe-Drivers

All you are trying to do is get the OS to see the drive so it might work.

Marine-RX179 · 21 Oct 2015 at 22:16

stulid said:
I looked at the boards main page and nothing is there.

Try the Intel NVME driver?

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/do...ate-Drive-Data-Center-Family-for-NVMe-Drivers

All you are trying to do is get the OS to see the drive so it might work.

I have actually already tried that Intel Windows NVMe driver 1.3.0.1007 x32-x64.zip download, and with it extracted and even pointing to the Driver64 folder, it cannot find any usable driver.

The Samsung SM951 256GB NVMe SDD is actually for a new build for a friend, and I haven't connected any other SATA devices or any other HDD. The SM951 is the only storage drive connected.

wazza300 · 21 Oct 2015 at 22:46

anything for legacy devices in the bios? try enabling/disabling that then see if the stick shows up

stulid · 21 Oct 2015 at 23:11

http://download.intel.com/support/ssdc/hpssd/sb/nvme_boot_guide_332098001us.pdf

Try messing around with "csm" in the BIOS and setting UEFI, I know its Intel but you never know.

Marine-RX179 · 22 Oct 2015 at 07:42

Forgot to mention the bios see the SSD fine, it is just the windows 7 installer doesn't see it...

I will probably give the csm a mess about as stulid suggested when I have time.

Got the parts for nearly 3 weeks now and still haven't finished the build for my friend :/

FloppyPoppy · 22 Oct 2015 at 08:08

Can you not just install windows 10 instead?

EDIT : Or read this

Start on page 8

VKleita · 22 Oct 2015 at 08:22

harry5522 said:
Can you not just install windows 10 instead?

EDIT : Or read this Start on page 8

Nice find Harry!

Had a friend with similar issue, hopefully can just send him that doc and he can work it out!

Thanks!

m3csl2004 · 22 Oct 2015 at 18:38

In order to get my NVMe drive working with windows 7, I used a SATA SSD to install the OS, patch it with NVMe support, and then cloned it across using Acronis True Image.

Marine-RX179 · 23 Oct 2015 at 18:52

m3csl2004 said:
In order to get my NVMe drive working with windows 7, I used a SATA SSD to install the OS, patch it with NVMe support, and then cloned it across using Acronis True Image.

Could you give more information regarding this? Which exact patch you are referring to? Also is cloning the image across complicated or straight forward? (have never done it before).

johnew · 28 Nov 2015 at 03:25

Win7x64 NVMe Driver (Samsung SM951)

DISCLAIMER: I have never used this file yet but found it while looking for windows 7 X64 and Samsung NVMe Driver

USE AT OWN RISK:
==========================================================================
Look at this page for the Download links. Go down to G. Samsung NVMe Drivers (and open Spoiler)

http://www.win-raid.com/t29f25-Recommended-AHCI-RAID-and-NVMe-Drivers.html

Samsung NVMe driver v1.4.7.17 WHQL:
>Samsung NVMe Drivers & Installer Set v1.4.7.17 WHQL< (>MIRROR<)
>pure 32/64bit Samsung NVMe Drivers v1.4.7.17 WHQL< (>MIRROR<) thanks to 100PIER resp. tistou77 for the Installer Set and to morpheus67 for the pure driver files

Notes:
The included 32/64bit Samsung NVMe drivers are dated 12/11/2015, WHQL certified by Microsoft and designed for the Samsung NVMe SSDs models. Supported are all Windows Operating Systems from Win7 up. Further details about this driver can be found >here< at Samsung's Support page.