M. 2 960 Evo install issues windows 7

SniperDude · 9 Mar 2017 at 20:34

As above

get as far as windows knowing it don't have a driver for the M. 2 device but when I select browse it comes up with boot X i not my USB stick with the driver on it

All I need is why is it showing this boot x instead of my USB files

Big.Wayne · 9 Mar 2017 at 23:31

Boot X will always be there but you should also see your USB drive showing under a separate drive letter?

That's rather odd that the Windows installer can't see the USB drive it is running from? . . .

SniperDude · 10 Mar 2017 at 12:33

I know it's mad lol I've seen videos that it's a known issue with gigabyte and gigabyte have created a tool that will slip stream drivers into the windows install... I tried that but it didn't help... But I will try again later. And update this thread as it might help some other member.

Big.Wayne · 10 Mar 2017 at 12:50

Hmm I was going to say it may be that you were loading windows 7 from DVD and the USB drive hadn't appeared but if you are actually loading Windows 7 from a USB drive but you can't access files/folders on said USB drive something weird is going on? . . . I'm running an ASUS Z97 chipset so maybe it's different?

I did some quick testing for you using multiple flash drives plugged in and the Windows 7 installer can see all the USB drives, both FAT32 and NTFS, each being assigned their own drive letter along with drive X.

Grasping at straws here but was the Windows 7 USB installation drive created using the MS tool? and also could there be some setting in the BIOS to do with USB initialization? I'm thinking maybe the USB drive isn't being fully initialized, just enough to get the install going but not enough to be assigned a drive letter? . . . or perhaps there is just something weird with the actual physical USB drive? have you got another to test just in case the unit you are using is flaky?

Good luck, let us know the fix!

SniperDude · 10 Mar 2017 at 14:48

No I have tried the gigabyte tool for it that actually creates the flash drive from a Windows iso and adds the drivers to the windows install.

I also tried another tool but can't remember its name.

Will try again later and update

Edit.... This is what's going on gigabyte explain the problem

Thinking about it I may have tried the tool for z170 chipset I have z270
will have to try again

Big.Wayne · 10 Mar 2017 at 18:41

Ok I think I understand now, this is an issue with the latest Gigabyte boards when installing Windows 7 from a USB device only. The Windows installer doesn't have the correct Gigabyte driver to make the USB work properly. If installing Windows 7 from DVD this issue doesn't occur . . . except I guess if you are using a Samsung 960 EVO NVMe drive and your drivers are also on the Windows 7 USB drive!

That Gigabyte USB tool says it supports both Z170/Z270 chipsets, it also has the option to include NVMe drivers which is handy. Hopefully you can get it sorted now!

SniperDude · 11 Mar 2017 at 01:46

Yes its sorted now I did 3 things at the same time so I am not sure what one sorted it lol

I downloaded the latest version of the Gigabyte USB tool from the utilities section for my motherboard
and used it to create a fresh windows install on the USB drive (This time clicking all 3 options ...add USB drivers ....add NVMe drivers....add packages)

Then instead of using the front USB 2.0 ports I used the rear ports have no idea what one tho.

then I was able install and to add my samsung 960 drivers normally

cheers for the replying Wayne