Unable to install Samsung NVM express driver

Coojeekitten · 13 Apr 2020 at 09:52

I have installed server Samsung M.2 drives which are running off the standard MS drivers. I have installed Samsung Magician. I have downloaded the Samsung NVM driver but it won't install. Double clicking the downloaded file, it does nothing, neither does right click, run as admin. File name is Samsung_NVM_Express_Driver_3.3.exe from the Samsung website. AV is Webroot, there are no alerts.

Alex h · 14 Apr 2020 at 13:42

Have you tried disabling your av also disconnect from internet then try and install it mate I've had this happen to me and that's how I got round it

Mcnumpty2323 · 14 Apr 2020 at 13:52

As said disable security software
Sometimes it blocks stuff but doesn't notify you
Or install it in safe mode
I use free winaero software to enable software installers in safe mode
Which can be very useful

Coojeekitten · 14 Apr 2020 at 14:00

Thanks, my AV will log anything it blocks. I don't trust Windows Defender though. I'll have a go in safe mode.

Mcnumpty2323 · 14 Apr 2020 at 14:02

Coojeekitten said:
Thanks, my AV will log anything it blocks. I don't trust Windows Defender though. I'll have a go in safe mode.

Some things will install in safe mode
Others wont
That's why. I use the winaero tweak

Coojeekitten · 15 Apr 2020 at 08:03

Mcnumpty2323 said:
Some things will install in safe mode
Others wont
That's why. I use the winaero tweak

I checked out & downloaded Winaerotweak. How do I use it to install the drivers?

Mcnumpty2323 · 15 Apr 2020 at 09:42

Coojeekitten said:
I checked out & downloaded Winaerotweak. How do I use it to install the drivers?

One of the tweaks is allow windows installers in safe mode
Might be worded a bit different not on pc to check exactly

Coojeekitten · 15 Apr 2020 at 18:39

OK found it thanks.

Mcnumpty2323 · 15 Apr 2020 at 18:56

Coojeekitten said:
OK found it thanks.

You're welcome
The other tweak I use makes it show advanced recovery options on boot
Safe mode, disable driver signature enforcement etc
That's also useful given mashing f8 on windows 10 does not much
That tweaks in the boot section

Coojeekitten · 16 Apr 2020 at 09:24

I will check that, thanks.

Pete - USA · 19 Apr 2020 at 13:03

Coojeekitten said:
I have installed server Samsung M.2 drives which are running off the standard MS drivers. I have installed Samsung Magician. I have downloaded the Samsung NVM driver but it won't install. Double clicking the downloaded file, it does nothing, neither does right click, run as admin. File name is Samsung_NVM_Express_Driver_3.3.exe from the Samsung website. AV is Webroot, there are no alerts.

I had the exact same problem with both 3.2 and 3.3. Fortunately, 3.1 installed without issue. That said, I was able to get 3.3 to install/upgrade after determining the issue. It has NOTHING to do with the driver! The installer looks at the directory it is in and if there are other files in that directory, it just exits! I don't know what it is looking at and it isn't an "always" situation but if you want the installer to run to completion, place the installer (Samsung_NVM_Express_Driver_3.3.exe) in its own folder/directory with no other files in that directory. Worked for me and performed exactly like the instructions state.

Coojeekitten · 19 Apr 2020 at 16:55

Pete - USA said:
I had the exact same problem with both 3.2 and 3.3. Fortunately, 3.1 installed without issue. That said, I was able to get 3.3 to install/upgrade after determining the issue. It has NOTHING to do with the driver! The installer looks at the directory it is in and if there are other files in that directory, it just exits! I don't know what it is looking at and it isn't an "always" situation but if you want the installer to run to completion, place the installer (Samsung_NVM_Express_Driver_3.3.exe) in its own folder/directory with no other files in that directory. Worked for me and performed exactly like the instructions state.

PERFECT! Create a separate directory popped in the driver & it worked first so. Thanks!

Sgt Fury · 5 Mar 2023 at 00:45

Pete - USA said:
I had the exact same problem with both 3.2 and 3.3. Fortunately, 3.1 installed without issue. That said, I was able to get 3.3 to install/upgrade after determining the issue. It has NOTHING to do with the driver! The installer looks at the directory it is in and if there are other files in that directory, it just exits! I don't know what it is looking at and it isn't an "always" situation but if you want the installer to run to completion, place the installer (Samsung_NVM_Express_Driver_3.3.exe) in its own folder/directory with no other files in that directory. Worked for me and performed exactly like the instructions state.

Pete, I created an account in this old thread just to say thank you; you are an officer and a gentleman! This requirement was listed nowhere on the Samsung website, in the PDF instructions, or on any other website until I found your solution here. Requiring the file to be alone in its own folder is something that's rarely seen in this millennium -- I've been working with PCs since the IBM PC first came out -- and certainly a secret requirement that Samsung should've warned about. Thank you again!

mrk · 7 Mar 2023 at 16:24

You don't actually need to install the Samsung NVMe driver All it does is extends support for the SMART self test function in Magician. there is no performance difference between it and the Microsoft driver. Also not all Samsung NVMe drives support the NVMe driver..

Sgt Fury · 8 Mar 2023 at 05:09

mrk said:
You don't actually need to install the Samsung NVMe driver All it does is extends support for the SMART self test function in Magician. there is no performance difference between it and the Microsoft driver. Also not all Samsung NVMe drives support the NVMe driver..

You hit the nail on the head: I've been having occasional boot failures, so my goal was to run the extended SMART self-test. If anyone is looking for the Samsung driver as well as the installation guide, they're at < https://semiconductor.samsung.com/consumer-storage/support/tools/ >. As of this writing, the webpage states, re version 3.3, "This driver supports Samsung NVMe SSD 970 PRO, 970 EVO, 970 EVO Plus, 960 PRO, 960 EVO and 950 PRO" and "The driver supports Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10."

mrk · 8 Mar 2023 at 06:42

But that's the thing, those two tests are low level ones that won't necessarily give you any additional info that the standard sector tests won't anyway for drive health. You can run the standard tests without the NVMe driver from Samsung. If your drive is at a point where there is health issues then this will be highlighted by the standard test.

Your UEFI also has built in low level storage diagnostics generally too, and you can use a multitude of other drive tools to read SMART info too for verification.