Z170 skylake nvme samsung 950 pro ssd windows 7

Hi all,

mrr010 wrote: Hi all, I tried but failed to install windows 7 64bit on samsung 950 pro ssd with Asrock z170 gaming-itx/ac. I am able to load windows 7 iso into a usb stick. I am able to add usb patcher into the usb stick. I am able to add Samsung NVMe drivers v1.4.7.17 WHQL into the usb stick. (from https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/3rvoop/samsung_950_pro_nvme_ssd_windows_7_64/ ) I am able to go into windows setup screen. I am able to load nvme samsung driver 32bit (as 64 bit wont work). I am able to install the windows 7 64bit ultimate on the samsung 950 pro ssd. However after installation finish and restart, I cant load into windows 7. The screen says I dont have nvme.sys in system 32. Appreciate any help or step by step guide. Thanks.

You won't be able to use the standard Windows 7 installation media of any type with an NVMe SSD, due to a problem with a location of a critical file in the standard Windows 7 installation folder/file structure. That can be fixed, which is explained in this guide:

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/15458-uefi-bootable-usb-flash-drive-create-windows.html

The NVMe driver is another thing you seem to be aware of. What about doing a UEFI booting installation?

I don't know if you configured the CSM option, which is required when installing Windows on an NVMe SSD.

Which boot entry for the Windows 7 installation media did you use?

Did you load the NVMe driver with the Load driver option, in the Win 7 Custom installation section?

I have never used the method you used to include the Samsung NVMe driver with your Win 7 installation media. Win 7 does not by default include an NVMe driver, as you know.

I don't use Win 7 for UEFI booting Windows installations for BOTH of the above reasons. For someone that has never done this before, using Win 7 adds more difficulty with an already confusing situation.