Intel Motherboards - Can't Install windows/boot from M.2 SSD

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Can't Install windows/boot from M.2 SSD

Printed From: ASRock.com
Category: Technical Support
Forum Name: Intel Motherboards
Forum Description: Question about ASRock Intel Motherboards
URL: https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=170
Printed Date: 12 May 2025 at 9:43am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.04 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Can't Install windows/boot from M.2 SSD

Posted By: EthanPhillips
Subject: Can't Install windows/boot from M.2 SSD
Date Posted: 23 May 2015 at 5:53am

I have the ASRock Z97M OC Formula and Samsung SM951, when i try to install windows on my ssd in the m.2 slot it says Windows cannot be install to disk Ensure that the disks controllers is enabled in the computers BIOS menu.

If I go to the bios and go Tool>System Browser it says "M2: AHCI Controller" for the m.2 slot and i go to the boot menu the ssd does not show up. I flashed bios 1.91 so it is the latest version.

I am using a UEFI Windows 7 USB for instillation.

All help greatly appreciated!!

Replies:

Posted By: parsec
Date Posted: 24 May 2015 at 11:39am

Your board does not yet have the UEFI/BIOS update that allows a SM951 to be used as an OS drive.

Several ASRock Z97 boards have this UEFI update, but your is not yet one of them. They all will be done soon.

BTW, your board does not have the Ultra M.2 slot, using PCIe 3.0 x4 lanes. It has the standard M.2 slot using PCIe 2.0 x2 lanes. The SM951 is a PCIe 3.0 x4 device, so will operate at about half its potential in your board's M.2 slot.

There is more to using a SM951 in any mother board than the things already covered here. See this thread for more information:

http://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=161&title=samsung-sm951ahci-512gb-on-z97-extreme6" rel="nofollow - http://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=161&title=samsung-sm951ahci-512gb-on-z97-extreme6

Posted By: EthanPhillips
Date Posted: 25 May 2015 at 9:34pm

Ahh ok so I need to wait for a bios update, i saw the SM951 in the Storage Support List on the asrock website so i thought it would work but it does not, i tried changing all the bios settings converting the ssd to GPT Partition.

I know the motherboard does not have ultra M.2 so i got a M.2 to PCI-E adapter but i wanted to try it on the motherboard first to rule out if the problem was with the adapter.

Posted By: parsec
Date Posted: 26 May 2015 at 1:17pm

If your SM951 is recognized in the UEFI and in Windows with an M.2 to PCIe adapter, then at least you know the adapter is working fine with it.

The update for your board's UEFI has probably not happened yet because it does not have an Ultra M.2 slot. Plus ASRock, like other PC hardware companies, are preparing for the Computex show.

So you tried the settings in the UEFI I posted in the other thread? Sorry if that did not work, it should once the UEFI update is done. Instead of the entry of, "AHCI: SM951", you'll find another entry of, "UEFI: SM951". That is the one that allows booting from an SM951.

I'm nervous about your use of Windows 7 with this SSD. It is more difficult to get the EFI boot loader working in Windows 7 than it is in Windows 8. Did you follow the guide in eightforums, this one:

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