Solved Issues replacing Optane ssd with nvme

Hazel123 · Feb 7, 2022

NavyLCDR said:
I'm still missing something here. You do not have a SATA drive connected. You only have an NVMe drive connected. AHCI applies ONLY to SATA! It is completely impossible to run an NVMe drive in AHCI mode. If you install a SATA drive, then, and only then, AHCI may become a factor.

You can run a SATA drive in IDE, AHCI or RAID mode. You can run NVMe in standard NVMe, Intel VMD, or RAID mode. You cannot run an NVMe drive in AHCI mode - it is completely impossible to do.

There is so much talk in this thread that is just impossible. Changing the software/drivers that are loaded onto the SSD will not effect whether the BIOS/UEFI firmware detects the SSD or not. You cannot enable AHCI mode for an NVMe SSD. The mode that you select for the NVMe SSD in BIOS (UEFI firmware) only determines the driver that Windows (or Linux) will need to access the SSD - whether Windows (or Linux) will need the standard NVMe driver (built-in to Windows), or the Intel IRST VMD driver, or the Intel IRST RAID driver. But AHCI will never work with an NVMe SSD.

Thank you for clearing that up. The info I needed to change bios to AHCI came from someone at Intel - I had said it was an nvme drive but maybe they were thinking sata drive :) .

Something is stopping the computer booting after in image installed to the nvme drive though.

Anibor_11 · Feb 7, 2022

NavyLCDR said:
I'm still missing something here. You do not have a SATA drive connected. You only have an NVMe drive connected. AHCI applies ONLY to SATA! It is completely impossible to run an NVMe drive in AHCI mode. If you install a SATA drive, then, and only then, AHCI may become a factor.

AHCI and NVMe are both access protocols that can be used with PCIe. There were some PCIe AHCI SSDs, then PCIe NVMe became the de facto standard.

humbird · Feb 7, 2022

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...d/97c2a8ed-b27a-4b59-8b2a-30294a6ad599?page=1

Hazel, see if this thread I found in Microsoft community looks familiar to what you are going through. The last page lists what worked for the OP. There are 3 pages. Maybe this post can point in the right direction.

Wynona · Feb 7, 2022

Hazel123 said:
Thank you for clearing that up. The info I needed to change bios to AHCI came from someone at Intel - I had said it was an nvme drive but maybe they were thinking sata drive :) .

Something is stopping the computer booting after in image installed to the nvme drive though.

I'm guessing the image was created while the Optane was installed, so once you restored with the NVme installed, the Optane could no longer be found . . .

NavyLCDR · Feb 7, 2022

Anibor_11 said:
AHCI and NVMe are both access protocols that can be used with PCIe. There were some PCIe AHCI SSDs, then PCIe NVMe became the de facto standard.

Good to know if @Hazel123 should attempt to install an AHCI PCIe SSD which her laptop does not support.

Winuser · Feb 7, 2022

Hazel123 said:
Thank you for clearing that up. The info I needed to change bios to AHCI came from someone at Intel - I had said it was an nvme drive but maybe they were thinking sata drive :) .

Something is stopping the computer booting after in image installed to the nvme drive though.

I think the main question is, why did the drives stop showing in the BIOS? I'm probably wrong but my guess is that the problem was because you used the image made from the Optane/NVMe drive. The Optane drive was no longer installed and the system was looking for it.

Hazel123 · Feb 7, 2022

Wynona said:
I'm guessing the image was created while the Optane was installed, so once you restored with the NVme installed, the Optane could no longer be found . . .

Yes I think so - which is why hopefully a clean install should work - if the bios sees the drive. Still trying to get my head round that though! If you remove the optane and drivers before the image the computer wouldn't work! Optane was "disabled" in the management panel (that's the advice given before making an image or changing the drive). But that clearly wasn't enough.

Winuser · Feb 7, 2022

Hazel123 said:
Yes I think so - which is why hopefully a clean install should work - if the bios sees the drive. Still trying to get my head round that though! If you remove the optane and drivers before the image the computer wouldn't work! Optane was "disabled" in the management panel (that's the advice given before making an image or changing the drive). But that clearly wasn't enough.

The fact that the BIOS is so limited doesn't help. Hopefully once you format the drive everything will come together and get your laptop running with the NVMe drive.

DigitalGoat · Feb 7, 2022

@Hazel123 Have you tried installing Windows on the new drive (NVME) and using the H10 specific driver using f6 during setup.
The driver is here
Intel® Rapid Storage Technology Driver Installation Software with Intel® Optane™ Memory (8th and 9th Gen Platforms)
it is the f6flpy-x64 link, but read the details blurb about OEM devices having customised drivers.
You may well need to juggle here, the driver is a .zip that will need extracting and placed on a USB flash drive (the Windows install USB will do if there is room), you may need to store your existing image on another device while testing the new drive with this install driver.
This driver will not enable Optane, it just allows the OS to understand the drive during install, and hopefully to boot.
In my explanation of Optane in the other thread I did mention that Optane options may not even be available on an OEM locked down BIOS, it is entirely possible HP have done this to that model of laptop.

Hazel123 · Feb 8, 2022

Thanks. I'll have a look at that if clean install doesn't work. I have the image backed up on an external drive so no issues there. Just need to reformat the nvme later today and try a clean install. And thanks to Ghot I have all the drivers backed up from current install :)

Winuser · Feb 8, 2022

Hazel123 said:
Thanks. I'll have a look at that if clean install doesn't work. I have the image backed up on an external drive so no issues there. Just need to reformat the nvme later today and try a clean install. And thanks to Ghot I have all the drivers backed up from current install :)

I doubt you will need the Optane driver seeing that you won't have an Optane drive installed. I think it will come down to the BIOS allowing the NVMe drive or not. What HP should have done instead of crippling the BIOS is to have the options in the BIOS but make you assign a password in the BIOS to change them. Once the changes are made one could then delete the password because it wouldn't be needed anymore. I have had to do that on a couple of my laptops.

Hazel123 · Feb 8, 2022

Winuser said:
I doubt you will need the Optane driver seeing that you won't have an Optane drive installed. I think it will come down to the BIOS allowing the NVMe drive or not. What HP should have done instead of crippling the BIOS is to have the options in the BIOS but make you assign a password in the BIOS to change them. Once the changes are made one could then delete the password because it wouldn't be needed anymore. I have had to do that on a couple of my laptops.

It's probably business! If HP uses Intel SSD's and locked bios, and makes it difficult to replace the SSD, then that increases Intel's share in the SSD Nvme market (competing with Samsung). I think the majority of buyers would balk at even trying to take the back off and change the drive - and just put up with what's installed. The locked bios is strange. Especially when they actually install removable ram! Which is a bonus - means you can replace or upgrade that. I noticed a lot of Asus Vivobooks had optane as well - when looking late last year at new laptops - it was a new thing to me. Had no idea what it was. I was unaware this laptop had it until I set it up.

Hazel123 · Feb 8, 2022

Second nvme enclosure - non magnetic tiny screws ..... could take time!

Hazel123 · Feb 8, 2022

This really is the most complicated laptop set up/drive set up. So the new nvme is in the external enclosure (which is usbc - I got that because I only have one usb A port). But not recognised. In disk management it shows up but says - "the disk is offline because it has a signature collision with another disk that is online". I don't quite understand that but assume it's again something to do with the installed optane drive.

So thought ok I'll format it on my netbook instead - but can't because that doesn't have usb c!

Is there any work around to this or am I going to have to format it in another laptop? I don't have another laptop with usb c

humbird · Feb 8, 2022

I just slid my nvme drive into the slot and left off the enclosure. Make sure it won't move from where you put it. Won't get hot and easy removal. Don't know how yours is set up but it worked perfect for mine.

humbird · Feb 8, 2022

Oops didn't see your question there we collided our posts. What enclosure do you have.?

Hazel123 · Feb 8, 2022

I tried the clean command in disk part but it won't do it - says it's because the disk is offline.

Enclosure sorted now thanks :)

humbird · Feb 8, 2022

You might need an adapter for the usb c to a

humbird · Feb 8, 2022

can You initialize it in disk management?

Hazel123 · Feb 8, 2022

humbird said:
Oops didn't see your question there we collided our posts. What enclosure do you have.?

humbird said:
You might need an adapter for the usb c to a

Yep. Two days to get an adapter and now need another adapter!

Solved Issues replacing Optane ssd with nvme

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