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Windows 10 UEFI install on samsung PM951 NVMe ssd failing.
Im attempting a clean install of Windows 10 on a XPS15 with the 256gb PM951 NVMe SSD. Whenever the bios is in the UEFI mode, the windows installed does not see the SSD drive. I can install windows in legacy mode with the GP partition style but not in UEFI mode. Im using a bootable usb drive which is UEFI. I think having the driver for the SSD might help but i cannot find it anywhere. Any help would be appreciated.
d3msd8le
33 Posts
1
December 2nd, 2015 07:00
Sounds kind of like you have BIOS set for RAID but didn't pre-load the RAID drivers. Either need to pre-load the drivers or switch to ACHI.
vnnyvnny
1 Message
0
November 30th, 2015 12:00
I am having the exact same issue, just on a XPS 13.
sfloyola
6 Posts
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December 1st, 2015 19:00
Any help dell support? Just need a driver or a wibdows system image with one.
ejn63
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87.5K Posts
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December 2nd, 2015 04:00
The drive doesn't need a driver - it's the drive controller that does. Exactly which XPS 15 model (9550, 9530, etc.) do you have?
sfloyola
6 Posts
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December 2nd, 2015 09:00
My Bios is set to RAID, which I thought was correct since it's a NVMe drive but I could be wrong. You're correct in that I do not have any drivers preloaded except what comes with the Windows system image. Could you point me to where I can obtain these? Thanks for the help.
sfloyola
6 Posts
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December 2nd, 2015 09:00
it's the 9550.
ejn63
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December 2nd, 2015 09:00
You'd be better off with the controller in AHCI mode -- but both drivers are part of the Intel RST driver package:
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/product/55005/Intel-Rapid-Storage-Technology-Intel-RST-
sebbe91
31 Posts
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December 2nd, 2015 13:00
I had the same problem with my xps 13 9350. Computer couldn't find the SSD to install windows on when i had it on RAID -setting. You have to download the drivers for your SSD from dells website, but instead of clicking install you click extract - put them on your usb and you need to browse for the file and install the driver.
This worked for me!
sfloyola
6 Posts
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December 2nd, 2015 21:00
First, thanks for the info/link. From my understanding to take advantage of a nvme drive you have to use the raid control. Is that not correct?
AffinityConsult
5 Posts
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December 3rd, 2015 16:00
No you do not need to use RST drivers in ACHI mode, windows has a native NVMe controller driver which only gets used if you select ACHI in bios.
If you are in RAID mode you must use RST drivers to install windows.
I edited this post, you don't need RST drivers in ACHI mode, you do in RAID mode.
bblokar
2 Posts
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April 1st, 2016 08:00
I switched to AHCI mode, installed windows, then go to device manager (Right click on start - device manager), and you see Microsoft NVMe Controller down under Storage controllers, install nvme driver from samsung website and it should change to Samsung NVMe controller. May be a bit better than build-in drivers..
You can use drivers for 950 pro, it's almost the same, difference is that 950 pro is a retail unit and 951 is OEM unit, with just a slight difference in speed.
hunter3740
7 Posts
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June 27th, 2017 13:00
Because I like to be thorough: confirmed that switching to AHCI in BIOS made the NVMe drive visible to OS installer (thank you d3msd8le!); but, maybe I want a pair of spinner disks in a RAID 1 (one day), so I switched back to RAID, then to downloadcenter dot intel dot com and searched for "RST" and got f6floppy-x64.zip, and bam: the drive appeared and have the OS installed now, and one day I may also have a pair of spinner drives mirrored for stable performance (i.e. you can have your cake and eat it too in this situation; e.g. Precision 3620); verbosely confirming d3msd8le's answer!