9020 SFF, NVME M.2, boot drive?

Lots of things need to be lined up right for NVMe to boot.  I'd try a fresh install of Windows 10 to verify it's bootable on 9020 SFF.  Procedure something like:

1)  Make a bootable Windows 10 install USB stick, making sure it's partitioned/initialized to GPT (FAT32 might work as well).

2)  Verify the M.2 NVMe SSD is uninitialized or initialize it to GPT (probably no need to format it).

3)  Record/remember current BIOS settings

4)  Remove all hard drives and SSDs except for M.2 NVMe SSD (you don't want them "confusing" the Windows 10 install or trying to do a dual boot, etc.)

5)  Set BIOS options to:

• Advanced Boot Options -> UEFI
• Advanced Boot Options -> Disable Legacy Option ROMs (can be re-enabled after install if needed)
• Secure Boot -> Disable (no need to throw something else in the mix for now)
• SATA Operation -> AHCI (If you don't need RAID setting to AHCI involves less drivers and allows you to use Samsung's NVMe driver if you want)

6)  Boot from USB stick and install Windows 10.

7)  After install you may need to change M.2 SSD so it's in the BIOS Boot Sequence

The final answer to this thread is NO.

The Dell OptiPlex 9020 does not support bootable NVMe drives in its present BIOS configuration (version A24, Nov. 2, 2018). Other OptiPlex systems DO support bootable NVMe, but not this one, presumably because the 9020 lacks a suitable BIOS update.

With Secure Boot disabled, SATA Operation in AHCI mode, and all hard drives disconnected, I tried all the suggestions:

1. Windows 10 install from bootable USB. Installer fails at 11% every time.
2. Windows 10 install from DVD. Installer completes but still does not see the M.2 NVMe SSD after the first reboot. Tried Windows 10 original 2015 release and Windows 10 Oct. 2018 release, both downloaded from Microsoft's web site. Same result for both.
3. Converted the M.2 NVMe SSD to GPT partitioning style, both unallocated/uninitialized and allocated/initialized/formatted. Neither worked. For fun, I converted to MBR, and that doesn’t work either.

Without an internal HDD connected, the OptiPlex 9020 spits out the message “Alert! Hard Drive not found” on every reboot and will not recognize any M.2 AHCI SSD or M.2 NVMe SSD drive as bootable. Under PCI Information, the 9020 only lists “Slot4 = Mass Storage.”

Compare to the OptiPlex 5040 BIOS that designates “M.2” in the PCI Information list, as in “Slot3_M.2 = Mass Storage.” In addition, its Device Information list shows “M.2 PCIe SSD-0” along with any attached SATA drives.

Until we see another BIOS update, it’s case closed for the OptiPlex 9020.

The M.2 drives used in this test were:

• Samsung SM951 512GB AHCI PCIe SSD
• HP EX920 512GB NVMe PCIe SSD

I fully understand that boot times are about the same for SATA-SSD and PCIe-NVMe drives, however, once you get to the Desktop, consider the loading of applications, scratch files, large files kept in partitioned areas of the NVMe, and so forth, where users could enjoy the blinding speed offered by NVMe drives. Get a large enough NVMe drive, and it could satisfy all your storage at breakneck needs without the need for any "spinning media" (conventional hard disk drives). This is why BIOS updates and compatibility is important.

Looks like booting with built-in native UEFI is a non-option for a M.2 NVMe SSD on the OptiPlex 9020 SFF.

There's 4 possible ways around this I know of:

1. "Enhance" the limited built-in UEFI with Clover.  This has been done for the Dell OptiPlex 3010 - see here.  However, in my opinion this is a complicated setup.
2. Same as above, but using DUET.  Again, complicated.
3. Legacy Boot with a MBR initialized M.2 NVMe SSD that has a Legacy Option ROM.  Again, this has been done with the OptiPlex 3010 (as well as a lot of non-UEFI machines, including mine) here.  Basically, you need a Samsung 950 PRO, which is special - it has a Legacy Option ROM.
4. "Dual" or "split" boot with boot manager on a supported, bootable SATA SSD, but Windows on M.2 NVMe SSD.  If this works, you'd be able to use any M.2 NVMe SSD.

Getting a Samsung 950 PRO is probably easiest, but you're limited to 256GB or 512GB.

    I wish I had found this thread a few weeks back.  Like some of you, I now have really fast  "media" in my PCIe x4 slot.  I acquired a 9020 SFF at cheap, with a good i-7 processor, and started on the upgrade route.  I bought a Samsung 970 EVO NVMe M.2, "PCIe interface"; and a Micro Connectors PCIe adapter board.  Put it together, popped it in, cloned the C drive and came to a screeching halt in the BIOS.  So here is my conundrum.

    The PCIe adapter board is dual purpose, it will hold two M.2 form SSDs, one PCIe, and one with an SATA interface.  I have an unused SATA connector on the motherboard.   My plan is to get another SSD w/ SATA interface, mount it on the board and connect to the unused SATA port.  Then I will have my real fast media, real fast boot drive and slow,sslow,sssloww hard drive.  This will take a little a quick trip to the bios and a little longer in the Win 10 drive management to change letters, but seems doable at my skill level.

    So what's wrong with that picture.  All advice, warnings and asides gratefully received.  Thanks.

Usually, M.2 SATA is sold at a premium to the 2.5" SSD format.  You also have no need of the PCIe adapter for now.  All total, that's probably a difference of $40. 

Assuming you can return it, I'd get a 2.5" SATA SSD instead, provided there's somewhere to strap it in without restricting airflow in the case and you have a SATA power connector (or adapter to add one).  You might want the PCIe x4 slot for something else - with the 2.5" SSD you're not committed to it. 

You could also keep the PCIe adapter for possible future use and likely still come out ahead $20 or so with a 2.5" SSD.  Note format (M.2, 2.5", etc.) makes no difference in SATA performance.

Hello, please private message the service tag of your system, let me check the specifications whether it is compatible or not and accordingly will proceed further. Thanks

I know this is an old thread, but i just acquired one of these systems that already has 3.5" rotating media in the HD slot.  I'm exploring adding a boot SSD like this crucial:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077SQ8J1V/?coliid=I3JJ3IV134UXOD&colid=1NR637HIPGWRO&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

by using the last on board SATA connector, getting a SATA power cable splitter, then using some sort of M.2 SATA to SATA III low profile card.

Trouble is, I can't seem to find such a card.  Has anyone found a card that would work?

Thanks!

你好，我有一台9020 sff的电脑， ，很可惜刚过了保修和技术支持服务期限。但是我还是想咨询一下我现在的问题有没有解决方案。

我现在有一块三星的m.2 nvme协议的ssd 型号是sm961，我尝试把这个硬盘用PCI转接卡插上主板并安装操作系统并引导开机，但是我开机后提示找不到硬盘。请问是不是bios不支持，如果是的话，有没有更新bios或者其他的解决方案？

Advanced format drives require F6 mass storage drivers to See the drive.

Must be secure boot off and GPT not mbr.

https://www.dell.com/support/article/en-us/sln309720/newer-dell-systems-unable-to-boot-to-internal-boot-device-in-legacy-boot-mode?lang=en

You will need FAT32  16 or 32 gigs max USB2 flash drive if thats how you plan to install windows.

The F6 drivers must be copied to that drive.  You cannot point to a CAB or ZIP or EXE file they must be extracted with 7zip.

https://www.dell.com/support/article/en-us/sln302609/how-to-install-the-storage-controller-f6-driver-during-the-windows-installation-setup-process?lang=en

I just did NVMe M.2 boot using $8 PCI adapter on Optiplex 990 using the Clover tweak. Just make sure when you burn Windows 10 ISO using Rufus, it looks like this: 

@Maggew.com ,  I am glad to hear that you are able to make your 990 booting from M.2 NVME.  It's a great feeling after spending time, research, and learning to finally achieve your goal, don't you think.  I spent a little more ($12) on my adapter, I use Speedbyte adapter which have 2 M.2 slots, one for MVNE and the other for SATA.  But the main reason I chose that product because it came with 2 heatsinks (one with cooling fan) and my NVME SSD seems to produce lot of heat comparing to a regular SATA SSD, so it works well in my case, keeping the temp below 40 degree.  It also has low profile bracket for SFF models.  

By the way, to the person here who said B key NVME is SATA, that is totally incorrect.  NVME is a new protocol of SSD storage and it shares nothing with SATA.  You can learn more information about it in the article of What are PCIe SSDs and how to use them as boot drive for a Dell PC in the knowledge base of Dell Support. 

I am not a PC expert but I have spent time to learn to maintenance, to improve and getting better performance out of my Dell machines.  I had an opportunity to purchase a few sticks of NVME at $17 each,  therefore I put them to good use.  Actually, I agree with most advices here, the best practical and the least cost to upgrade these old models is getting a SATA3 SSD.  However, I respect all OP inquiries of NVME boot, each one have their own reason to bring them here to this community seeking for help in the first place.  No question is a dumb question.  I don't have the knowledge as many of you have in here and I have only few posts that I can count on one hand.  But I hope I have brought some useful information to the community.

Chino,

Yea that's a solid upgrade and better than what I had purchased. I didn't think to buy something with a heat sink.

To add clarity, the main reason I upgraded to NVMe was for performance. My original patriod burst SSD was fast with something like 300 or 400 mb/s read / write but after I plopped a $50 NVMe into the adapter I was getting around four times better performance. Browsing the web isn't faster, but launching applications is MUCH faster, things like Photoshop, WEB Browser, Email and what not is noticeably faster.

Thanks again @Chino de Oro - you da man!

just use duet/refind...it works great... I have the 9020 sff optiplex and am using an adapter card and an evo 970 plus in the 16x slot.. bios set to usb...nvme setup as GPT... create Duet/Refind  usb stick... run the little program, clean/format/ then install the Refind Only..Dont use duet and Dont use the Make usb bootable option... just follow the super basic instructions here.. set bios to boot from usb 1st... refind will come up and will have oprion to boot from nvme.. boot to windows time is 3-5 secs flat... very easy workaround to this issue and u can use Any nvme like the most recent fastest ones .. u Dont need to use an old expensive legacy nvme... google duet/refind.. its usually on the winraid site..   it works

Glad to hear another successful work around.  Although no longer supported by Dell, these systems performance are still flying when you update them with the latest technology.

@Maggew.com , strange thing had happened to my post, does Dell censor and remove post they don't like by chance?

Chino,