Updated "Add NVME as Boot Drive using DUET/REFIND method"

[DGroves]

if you have a earlier system that does not support booting from a nvme device, you can still add this feature via a software based loader on most of these earlier systems using the DUET/REFIND program(s)

note that for the z800 you must use the version 2015 of DUET/REFIND due to it;s triple channel memory controller

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1NtXFq__OYDX4uM-x3lzHDFFhjNO79m7p

for the z820 you only need to use REFIND as it's bios is already UEFI

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1ogEdBzKrLRkz0SRwLphpFemRLWmgayA-

Booting the NVME drive from non-UEFI legacy board - DUET with optional REFIND - with USBSetup:
z200/z400/z600/z800 (note: z800 must use the 2015 release of DUET/REFIND) not sure on other models
====================================================================================================

• 1) Connect a USB flash drive and start the USBSetup application

• 2) Select the USB flash drive letter from the drop-down combo box

    Warning.
    The following step will completely remove all information and partitions on the selected USB flash drive

• 3) Remove all information and partitions from the drive by clicking on: CLEAN

• 4) Format the selected drive by clicking on: FORMAT

• 5) Make the selected drive bootable by clicking on: BOOT

• 6) Copy the required DUET files by clicking on: DUET

• 7) Copy the optional graphical boot manager REFIND by clicking on: REFIND

• 😎 Connect the USB on the target system and set Boot from USB as the first option in your system BIOS Boot order

Booting the NVME drive from UEFI capable board - REFIND mass-storage without DUET - with USBSetup:
z220/z420/z620/z820 (UEFI BIOS)
====================================================================================================

• 1) Connect a USB flash drive and start the USBSetup application

• 2) Select the USB flash drive letter from the drop-down combo box

    Warning.
    The following step will completely remove all information and partitions on the selected USB flash drive

• 3) Remove all information and partitions from the drive by clicking on: CLEAN

• 4) format the selected drive by clicking on: FORMAT

• 5) Copy the graphical boot manager REFIND by clicking on: REFIND

• 6) Connect the USB on the target system and set Boot from USB as the first option in your system BIOS Boot order

A quick note on nvme speeds, the Zx00 systems only have a pci-e 2.0 bus
which will limit the max speeds of the ssd to around one half the speeds you
would get on a pci-e 3.0 bus system like the Zx20 based workstations
so if you run a ssd speed check on a z600/800
don't freak out at the lower speeds, as this is normal

=======================================================================================

Ok, now that you have made the nvme boot loader USB key, it's time to install windows 10 

note that the installer must be UEFI , legacy windows does not support nvme the win 10 image from MS defaults to UEFI

※ How to do a CLEAN install of WINDOWS 10
using DUET/REFIND
==============================================

First create a DUET/REFIND USB key by following the
directions the tool displays (any 256k to 16gb usb key is recomended)

• Download the windows 10 media creation tool from microsoft and create
the WIN-10 x64 ESD-USB installer key using the MS media creation tool.
(8gb to 16 gb usb key required) make sure the installer is for UEFI,
as a legacy win 10 install will not support the DUET/REFIND NVME Driver Install

if you know which usb port number the DUET key is placed in, install
both the DUET and the win 10 install usb key, and select the DUET
usb key as the boot device, it should load duet, and then start the win 10,
installer off the win 10 usb key if the SSD/HD is empty or.................

• Boot the PC with the DUET USB connected (usb 2.0 is recomended for DUET key)
and wait for it to reach the graphical boot manager.

• Connect the WINDOWS 10 ESD-USB installer key and refresh
the visual representation list by hitting the ESC KEY
to make the "Boot Fallbcak boot loader from ESD-USB" option appear.

• Launch the EFI WINDOWS 10 installer from the WINDOWS 10 ESD-USB
by selecting the "Boot Fallbcak boot loader from ESD-USB".

• Select CUSTOM: Install Windows only (advanced) and on the next screen
delete all the existing partitions until the NVME drive shows
as "Drive 0 Unallocated Space" then select NEXT, YES, NEXT.

• Once the Windows Setup screen ends copying and installing Windows,
remove the WINDOWS 10 ESD-USB before it self-reboots.
if you dont, it will start the OS install again (see below)
On some legacy boards this step is required.

Note: you can simply wait till the system reboots back to the "windows setup screen" and then remove the win-10 install key and then reboot (;eave the DUET/REFIND key attached!!) it will now load the nvme loader and then see the nvme drive and proceed with the rest of the windows 10 install, this way you don't have to babysit the setup process

[AgathaV]

Hello @DGroves 

Thank you for visiting our community, we are glad that you have resolved the issue you were experiencing on your device. 

 In this case, we thank you for sharing the solution, so that you can help other users who are experiencing the same problem.