z240 won't boot off of m.2

[-MM-]

Samsung controller driver is installed, attempted install of SP81374 as I suspect the issue of not booting has to do with the firmware of the m.2 drive.  Samsung MZVPW256HEGL-000H1 running firmware CXZ74H0Q.  The command being run is DC_Toolkit_OEM_V1_1_5.exe -d 0:c -ND -a 1 -s 1 -p BXW75H0Q_NF_ENC.bin --force

The resulting error is:
[ERROR} Succeed to download the firmware image, but given firmware image is invalid
[ERROR]  Error returned from the device

Currently installed firmware is CXZ74H0Q

As well tried to install via Samsung's ISO:  Samsung_SSD_950_PRO_2B0QBXX7.iso

All to no avail.  Hints, help or how to's would be greatly appreciated!  Thank you all in advance!

[DGroves]

first of a;;, your 961 series SSD is a OEM product and as a non retail product is not supported by the samsung magican program attempting to flasf firmware without fully knowing what you are doing is a good way to end up with a non working item

Next,...windows 7 does not suport nvme drives unless the nessary hotfix patches are installed, thes patches are not part of the normal windows updates they must be downloaded manually and installed into a existing windows or slipstreamed into a windows install disk

https://us.transcend-info.com/Support/FAQ-1126

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2990941/update-to-add-native-driver-support-in-nvm-express-...