Can I use the m.2 ssd slot to boot from ?

[DavidMax]

Is it possible to use the M.2 SSD slot to boot from ? I believe it has to be PCIe to be able to boot from, but I can't find any tech info about the M.2 SSD slot.

[NonSequitur777 · Accepted solution]

@DavidMax,

Welcome to our HP community forum!

Not only can you boot from an M.2 NVMe SSD slot which your HP Pavilion 24-r012na All-in-One Desktop PC (2XB38EA) as fitted with a Bolian-A12 motherboard (SSID: 8374) is equipped with, you should make an M.2 NVMe SSD as your primary (boot) drive for I/O performance alone:

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[DavidMax]

Many thanks for your advice. I shall do as you advise.

[NonSequitur777]

@DavidMax,

You are most welcome!

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[DavidMax]

Do you have a link to schematics for disassembly and access to the M.2 SSD slot ? Thanks again.

[NonSequitur777]

@DavidMax,

There appears to be a lack of instructional information for your AIO, also on YouTube -somewhat to my surprise.  This issue has come up before in this forum.  Perhaps our Senior Experts @Paul_Tikkanen or @erico have an idea where (else) to look.

Anyway, your AIO should be compatible with a regular M.2 NVMe Gen3 x4 (2280) SSD:

Link: c06521080.pdf (hp.com).

Also confirmed with this HP Pavilion All-in-One 24-r0xx User as fitted with a Bolian-A12 motherboard with SSID: 8374: HP Pavilion All-in-One 24-r0xx Performance Results - UserBenchmark, who fitted a Lexar NM620 M.2 2280 NVMe SSD as its system (boot) drive.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[erico]

Remove and replace parts video for the  HP Pavilion AIO 24in Desktop PC

https://youtu.be/4BWQn_rcp6w?si=vSITb-pcUxFMlTjd

Disconnect the  SATA connection  between the legacy HDD and the motherboard when you install the OS on the M.2 SSD. 

Doing that will ensure that the Windows installer sets the m.2 SSD as the default boot drive.

After the first boot to Windows on the M.2, you can reconnect the legacy hdd and use it as a storage drive. 

 At that point you can remove the active boot flag from the legacy hdd.

See the tutorial at the hyperlink below if you need help doing that.

https://www.seagate.com/support/kb/remove-active-flag-from-a-partition-in-windows/

[NonSequitur777]

@erico,

Thank you for your feedback, but the YouTube video shows, or so I believe, a different AIO/motherboard than what the OP has -of course, that is for @DavidMax to ascertain.

However, as far as getting to the motherboard and installing an M.2 NVMe SSD is concerned, I hope that what this commenter said applies to the OP as well:

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777