HP Pavilion Mini Desktop + M.2 SSD

[TecnicoKB]

Hi all,

I have a HP Pavilion Mini Desktop - Model No. 300-0xx - Product No. 797767-001 - Colti motherboard

https://support.hp.com/it-it/drivers/selfservice/hp-pavilion-mini-300-000-desktop-pc-series/7477739/... )

I decided to upgrade the pc with a M.2 format SSD drive, but I cannot get it recognized in BIOS.

BIOS version is A0.11 Rev.A - System board ID 2B38

Things i've already tried:

- buy a Toshiba RC100 240gb (NVME) --> not recognized

- buy a Transcend MTS420 240gb (SATA) --> not recognized

- changed all the possible settings in BIOS--> not recognized

- reset of BIOS to factory default --> not recognized

- removed HD Sata --> not recognized

- boot into win 10 installer usb --> not recognized, so cannot install

Every idea can help, but i'm just starting to think that this HP PC is really not so good as I thought before.

Many thanks in advance, regards

[DGroves]

the HP Colti motherboard is a custom designed board

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c04545693

it has two M.2 connectors, but only one is for a HD, the other is wired up for a wireless/bluetooth card

[TecnicoKB]

Yes, i know that, and I've already seen that page.

In the image in that page, the left port is for wireless card, and the right port (near the 2 ram slot) is for the ssd.

The wireless card was already present from factory, I just install the m.2 ssd in the other port, but it is not recognized by the bios.

By the way, really thanks anyway for your reply.
Have your ever find a technical data sheet for that motherboard? Or a manual where it explaines every part and the pin composition?

Best regards

[DGroves]

please provide the model number of the ssd you wish to install

[TecnicoKB]

Hi, thanks for your reply. I've already tried this 2 models:

- Toshiba RC100 240gb (NVME) - model number THN-RC10Z2400G8(TS

- Transcend MTS420 240gb (SATA) - model number TS240GMTS420S

[DGroves]

the MTS420 is a SATA 120GB drive not 240GB acording to all of the links i have seen and is a M.2 2280 format

https://www.transcend-info.com/Support/No-766

the other drive is available in 128/240GB and is nvme but is a 2240 format

your motherboard will only take one size 2280 or 2240 not both, so which one is it?

[TecnicoKB]

Excuse me...are You just replying for likes or You know what you're talking about??

If you just google this model number "TS240GMTS420S" you can find it's M.2 2242 format, and You can understand it giving a look at the link in Your last post (nr. 6 in this page).

The other drive (Toshiba RC100 - NVME) is 2242 format, not 2240 as You write.

The "Combi" motherboard takes only 2242 format, and You can understand it giving a look at the link in post nr. 2 in this page (Your first post).

Please, write here if You have some experience with this or similar pc / possible solutions.

Many thanks again, best regards

[Grzwacz]

Hi TecnicoKB,

Your MB has a Key B M.2 socket.

Key B supports :

Measurements                                                           Interface                                                                                             Use 

B

3042, 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280, 22110

PCIe x2, SATA, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, audio, PCM, IUM, SSIC, I2C

SATA and PCIe x2 SSDs

HP typically only supports PCIe on the M.2 sockets installed in newer MBs. One of those drives (SATA or PCIe x2) should have worked. Who knows at this point, bad drives or a faulty M.2 socket? Maybe the included M.2 socket is "window dressing"? HP included the socket on the MB but never connected this socket to the chipset.

HP provides no specifications. 

Have you checked the HP driver download Support site for any relevant BIOS updates? Scratch that, you are running the latest BIOS (A0.11 Rev.A).

Contact HP Support.

Regards

[DGroves]

i di have another suguestion, but since the "OP" believes i just post for fun i'll leave this thread as is

[TecnicoKB]

Thanks Grzwacz, that is the point.

The machine is quite old now (i think 2/3 years already). A similar model (with different cpu), has been sold in that time with the m.2 ssd already installed (32gb capacity). In this video they upgrade it with a 128gb:

https://www.mydigitaldiscount.com/hp-stream-mini-128GB-ssd-upgrade-and-windows-8.1-install-tutorials...

Also according to this list, the model is compatible with m.2 sata ssd:

https://www.mydigitaldiscount.com/m.2-ngff-ssd-compatibility-list.html#htpc

Is the included M.2 socket really a "window dressing"? It seems impossible to me that HP included the socket on the MB but never connected that to the chipset. Also, another strange thing that i have seen in bios is that i cannot change the hd mode otherwise than AHCI, so i think it's not NVME compatible.

I'll try downgrading to bios A0.10 Rev.A (because going before that is no more possible), but I'm quite sure it would not make any difference.

Is there a way to contact HP support for pc's out of warranty?? Cause I found only the option to call the paid support.

Also more information on the motherboard / pin settings could be of help.

Thanks again, have a nice day