Z2 SFF G5 system drive replacement

[karborundum]

Fresh out of the box desktop delivered, unpacked, upgraded bios etc. Works like a charm. 
But I'd like to replace the 512 GB system drive (M.2 2280 PCIe 3.0 4x1 NVMe) with the HP 1TB memory (141L5AA) that was ordered together with the computer. A  drive that is listed as compatible with the computer in HP specs.

Installing the 1TB as secondary disk (the secondary port on mother board), everything is fine. Correctly identified in both bios and windows, Very nice and fast.

But if remove the 512GB and install 1TB in "primary port", the computer is dead. refuses to boot. Power light doesnt't come on. Same if inserted in secondary port without the 512GB.

Lookin in the system configuration the disks (Samsung) are identical in "family specs" apart from the size.

I have tried turning off every security and boot feature that I can find in BIOS but no luck. Have avoided a complete bios reset since I don't understand the problem.

Only that some form of security feature blocks changing harddrive. Yet, in case of a disk failure, it must be possible. Also, HP makes it clear that the 1TB in pair can be used in a RAID configuration. So it must be possible to install as primary and only disk.

Haven't found anything in the very rudimentary and very generic manuals and FAQs for the computer.
Any idea, anybody?

[NonSequitur777]

@karborundum,

The way I would approach this is as follows: I would purchase an M.2 NVMe to USB Adapter such as this one: https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-RIITOP-Reader-Compatible-Based/dp/B08FWZXT2N/ref=sr_1_11?crid=1LMZ51N...:

Then download the Macrium cloning freeware program from here: https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree

 (first option: "Reflect 8 Free Commercial"), install your HP 1 TB M.2 2280 PCIe NVMe drive in the adapter, stick it in one of your USB 3.x ports, and start up the Macrium cloning software to clone your existing 512 GB drive onto the new drive.  This should be pretty straightforward.  After the process has completed and your desktop has shut down, replace the 512 GB drive with the newly cloned 1 TB drive on the primary M.2 2280 PCIe NVMe Gen3 x4 slot.

Set the 512 GB drive and the M.2 NVMe to USB adapter aside for the moment.  Check if your computer boots, all the information you would expect to be there is there and accessible, then restart and shutdown properly.  If it does, turn your computer back on and connect the M.2 NVMe to USB adapter with your old 512 GB drive in one of your USB 3.x ports. Right-click on the old 512 GB drive and perform a format. After that, shutdown your PC, and install the 512 GB drive in the secondary M.2 2280 PCIe NVMe Gen3 x4 slot.

This procedure worked for me, and there's no reason why it shouldn't work for you.

Hope this was helpful.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[karborundum]

As cloning didn't resolve the issue, I ended up doing following:

1) Reinstall  & reset BIOS

2) Clean both drives

3 ) Swap them

4) yet another scratch windows installation.

Now the configuration is the way I wanted it but in the process I lost the HP software installation. Using Support Assistant and recommendations most of them are back on but not without errors in the system and hp logs.