2 Problems: 1801 microcode error and M2 SSD not bootable (or recognised in BIOS)

[Ambergnat]

Hi Guys,

Picked up a cheap G600 mini and decided to ...Enhance it a bit - but nothing wants to cooperate! (and it doesn't help that I only half-know what I am doing!)

OK - Problems.

(1) I want to use the M2 SSD as a Boot Disk - so I Installed a 480Gb Corsair Force MP510 PCI SSD in the M2 slot (its PCIe) - The BIOS (updated to latest ver - 2.31) won't see it.  The Win10 disk management can see it fine, but when I disable the SATA drive to use the USB boot disk to try to install Win10 on the M2, it absoliutely will not find the disk.

(Win10 Pro (64bit) is on a 256Gb Sata SSD as a interim measure, but I don't want to leave it there cos there's a 5Tb hdd waiting for that slot).

(2) 1801 microcode update error... Ok, I know I'm not using an 'officially sanctioned' CPU (it's a re-pinned i7-4890hq) but it works, and despite having a TDP of 47W isn't stupidly hot on the stock heatsink/fan.  So, I can't find any microcode update files for the 600 G1 and I guess there probably won't be - so is there a workaround?

[Racing96mustang]

Hello Ambergnat,

Did you have any luck yet?  As far as booting from the M.2 slot, I have confirmed that the method here does work for your HP Mini:

https://www.win-raid.com/t2375f50-Guide-NVMe-boot-without-modding-your-UEFI-BIOS-Clover-EFI-bootload...

There were a few mistakes in the guide, but I solved them along the way.  Using the Clover EFI Bootloader is great.  About 3 seconds for USB stick to boot, then it hands off to the EFI bootloader with an NVMe driver included!  My M.2 drive hosts the Win10 OS and programs, with the option for any 2.5 SATA device as additional internal storage drive.

I hesitated when obtaining the BDU utility since the hosting site seemed to have nuissance virus BROWSER warnings, but I quickly closed them and then proceeded very cautiously.  I never take security lightly.  BDU is essential because it formats the USB drive, and then downloads the specific Clover files, and sets up the whole bootable USB environment.  You make a few modifications to include the NVMe driver (per the win-raid.com guide).  Also note that BDU has NOT completely created the USB drive until the message "All done" is given, so don't close it during the few slight delays that occur in the process.

In the end, it only needs a USB 200MB partition (using about 15MB total) to make the USB drive capable of booting to NVMe SSD.  Once running the Clover stick for daily use, there will be several options from the various Win 10 partitions to boot.  I have found the correct one to select is titled "Boot Microsoft EFI boot from EFI".  (Yes, it sounds redundant).  Once you have selected it, it becomes the future default so no interaction is needed on future boots.

One other note, the low TDP i7 CPU you have sounds tempting, but also be aware that M.2 drives tend to create a lot of heat all by themselves.  The HP Mini cleverly has the system fan directly above the M.2, slot but it is still not a lot of airflow.  I would suggest initially monitoring your CPU temp and your M.2 SSD temp until you feel confident all is well.

Best of luck and do let us know how it turns out for you please.