M.2 SSD Upgrade

[soundprizm]

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@Big_Dave wrote:

@soundprizm

Hi,

Perhaps the following SSD would be a better choice as it it used in a similar model laptop. However, I do have another suspicion.

axns381e-256GM-B

 It might be worth the time to boot up a W10 installation media in UEFI mode and see it the SSD is detected.  Please post your results.

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Hi Big_Dave,

I'm curious as to why you suggested the Adata SSD; are those the SSDs that HP ships their laptops with? I've seen, on this forum actually, a few people have success with the Samsung EVO 850 M.2's on similar model laptops that are included in the service and maintenance guide that is used for mine.

I actually tried booting the laptop without the factory HDD, and with the SSD only, and then booting Windows 10 installation media. The end result was that Windows 10 installation did not find any hard drive to install to.  

[Big_Dave]

Hi,

The Adata was shipped in multiple HP laptops as the boot m.2 device.

I just did a little more testing on my HP laptop which does use the Adata m.2 device.  When I boot up the laptop in UEFI mode using the W10 installation media and choose a custom install then I do see two devices that are eligible for the W10 installation; the 1TB HD and the 256 MB m.2 SSD.  You could try the same procedure with the laptop and in legacy mode and then boot up W10 in legacy mode and see if the Samsumg device is listed as an eligible W10 installation device.

If you get no joy from either of the two above mentioned methods then the Samsung EVO 850 m.2 SSD is not for your laptop. Perhaps the Samsung is dead.

[soundprizm]

The legacy mode is the one thing I haven't tried--I'll try that in a minute--but you don't think it has anything to do with the BIOS? It would make more sense than Samsung SSDs just being incompatible with the laptop (I tried 2 different ones). Perhaps HP authorized service providers receive a tool like the BIOS Configuration Utility or something. I dunno, I'm reaching here! 🙂

I'll repost with the legacy mode results.

[soundprizm]

Legacy mode results in the same thing.

[Big_Dave]

Hi,

The Samsung EVO 850 is not compatible with your laptop or it is dead.  If you can't see the Samsung in UEFI or legacy mode then you are at a dead end with the Samsung.

The HP 17" laptop that I am using is about the same as yours.  Even though I am running a higher BIOS level everything was the same on F.24 as it is with F.51

[soundprizm]

Hmmm... Ok. I'm leaning towards incompatible, because it is the 2nd SSD that I've tried. So then, what is it about the Samsung that makes it incompatible? I really want to have an M.2 installed, but I do not want to get another from somewhere without being able to return it if it ends up like the Samsung's have. Adata is the recommended brand for HP?

[Big_Dave]

Hi,

The Adata m.2 SSD is stocked by the HP Parts Store for a similar model.

[soundprizm]

Thanks!

[QuadTips]

Soundprizm,

If you have any luck upgrading please let me know.  I have tried three different drives so far and I can't get the BIOS to recognize that there is a drive in the M.2 slot.  I created a thread about what kind of M.2 socket we have, as far as I can tell, it's an upside down M keyed socket. According to wikipedia, it should be a 4 lane PCIe based connection.

I have returned the SSDs that have not worked so far:

Samsung 950 pro - tried installing the special NVM software, didn't see the drive

Samsung 850 EVO 120

Generic 256g M.2

I should be getting a Samsung 850 EVO 250 this afternoon.

I'll let you know if it works.  As with you, it just seems like there must be a setting somewhere that isn't.  I searched all through the BIOS and came up empty handed.

If the new 850 doesn't work my plan is to order a factory replacement part, if that fails than I'm going to assume bad logic board.

I downloaded the diagnostic software for the machine and booted from the USB stick it creates.  Nothing showed an error, but there was also NO mention of the M.2 interface, good or bad.

Seems unusual that they would go to the trouble of placing an M.2 connector on the motherboard that can't be used.

I bought this computer because I trusted the HP brand, their RPN calculators got me though lots of engineering classes back in the '70s and '80s.

jeff

[Huffer]

I would not assume it is a bad motherboard as more than one User is apparently having the same problem. @Big_Dave has found that an aData M.2 mSSD works in the motherboard slot. I am baffled at the apparent widespread incompatibility issues but so far until anyone else finds that the aData M.2 does not work on his laptop, it appears to be an issue of very narrow hardware compatibility.