SDD upgrade on 17-an0xx

[AlexArg]

Hi, I also have this same problem.
Buy an OMEN by HP - 17-an012dx and I want to add an SSD.
I've seen another post where I think they have been able to resolve it, but I'm not sure:

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Boot-and-Lockup/HP-OMEN-17-AN012DX-won-t-boot-with-m-2/td-p/6...

Anyone of you could solve it yet?

Best regrads and happy Christmas,

Alex

[AlexArg]

Please someone write something.

I know that the solution is out there.

Regards,

Alex.

[ThaReality]

Hi Alex, I hope I can help since I managed to sort it out myself.

I proceeded to buy an M2 SSD which as suspected shows up in the My Computer window.

First thing I did was create a backup recovery on a 16GB USB 3.0 Drive. I created a recovery disk using the HP ONE-TIME ONLY Recovery Media.  (Which failed to boot up anyways, so complete waste)

I then proceeded to the BIOS which as already declared does not show the M2 Drive in the BIOS settings, due to poor support on HPs part. There's no BIOS support for M2 and even a firmware update has failed to rectify this issue, so please pay attention to the 2 options I tried.

The first one was , I installed the OS on the M2 Drive. This was successful although, the problem I faced was, since the M2 can't be read in BIOS I couldn't choose a preferred Bootable OS drive. This meant I continued to be met with a dual boot option, which is counterproductive to what I want to achieve. The other option was to take out the existing traditional HDD, this solved the issue however, it meant I missed out on an entire 1GB extra storage. Hence, put it back in again, so back to square 1.

The final step was to create a recovery drive through the Windows 10 Recovery option, found in Control Panel. This is the best feature of windows so far. It literally mirrors the entire OS and Driver installations, like the HP Recovery Media without the limits of a 1 Time-only backup & DOES it even BETTER. I created another recovery drive on USB, then proceeded to remove the exisiting traditional HDD. I kept the M2 SSD in the laptop, changed boot order in BIOS in order to boot from USB. This setup booted up as expected, it was able to see the M2 through the Wizard. I continued to install the OS on the M2. Which took practially about 4-7 mins for a full installation.

After installation it took about 3-4 secs to boot up laptop and I had all the factory installed HP apps, driver support including the OMEN Command Center. (Which by the way didn't work on first installation, see above).

I turned off laptop, inserted the Traditional HDD and if memory serves me right, it booted Windows straight ifrom the M2 SSD Drive. I still have  the OS on the other drive but, I kept that and don't feel it's worth deleting. I have however shrunk the drive and created an additional partition for downloads and renamed that drive Windows 2. You can get rid of that partition if you want however, I keep it there incase I ever need to do a PC REFRESH. There's no telling whether deleting that partition will affect future recovery, even If I have 2 USB Recovery drives now.

I know it's alot to take in and I've probably blabbered on but, I hope this gives some guidance on how to approach it.

In summary, my recommendation is this.

Create recovery media through the Windows 10 feature, it's way more reliable .

Remove existing hard drive, install your M2 SSD drive

After installation and successful boot from M2, re-insert your old drive.

If presented with a dual boot option, not a probelm you can if I remember vaguely change the default in MSCONFIG or just safely wipe the HDD. This can be done through DISKPART & DISK CLEAN in CMD.

Goodluck, it's far simple than it looks. Although, I still think actual support for M2 would have made it simpler. Instead of using loops.

[AlexArg]

Wow, you are right, it´s a lot to take in, but I appreciate it so much.

I thought the problem was hardware incompatibility and now I realize that it's really a problem of software.

So, if I understood correctly, it does not matter which brand or model of SSD PCI Express 3.0 x4 (NVMe) disk i choose, it will work  if I follow the correct steps that you are explaining ?

In some post that I saw banhien wrote something similar:

(a) Shrink C: down to the size of the M.2 SSD,

(b) Clone C: to SSD,

(c) Remove existing HDD,

(d) Install M.2 SSD, do not change BIOS and run machine with M.2 SSD,

(e) Delete old C: (better use a different machine) now you can put old HDD back.

But as you can see, it's a bit generic...

I really appreciate the time you spent explaining this to me. I really do.

What SSD did you buy?

I have some SSD in view, which one would you choose?

Samsung 960 Evo 250gb Pci Express 3.0 X4 Nvme
Samsung Pm951 Nvme M.2 Ssd 256gb
WD Black PCIe SSD M2 PCIe Nvme
Ssd Corsair Mp500 240gb Pcie M.2 Nvme

Best regards,

Alex.

[Huffer]

Try to see if you can follow all that but bottom line if the M.2 disk is not showing up in the BIOS you are not going to be able to install an OS to it. 

If it works for you great, but when it does not post back here and we will see what we can do for you. 

[AlexArg]

Well ... that was hard.

I would be delighted to be able to buy a Samsung PM961 as you recommend it, i really be, but in my country it does not exist, so... it will be moon or bust !!!

Huffer, either way, I promise to go back and post my experience.

If any of you could recommend some of the SSD I mentioned, it would be very good, since at least I would have a fighting chance.

Best regards,

Alex.

[ThaReality]

Hi Alex,

I purchased the Samsung 960 Evo 250gb Pci Express 3.0 X4 Nvme.

By the way, I have also tried to use the Cloning approach, trust me it doesn't work. I Used AOMEI and 2 other apps.

If you haven't loaded your laptop with crucial files and installations yet, I'd recommend a fresh new install, this is where creating a recovery drive comes in handy. I created a recovery on USB.

Once you have the recovery media created, just take out existing Hard drive

Install your M2, go into BIOS and change boot order to USB. Don't worry about SSD not showing up in BIOS. 

Reboot Laptop and it will run setup from USB, the Wizard can see the M2 Drive, select that as your installation drive. (It should be the only one listed anyways, if you have taken the existing HDD out as advised)

Complete installation, make sure it's all setup until you get to your desktop screen, then you can safely put back in the old HDD.

I must stress however, you want to ensue you create a recovery media. (You will require atleast 16GB USB 3.0, store it away safely).

Goodluck again.

[AlexArg]

Well, Gentlemen, I'm back and as I promised I will tell you my experience.

When I went to buy my Samsung 960 Evo, I was chatting with the owner of the business and he told me that maybe I could get the PM961 from a distributor he knew (without public retail). Long story short, I buy a Samsung PM961.

Anyway, I installed it on my PC and everything was how ThaReality explained it. Exactly. 

The disk could be seen from My Computer (windows), but it did not appear in the BIOS as a boot option. I followed the ThaReality guide to the letter, and it worked as he described it.

IMPORTANT: It is mandatory to remove the HDD, before installing Windows 10, since the wisard does not give you choice where we want to install it. Then, the SSD will be formatted by the wisard without asking, and windows will be installed there.

I am disappointed on the one hand because I could not test the Samsung 960 Evo and support the ThaReality experience; but I'm happy because I could make it work, and I confirmed that the ThaReality guide works perfectly. I'm pretty sure my experience would have been the same with the Samsung 960 Evo, because the problem is not hardware or software, it is some kind of lack of support in the BIOS of our HP.

Many thanks to ThaReality and Huffer, without your help I would not have been able to succeed.

Best regards,

Alex.

[Damnation]

Sweet. I will be trying this solution next week with a 970. maybe bios updates have solved it by now