Western Digital m.2 NVMe SSD won't display in BIOS

[CGG23]

Hello, I recently purchased a 2nd hand HP Envy x360 Convertible Laptop 15-bq003AU.

This had both the HDD and SSD removed for data privacy reasons.

I have purchased a new, m.2 Western Digital®PC SN520 256gb NVMe™ SSD.

I also have a 500gb Western Digital HDD.

Obviously, I want the SSD to be the main drive, with the Windows 10 OS for speed reasons, however I can't see this in the BIOS.

I can see the 500gb HDD in the BIOS. I installed windows onto the HDD and I can see the SSD whilst in Windows 10.

It works fine whilst in Windows, no issues at all (Drivers are all up to date).

I then installed Windows on the SSD using another computer. I returned it to the Laptop but it wont boot.

(I have completely removed the 500gb HDD whilst I am trying to get this sorted).

As soon as I boot up the computer, I get the (3F0) Error.

"Please install an operating system onto your disk."

I have updated the BIOS on the computer to F.11  which appears to be the most recent version.

I have disabled 'Legacy Support' in the Bios, and the 'Secure Boot'. I have re-enabled them and tried every single possible combination without success. I still get the (3F0) Error. I have attempted to run the diagnostic check on the SSDisk which just says nothing is found.

The only thing that works is...

At boot, hitting escape to load the Startup Menu:

Then F11 to load System Recovery.

This loads a Semi-Windows based blue screen application and I can enter trouble shooting tools and then click "Continue Loading Windows" which will boot into Windows using the SSD. 

Windows will then work fast and fine...

If I restart the computer... it restarts without issue and loads back into Windows 10.

If I click Shut Down, and then power it back up... I get the (3F0) Error again, and have to follow the process from the start.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

[Huffer]

Try flipping back and forth to secure and legacy boot in the BIOS. Keep the HDD out of it until we get this working correctly

[CGG23]

It's strange.

I flicked back and forth, and on roughly the 5th flip, I disabled legacy, saved and exited the BIOS.

Initially I got the (3F0) Error. I then restarted and Windows loaded without issue.

I shut down and got the (3F0) Error upon switching on again.

Restart -

(3F0) Error -

Restart - 

(3F0) Error - about 6 more times I did this and then it booted straight into Windows.

What do you think? It works intermittently? That's almost worse than not working at all. 🙂

Any other thoughts?

EDIT:

Further to this I have found... it doesn't matter whether I am in Legacy or Secure, upon switching the computer on, it is like rolling a dice. - I have about a 1 in 6 chance of it booting straight into Windows.

I usually almost always get the (3F0) Error first up, then I 'Ctrl + Alt + Del' and wait for it to either load into windows or return to the (3F0) Error screen. Roughly 1 out 6 chance.

[erico]

The issue is caused by the fact that the storage interface is SATA/M.2 PCIe/SATA.

Your notebook does not have NVMe SSD compatibility.

I suggest you see if you can return the m.2 Western Digital®PC SN520 256gb NVMe™ SSD.

It won't work in your notebook.

[CGG23]

I find that hard to believe as this laptop ships with a NVMe drive...

https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-envy-15-bq000-x360-convertible-pc/15551149/document/c0560011...

[Huffer]

I gotta agree. If it were just not compatible it would never boot. I think now we need to investigate the 2d hand thing. Where did you get this laptop? I susepct a hardware issue with the motherboard which may explain why they delivered it to you with no drives at all. 

[erico]

The information I found told me otherwise.

I did not see the specs that you have.

So it is compatible and I agree with @Huffer, although it may be a firmware issue.