Fresh Windows install on NVMe drive?

[Jurjen]

Hello all,

I've been banging my head against the wall trying to re-install Windows on a new NVMe drive that I installed this week. My previous Windows install is so bloated, plus on a SATA spinner, so I want to start off fresh and on the NVMe drive. I don't think I can use the built-in (HP pre-installed) OS recovery this way. In any case, it's great to keep it as a dual boot to transfer over the data.

I've downloaded an official Microsoft Win7 SP1 Pro ISO. I added a lot of the HP OEM drivers into the Install.wim package, but despite everything, it keeps on nagging about the famous "A required CD/DVD drive device driver is missing" driver. Some people get around it by using a USB2 port, but this laptop only has USB3 ports.
Feeding the USB 3.0 Hub driver is getting me past the first error.

But then, the NVMe drive doesn't pop up in the list of available drives. Again, trying to force install drivers. I've tried:

- Intel 6th Generation Core Porcessor Family [..] SATA AHCI Controller (oem5.inf)
- Standard NVM Express Controller (stornvme.inf -> official Microsoft driver -> system says can't install because it's unsigned)
- Intel(R) 100 Series Chipset Family [several components] drivers (all inside oem48.inf and the official Intel SunrisePoint drivers; tried both)

All to no avail.

I've tried to follow this thread, but not working either.

I've even tried a copy found on a pirate site, from "Generation 2", which didn't have all this issues, but as soon as the install finished copying files and then has to boot from the NVMe drive to actually start installing, it always gives a BSOD.

Anyone that can help me out?

(P.S. Yes I know Win7 is EoL, but I'm running industry-specific software that just isn't stable or can't be installed at all under Win10. I'm aware of the implications keeping on using an EoL OS, so no need to remind me.)

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

The only suggestion I can offer would be to download, unzip and copy the NVMe driver files I attached below to your USB flash drive and browse to each folder.  Hopefully one of them has the driver you need for W7 to see the NVMe drive.