failing to install windows 10 on M.2 NVME PCIE SSD 256gb .

[Firdous307]

HY, i just want to know that has anyone succesfully installed windows 10 on nvme m.2 ssd as above mentioned.  i read many articles about not being able to install  after trying various methods . please reply. Also is the same issue with M.2 SATA ssd. 

my system elitebook 840 G2

[tk_srq]

@Firdous307:

Your model does support M.2 PCie SSD. See below manual for your model and screen shot of page 6, which shows M.2 PCIe SSD gen 2x2 is supported. If yours is an M.2 PCIe gen 3, it still runs but at speed of gen 2.

HP EliteBook 840 G2 Notebook PCHP EliteBook 740 G2 Notebook PCHP ZBook 14 G2 Mobile Workstation Main...

You should be able to install Win10 on your M.2. BIOS doesn't detect the M.2 ? or Windows installation does not start or complete? Let us know.

[Firdous307]

thank you, My ssd is 3x4, is that the problem than. I read many articles where people said they cant install on NVME not mentioning the Gen. Please clearify me about this. 

[tk_srq]

M.2 PCIe gen 3 should be backward compatible with Gen 2 just like M.2 PCIe gen 4 is backward compatible with gen 3. But I can't say for sure because I don't have an EB 840 G2 and M.2 PCIe gen3.

Do you see "PCIe M.2 SSD Hard Drive" listed in UEFI boot order in BIOS (see screenshot below). If you do, that's another reason your model supports M.2 PCIe.

[tk_srq]

You may be interested in this article.

Can I Use a PCIe 3.0 Card in a 2.0 Slot? - PC Guide 101

[Firdous307]

Yes i understood backward compatibility, but will it affect booting from the SSD which is Gen 3 and installed in a Gen2 slot, it just i can know have anyone been successful in this, else i have to replace it.

[Firdous307]

This helped a lot thank u sir, but i am confused can we install windows from such ssd which is backward compatible, gen 3 into Gen2 slot. Please help

[tk_srq]

@Firdous307 

Your title indicates the Windows10 installation on an M.2 PCIe is failed but, your last posts say you are concerned about whether or not Windows is bootable from an M.2 PCIe gen 3 in PCIe gen 2 slot. So, do you still have a Windows installation problem? or your problem is that you can't boot Windows from the M.2 drive? Please tell us more about your problems.

[Firdous307]

Yes i am not able to install windows on M.2 PCIE ssd, firstly it showed it is a GPT partition so i converted it to an MBR, now it shows Windows cant be installed on this partition, please enable it in BIOS. THIS IS MY CONCERN AS WHAT SHOULD I DO.

[tk_srq]

I assume you already have a Win10 installation USB disk created from MS media creation tool. You can follow the steps below to install Win10 on MBR-partitioned M.2 SSD drive:

1. Connect an installation USB drive to your laptop. Turn it on and enter BIOS then go to Advanced -> Boot Options                 

2. Look for Boot Mode (or similar name) and select Hybrid UEFI (With CSM). Save and exit. 

3. When laptop restarts, tap Esc key then F9. You should see USB Hard Drive and USB Hard Drive (UEFI), as shown in the screenshot below. Select USB Hard Drive to start installation. If you see only USB Hard Drive (UEFI), don't proceed just shut down and let me know. 

4. When the setup asks where to install Windows and partitions are listed there, delete all of them until you only see the Unallocated Space then click next. 

5. The laptop will restart when the setup finishes copying files to the SSD drive. If the installation USB starts all over again, shut down and remove the USB disk and restart. Now it should boot from the SSD drive to complete the installation.

6. If a 2.5" SSD/HDD with Windows is still in the laptop, you need to remove it before the installation. 

Edit:

I need to add one more thing. You need to make sure M.2 PCIe boot option is set enabled in BIOS otherwise upon reboot the laptop ends up with a boot device not found error. While you are in Boot Options in step #2, look for M.2 PCIe device (or M.2 device) and enable it and save and exit.