Install a New SSD -Non-Boot Drive

PvtJohnTowle · Mar 21, 2023

I am getting this delivered today https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B078211KBB?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

I was reading this below

How to Install Windows 11 on New SSD (SATA/M.2/NVMe) 🔥

Windows 11 is now available for Windows Insider users to update and install on their Windows 10 computers. To obtain a fast performance on Windows computers, it's highly recommended that you install Windows 11 on an SSD disk. And here, you'll find a beginners' guide that will show you how to...

www.easeus.com

I know the physical steps to open my case and connect the SATA cable and power cable , the instructions say to format it as GPT

Right-click on the new SSD, select Initialize Disk, and select GPT as the disk type

Does it matter if it is GPT or NTFS ?

Does Windows 11 automatically select the drive letter?

FreeBooter · Mar 21, 2023

Connect the SSD and set the BIOS to UEFI mode, turn on Secure Boot and if needed turn on TPM.

Best think to do is to boot your computer with Windows 11 installation media and see you can install it on any unallocated space.

Ghot · Mar 21, 2023

GPT is NOT a file system like NTFS or FAT32.

It's better to think of GPT or MBR as the disk directory.

A disk with a GPT directory is for use with a UEFI BIOS
A disk with an MBR directory is for use with a regular BIOS.

You need to match the disk type with the Boot Device Control setting.
This is my BIOS, but most will be similar. This is only concerns "bootable" drives...
If I want a GPT disk to be bootable... I must choose one of the UEFI options in the BIOS.
If I want an MBR disk to be bootable, I must choose one of the Legacy options in the BIOS.

For non-bootable... "storage" drives, it doesn't matter whether they are set as GPT or MBR.

FreeBooter · Mar 21, 2023

GPT and MBR disk type you use to format with file system (NTFS or Fat32) and partition.

NavyLCDR · Mar 21, 2023

As a 1TB Data only drive it does not matter if it is GPT or MBR. GPT or MBR is the partitioning scheme. GPT is more modern. NTFS is how a partition, once created, gets formatted. You can have an NTFS partition on either a GPT or an MBR disk.

Ghot · Mar 21, 2023

In your BIOS....

UEFI or Legacy setting... [BIOS section]

Trusted Platform Module... [Peripherals section]

I there's a Secure Boot in there... I can't find it.

Too long, didn't read answer... just make any and all disks GPT for Win 10 and 11.
And for anything Windows, or Windows related, format those disks (or their partitions), as NTFS.

For example...
The single FAT32 partition will only be on the Windows disk, and is made by the Windows installer.

glasskuter · Mar 21, 2023

FreeBooter said:
Best think to do is to boot your computer with Windows 11 installation media and see you can install it on any unallocated space.

According to the title, This is NOT a system drive. He's not going to install windows on it.
IMO, other than to make sure bios recognizes the presence of the secondary drive, there should be nothing he needs to do in bios.
Also, IMO, if disk management recognizes the presence of the drive, it a matter of initializing, formatting, and partitioning the drive to his needs. GPT/NTFS is recommended

PvtJohnTowle · Mar 21, 2023

glasskuter said:
According to the title, This is NOT a system drive. He's not going to install windows on it.
IMO, other than to make sure bios recognizes the presence of the secondary drive, there should be nothing he needs to do in bios.
Also, IMO, if disk management recognizes the presence of the drive, it a matter of initializing, formatting, and partitioning the drive to his needs. GPT/NTFS is recommended

Yes I did say it is a Non-Boot Drive in my post title. I don't understand all this extra work for TPM and secure boot. That's not relevant

NavyLCDR · Mar 21, 2023

The title of this thread is, "Install a New SSD -Non-Boot Drive". That tells me that @PvtJohnTowle is not planning on installing the OS onto this drive. So all the talk about BIOS settings is moot, unless he is planning on installing the OS onto this drive.

Dru2 · Mar 21, 2023

PvtJohnTowle said:
Yes I did say it is a Non-Boot Drive in my post title. I don't understand all this extra work for TPM and secure boot. That's not relevant

Correct. it's not relevant for a normal SSD install. Nor are those exotic BIOS setting required.

NavyLCDR · Mar 22, 2023

PvtJohnTowle said:
Yes I did say it is a Non-Boot Drive in my post title. I don't understand all this extra work for TPM and secure boot. That's not relevant

So, initialize the drive as GPT or MBR. It doesn't matter that much, but GPT is more modern. Then create a primary partition on it. Then format the partition as NTFS. Assign a drive letter to it. You are done.

PvtJohnTowle · Mar 22, 2023

NavyLCDR said:
So, initialize the drive as GPT or MBR. It doesn't matter that much, but GPT is more modern. Then create a primary partition on it. Then format the partition as NTFS. Assign a drive letter to it. You are done.

I have just installed it and it doesn't show up in my Windows My computer or Disk Management , I did the Diskpart List Disk it's not there either.

NavyLCDR · Mar 22, 2023

PvtJohnTowle said:
I have just installed it and it doesn't show up in my Windows My computer or Disk Management , I did the Diskpart List Disk it's not there either.

First, did you connect a SATA data cable between the SSD and the motherboard, and a power cable from the power supply to the SSD? Make sure the SATA port is enabled in BIOS. Check you motherboard manual - there may be things that disable some SATA ports. There should also be a page in BIOS that lists the different drives that are connected to the SATA ports.

Ghot · Mar 22, 2023

PvtJohnTowle said:
I have just installed it and it doesn't show up in my Windows My computer or Disk Management , I did the Diskpart List Disk it's not there either.

Make sure ALL the SATA ports are enabled in the BIOS in the Peripherals section...

Ghot · Mar 22, 2023

@PvtJohnTowle

IF you have any M.2 SSDs installed (middle pic), plugged into your motherboard... they can disable some of the regular SATA ports (top pic)... the RULES are in the bottom pic.
See the pics below...

Here is the link to the PDF version of your motherboard manual...
[BIOS settings in chapter two]

https://download1.gigabyte.com/Files/Manual/mb_manual_ga-z270x-gaming7_e.pdf?v=aaba9c4b58827d33112e318ba5b3b80f

Nice motherboard and manual.

Totally off topic, but seriously cool...
If you ever blow out the Audio Op Amps... you can change (replace with new), them. ^^
They aren't soldered in. Doubly cool... the Op Amps can be "upgraded" too. The Op Amps are the Audio Amplifiers.
Section 1-9 in the manual.

zbook · Mar 22, 2023

If possible, please check the new drive in another Windows computer.

PvtJohnTowle · Mar 22, 2023

Yes it's now working I had to take it to a computer repair shop. $40 AUD later it's visible, he changed the power cable took him half an hour..

PvtJohnTowle · Mar 22, 2023

zbook said:
If possible, please check the new drive in another Windows computer.

No I don't I have a Dell XPS 13 EVO laptop but I don't want to start pulling that apart as it is just working fine but thanks for the suggestion.

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