Solved Issues replacing Optane ssd with nvme

So - took the back of my nearly new HP Pavilion 14 and in addition to the m2, there is also a hard drive space (as shown in the manual). However there are no connections for it - and although I have a sata cable out of an older HP - can’t see anywhere it would “plug in” (although haven’t maybe looked hard enough. Can anyone else?

Good news is it has removable ram :). I might upgrade that.

Although - do I really want to take the back off twice ……..

So now the question is:

Do I

1). Keep the existing 500gb m.2 with Optane and add my 1tb sata ssd (Samsung evo 860). And save myself some money by returning the unopened 1tb m.2 drive I ordered.

Or

2). Just replaced the Optane 500gb m.2 with the 1tb evo 970 plus m.2?

And keep the sata 1tb ssd as a back up drive.

I’m inclined to do number 2. For simplicity - I don’t need more than 1tb storage. I only half fill a 1tb.

I am just wondering though - when I restore the image to the new m2, the image will contain the optane software and IRST drivers. Will that be a problem? Or can I just remove them.

Hazel123 said:

So - took the back of my nearly new HP Pavilion 14 and in addition to the m2, there is also a hard drive space (as shown in the manual). However there are no connections for it - and although I have a sata cable out of an older HP - can’t see anywhere it would “plug in” (although haven’t maybe looked hard enough. Can anyone else?

Click to expand...

You would need to buy a mounting kit, presumably from HP

Doesn't the drive just slide in? Connector built into motherboard? What is the model # of your laptop?

So that didn’t go so well! All went smoothly until I tried to boot.

M.2 SSD replaced, laptop put back together. Image restored to new drive (note Optane had been disabled before the image was made). All went smoothly.

But it won’t boot. Got an error message.

Stop code: Inaccessible boot device.

It then went onto “Preparing automatic repair” which led to options. I selected - continue with Windows and it went back to the error message. A loop. Now it just sticks at “Preparing automatic repair”.

So went into bios and not much to see. Under UEFI it mentions Intel Rapid Storage but no option to change that, that I can see.

So it seems it needs an Optane drive with IRST

See above - I decided on option 2 - image restored to new drive but errors. Bios isn’t accepting the Samsung m.2.

I am now wishing I had done option 1! Which is still a possibility if I take the back off again. But means I now can’t return the Samsung M2.

Hazel123 said:

there is also a hard drive space (as shown in the manual). However there are no connections for it....

Click to expand...

According to page 63 of the manual I found....

The hard drive bracket is available using spare part number L19469-001. The hard drive cable is available using spare part number L19172-001

Click to expand...

Great, I hope you find the 970 as good as I do

Nope not great. It won’t boot. Bios won’t recognise the drive.

Next thing I tried was booting from Windows 10 media on Usb. That gets the same error message.

The bios is expecting an Optane drive with IRST but can’t see anything in bios to change.

My guess is that it is also using Intel VMD - do you have an option to disable Intel VMD in BIOS?

This is what is in bios

Hazel123 said:

Nope not great. It won’t boot. Bios won’t recognise the drive.

Click to expand...

Did you install the IRST drivers first? It won't see the drive without them

This fix on Intel site but doesn’t work with my bios (no “advanced” option and f7 does nothing).

“
1. Open your UEFI BIOS Utility.


2. Switch to "Advanced Mode" by pressing the F7 key.


3. Go to the "Advanced" tab.


4. Scroll down to "Intel® Rapid Storage Technology" and enter.


5. Select your Intel® Optane™ Memory. May display as something along the lines of "PCIe 1.0, Intel MEMPEK1W0......", enter.


6. Under "Disk Actions:" there should be an option to "Reset to non-Optane." This option will reset your module and allow you to detect and enable it again.




Once you have followed these steps, you will be able to restart your computer and enable system acceleration once again.




Please keep in mind that these settings will vary depending on your motherboard brand and model, you may need to contact your hardware vendor or review your manual if the settings we provide are not a match for your system. The previous steps are for ASUS* UEFI BIOS.”

CornishRattler said:

Did you install the IRST drivers first? It won't see the drive without them

Click to expand...

No. I just followed the instructions to disable Optane in the OS before replacing the drive.

So do you mean that, at the time of installing the system image I needed to install IRST drivers?

Hazel123 said:

No. I just followed the instructions to disable Optane in the OS before replacing the drive.

So do you mean that, at the time of installing the system image I needed to install IRST drivers?

Click to expand...

Set up will not see the drive unless you install the IRST drivers before, you can download them here Intel® Rapid Storage Technology Driver Installation Software with Intel® Optane™ Memory (11th and 12th Gen Platforms)

This one.......

Edited for correct driver

You need to unzip the download and place the unzipped folder onto the flash drive with the image on, when set doesn't see the drive there's an option to look for drivers. Click browse and then select the installation flash drive you are using and then the driver folder, there will be 2 options if I remember correctly, I think it's the first one.

Found this on HP site. Hope it is useful to you.
How do you disable Optane Memory in Windows 10? Intel RST app not available!.

humbird said:

Found this on HP site. Hope it is useful to you.
How do you disable Optane Memory in Windows 10? Intel RST app not available!.

Click to expand...

Read that through thanks. That sounds like you need to disable Optane in bios (as well as via the app) BEFORE replacing the drive.

There are loads of queries about this on the Intel site.

Which means I’d have to put the old Optane drive back in and check bios again.

The BIOS does not see the drive installed. No matter what you do with drivers, it isn't going to change that. Are you sure the drive is not defective?

CornishRattler said:

Set up will not see the drive unless you install the IRST drivers before, you can download them here Intel® Rapid Storage Technology Driver Installation Software with Intel® Optane™ Memory (11th and 12th Gen Platforms)

This one.......
View attachment 20937
Edited for correct driver

You need to unzip the download and place the unzipped folder onto the flash drive with the image on, when set doesn't see the drive there's an option to look for drivers. Click browse and then select the installation flash drive you are using and then the driver folder, there will be 2 options if I remember correctly, I think it's the first one.

Click to expand...

Thanks for that. I’m a bit confused though as although I can see that would give the bios what it’s looking for, once image restored the drivers would not be used for anything as no Optane on new SSD. Means they’d have to stay there permanently ?