Windows 10: Installing Windows 10 on M.2 SSD

I would like to install Windows 10 on a new M.2 SSD for my desktop computer. I currently have an M.2 internal drive as my System drive on the computer. Can I use the Windows Installation Tool to install Windows 10 on the new drive currently in an external case, USB without affecting my current system drive?I have read that it's possible but I don't want to chance erasing my main drive in the process. From what I've read I need to boot from the Media Creation tool and I will be offered the choice of which drive to install Windows 10 on. Again, I want to put Windows 10 on an external USB M.2

:)

 

My m.2 ssd is recognized in bios, but not as a boot device

Thank you very much for reaching out! As an Independent Advisor and fellow Microsoft user, I'm more than happy to assist you.

Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve this issue:

1. Check BIOS Settings

Ensure that your BIOS settings are correctly configured to recognize the M.2 SSD as a boot device:

• Enable CSM (Compatibility Support Module): Sometimes, enabling CSM can help the BIOS recognize the SSD as a boot device. You can find this option under the Boot tab in the BIOS settings.
  
• Set Boot Priority: Make sure the M.2 SSD is set as the first boot device in the boot priority list.
  

2. Update BIOS

Updating your motherboard's BIOS to the latest version can resolve compatibility issues with new hardware:

• Visit the ASUS official website to download the latest BIOS update for your ROG Strix B650 Wi-Fi motherboard.
  

3. Reinstall the SSD

Ensure that the M.2 SSD is properly installed:

• Remove the SSD and reinsert it firmly into the M.2 slot. Make sure it is securely fastened with the screw.
  

4. Initialize the SSD

If the SSD is new, it might need to be initialized:

• Boot into Windows using another drive, open Disk Management, and initialize the SSD as either MBR or GPT.
  

5. Check for Drive Mode Compatibility

Ensure that the M.2 slot you are using supports the type of SSD you have (SATA vs. NVMe):

• Some M.2 slots only support either SATA or NVMe, not both. Refer to your motherboard manual to confirm compatibility.
  

6. Repair Boot Configuration

If the SSD has Windows installed but is not recognized as a boot device, you might need to repair the boot configuration:

• Boot from a Windows installation USB, go to the command prompt, and use the following commands:
  
  
  This can help rebuild the boot configuration data.
  

7. Check for Hardware Issues

If none of the above steps work, there might be a hardware issue with the SSD or the motherboard:

• Test the SSD in another system to see if it is recognized as a boot device.
  
• If the SSD works in another system, the issue might be with the motherboard. Consider contacting ASUS support for further assistance.
  

Please feel free to reach out if you require any additional assistance. I'm here to help!

 

SATA SSD and M.2 SSD

i was with a ssd sata and now i have ssd m.2, i formatted and put windows 11 in m.2, but i did not remove the ssd sata, i can only boot windows with the ssd sata connected, if i remove it windows does not boot to m.2



obs: windows was installed on m.2 but the ssd sata was still connected, but windows was 100% installed on m.2, is there any way I can set m.2 as primary? (when i removed the ssd sata it did not recognize windows)

Sorry for my bad English

imgur.com

 

Windows Installer not recognizing M.2 SSD but BIOS does

I want to install Windows on a 500GB M.2 SSD that I have on my ASUS TUF F15 laptop but the Windows Installer doesn't recognize the SSD when BIOS does. I have tried literally every solution i could find and nothing has worked so far but I feel like I am close to solving my issue. Any solution that involves accessing Windows is immediately thrown away.

I have tried:

adjusting the SSD position ensuring its secured

tried formatting it in CMD but it doesn't appear on the disk list and is grayed out on the installer

tried using a different M.2 port

tried resetting bios

tried enabling/disabling secure boot

cant find an option to enable/disable the SSD

cant find an option to enable/disable UEFI

boot menu only gives fast boot and delete boot option

tried updating bios

tried disabling fast boot

This happened after i screwed around with intel RAID stuff and it basically killed my SSD. RAID is no longer enabled on the SSD.

The installer also suggests downloading storage drivers, but I highly doubt thats the issue.

My last hope at this point is buying a new SSD and going from there but I'd rather make absolutely sure this is unresolvable before spending money on a new SSD.