This pinned topic is a practical starting point for NVMe / AHCI / RAID driver questions on older systems (legacy BIOS, early UEFI, Windows 7/8/10/11, and mixed MBR/GPT setups).

The goal: help you boot and run NVMe SSDs reliably, with or without BIOS modding, using the correct storage mode (AHCI/RAID), proper drivers, and correct boot configuration.

What we cover here (allowed topics)

NVMe boot on legacy platforms

Adding NVMe support to a motherboard BIOS/UEFI (where possible) Using NVMe on systems that can’t boot NVMe (bootloader methods, secondary drive usage) GPT vs MBR, UEFI vs Legacy/CSM, secure boot considerations

AHCI / RAID storage drivers & installation

“No drives found” during Windows setup (WinPE driver loading) Intel RST / VMD / RAID mode vs pure AHCI AMD RAID vs AHCI (where applicable) Installing Windows on NVMe when BIOS/UEFI is picky or incomplete

Troubleshooting common failures

NVMe not detected in BIOS/UEFI, detected in OS only, or intermittent detection Boot loops after cloning / imaging 0x7B INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE, 0xc000000e, “boot device not found” Slow boots, freezes, random disconnects (driver/firmware/power/adapter issues)

Adapters, compatibility, and real-world limitations

M.2-to-PCIe adapters and lane wiring (x1/x4/x16 slot behavior) PCIe generation negotiation issues on old chipsets BIOS size/structure limits that affect modding outcomes NVMe SSD firmware quirks, power management, and ASPM-related issues

What is NOT allowed here

Any request or instructions aimed at bypassing security policies, ownership locks, or unauthorized access Malware, stealth persistence, or “hide/disable security features” requests Anything illegal or clearly non-legitimate

Before you create a new topic, please provide (copy/paste checklist)
A) Hardware / platform

Motherboard model + exact revision (if known) CPU model Chipset (if known) BIOS/UEFI vendor + version/date Boot mode currently used: UEFI / Legacy / CSM Storage mode: AHCI / RAID / Intel RST / VMD (if present)

B) Drive + adapter details

NVMe SSD brand + model + capacity NVMe firmware version (if available) If using adapter: M.2-to-PCIe adapter model + which slot used (x16/x4/x1)

C) Operating system + install method

OS version (Windows 7/8/10/11 / Linux distro) Clean install vs clone vs migration If Windows setup: what media (USB), and at what step the issue occurs

D) The exact problem

What exactly happens (error text, behavior) When it started (after BIOS update, driver change, clone, new SSD, etc.) What you already tried (so we don’t repeat basics)

E) Evidence (highly recommended)

Photos/screenshots of BIOS storage settings and boot page Disk Management screenshot (if visible in OS) Setup screen screenshot if “no drives found” Event Viewer / logs if you have them

Quick guidance (most common fixes)

If Windows Setup can’t see the drive: load the correct storage driver (RST/VMD/RAID) OR switch to AHCI when possible. If you cloned from SATA to NVMe and it won’t boot: check GPT/UEFI alignment and ensure the EFI partition exists and is used. If the drive is missing in BIOS but visible in OS: your platform likely can’t boot NVMe natively without a proper UEFI NVMe DXE / boot method. If detection is random: check adapter quality, slot lanes, BIOS PCIe settings, and power management.

If you’re unsure where to start:
Create a new topic and fill the checklist above. The more exact your board/BIOS mode/driver mode details are, the faster you’ll get a correct answer.