Problem encountered when trying to start the system from the Samsung 990Pro using a Boot USB after OS installation.
Problem encountered when trying to start the system from the Samsung 990Pro using a Boot USB after OS installation.
Hello everyone, after a long and difficult night I decided to post this here.
When you first set up the nvme, you didn't need to format it. It's simpler to run the installer on a completely unallocated drive. You just need to ensure the nvme has a GPT partition table header. If you installed an MBR partition table header by mistake, it might be causing issues. Use the Z790-E's BIOS to securely erase the nvme, making it completely blank before trying again.
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!
Find out where you obtained the installer for your operating system. Disconnect all drives except the one you plan to use for the OS. Regarding the OS, you don't have to follow the internal upgrade route to reach Windows 11. Just recreate your bootable USB installer for Windows 11 and then reinstall the OS onto the new SSD, leaving all other drives off the system.
Hello! I used the Windows Media Creation tool to obtain the file. Initially, I chose the USB option in the tool, but after encountering problems, I discovered a guide suggesting to select the ISO file option and then transfer it to the USB using Rufus.exe. That’s helpful information for the OS setup. I might attempt it with Win11, though I suspect the same issue could arise. When installing Win10, I had to unplug all drives.
During the process in Windows from that old SSD download and run the free version of easybcd, navigate to the BCD deployment section, choose NVME and select write MBR. Pick the OS partition on the NVME and install BCD. Next, open File, choose BCD store and load the newly created BCD on the NVME. Finally, add a new entry and update the drive letter to match the current NVME drive name.
When you first set up the nvme, you didn't need to format it. It's simpler to run the installer on a completely unallocated drive. You just need to ensure the nvme has a GPT partition table header. If you installed an MBR partition table header by mistake, it might be causing issues. Use the Z790-E's BIOS to securely erase the nvme, making it completely blank before trying again.
Hi,
Thank you for the clarification. I was adjusting the settings to make it the primary device instead of choosing the USB to change the boot sequence.
Regarding your question, yes — by following those steps, you would be configuring a modern NVMe drive as an MBR, which behaves similarly to an older HDD.
No, this tool isn't altering the drive. The MBR is the master boot record at the start of the disk, containing essential instructions for the operating system (OS/UEFI). It also retains partition information from previous disks, which is why people refer to it as both the boot record and MBR. Easy BCD will only modify the boot details to ensure the NVMe becomes a valid bootable device.
Thank you for your feedback! I carried out several adjustments to achieve the desired result. The process involved a combination of methods, but I believe applying a secure erase was crucial for resolving the problem. This approach is widely recommended for users facing similar challenges when installing an operating system on an NVMe drive, especially with models like the ASUS and Samsung 990 Pro. I’ve outlined the steps I took to ensure my system functioned properly, though I acknowledge that others should exercise caution when replicating these actions.