If the NVMe SSD is not displayed during Windows installation, first check the BIOS/UEFI settings to ensure that it is correctly recognized and enabled, set the storage mode to AHCI, turn on CSM or adjust the Secure Boot status if necessary; secondly, use the latest Windows installation media containing NVMe drivers, and select the correct partitioning scheme (UEFI selects GPT, BIOS selects MBR); then confirm that the NVMe drive is physically connected, try to replace the slot or test it in other systems; finally, press Shift F10 through the installation interface to call up the command prompt, enter diskpart and execute list disk to check whether the disk exists. If it exists, use select disk #, clean and convert gpt/mbr to initialize. In most cases, the problem stems from configuration rather than hardware failure.

If your NVMe SSD isn't showing up during Windows installation, it can be frustrating, especially if you're trying to set up a new system. The good news is that this issue is fairly common and often has straightforward fixes.

Check the BIOS/UEFI Settings

Before jumping into complicated solutions, start with the basics—your motherboard's BIOS or UEFI settings. Sometimes, the NVMe drive won't show up simply because it's not enabled or configured correctly in the firmware.

• Make sure the NVMe drive is listed under storage devices in the BIOS.
• Check if Storage Mode is set to AHCI instead of RAID (especially on Intel chipsets). RAID mode may prevent detection unless drivers are injected during install.
• If there's an option for CSM (Compatibility Support Module) , try enabling it temporarily. It helps with legacy boot compatibility.
• Also, ensure that Secure Boot is either enabled or disabled based on your installation media type—sometimes mismatched modes cause detection issues.

You don't need advanced knowledge here; just go through each relevant setting and make sure they align with standard setup practices.

Use the Right Installation Media

Not all Windows installation USB drives are created equal. If you're using a version of Windows that doesn't include native NVMe drivers (older versions like Windows 10 1703 or earlier), your drive might not be recognized at all.

• Try using the latest Windows ISO from Microsoft. Newer versions usually have better hardware support.
• When creating the USB installer, use tools like Rufus or the official Media Creation Tool and ensure you're using the correct partition scheme:
  • For UEFI systems: GPT
  • For older BIOS systems: MBR

Some motherboards also require USB 3.0 or NVMe drivers to be injected manually into the installer. This is more common on older AMD X570 boards or some Intel Z390 models.

Connect the NVMe Drive Properly

This sounds obvious, but it's worth double-checking. An NVMe SSD needs to be seated properly in the M.2 slot or U.2 connector, depending on your setup.

• Re-seat the NVMe drive to ensure solid contact.
• Confirm that the drive is getting power and isn't loose.
• If possible, test the NVMe drive in another system to confirm it's working.
• Try a different M.2 slot if your motherboard has more than one.

Also, some motherboards disable certain M.2 slots when specific PCIe slots are occupied. Refer to your motherboard manual to see if that's happening in your case.

Access Disk Management or Use Command Prompt

Sometimes, the NVMe drive is actually detected by the Windows installer, but just not visible in the initial setup screen. You can check this by opening a command prompt from the installer:

1. Press Shift F10 during installation to open the command prompt.
2. Type diskpart and hit Enter.
3. Then type list disk to see if your NVMe drive appears.

If it does show up but isn't initialized:

• Use select disk # (replace # with the disk number)
• Then run clean , followed by convert gpt (or convert mbr if you're using CSM)

Alternatively, after installing Windows, you can go to Disk Management and initialize the drive if needed.

In most cases, the NVMe SSD not being detected is due to configuration rather than a hardware failure. Double-checking BIOS settings, using updated installation media, ensuring proper physical connections, and verifying via DiskPart can resolve most issues. It's not rocket science—it just takes a bit of patience and methodical troubleshooting.

Basically that's it.

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