NUC10i7FNH win10 installation on ssd nvme - missing driver

[myrsi]

I'm having trouble installing windows 10 on my intel NUC equipped with a samsung ssd nvme evo 970 1Tb : a missing driver error occurs before selecting a drive. I already tried loading the inf files provided by samsung when asked to load the drivers but all in vain. Also tried using intel's rapid storage drivers but same result. UEFI mode is already activated and secure boot is disabled. I only managed to install Fedora on it. 

[n_scott_pearson]

Do the following:

1. Using the Microsoft tool (available here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10), create a new installation image on your flash media.
2. Power on the NUC, use F2 to enter BIOS Setup, browse to boot settings and there ensure that Legacy Boot is Disabled. You can put is back to Enabled later if you wish, but for now we need it set to Disabled. Use F10 to save this change and exit BIOS Setup.
3. Use F10 at BIOS POST to enter the boot device selection dialog and select to do UEFI Boot from your flash media.
4. Proceed through the Windows Installation process until you come to the scene where you select where to install Windows. At this scene, delete *all* partitions on the target drive. Then, select the free space entry for this driver and continue the install process. This ensures that a new UEFI partition table is created on the drive.

You will not be required to provide any INF files or drivers at this point.

Once you have Windows 10 loaded and running, first thing to do is install the Chipset Device Software (a.k.a. INF Update) package for your NUC and then reboot. You can then install the other (graphics, ethernet, wireless, Thunderbolt, etc. and etc.) drivers -- but do not install Intel RST unless you (a) want to run RAID or (b) plan to install an Optane Module (which is actually not possible without removing the Samsung NVMe SSD that you have).

Hope this helps,

...S

[myrsi]

n_scott_pearson thanks but the error occurs right before I can even select a drive where to install windows

[n_scott_pearson]

Here's my augmented instructions; follow them exactly; do not skip any steps.

1. On another Windows PC/Laptop, format a USB flash disk using FAT32 (no other!) file system and with Quick Format Disabled.
2. Place a copy of the .BIO file for the latest FN BIOS into the root folder of this USB flash disk. It should be the only file on this USB flash disk. The latest .BIO file is available for download here: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download/19485.
3. Properly eject the USB flash disk; don't just yank it out.
4. Insert the USB flash disk into the NUC and then power it on.
5. At BIOS POST, use the F7 key to select the BIOS Update menu. In this menu, select the USB flash disk and then the .BIO file placed there previously. Let the BIOS update proceed (it will reboot the NUC at least once). When the BIOS Update process completes, the NUC will automatically reboot a second time.
6. At the resulting BIOS POST use the F2 key to enter BIOS Setup.
7. Once in BIOS Setup, use the F9 key to request the reset of the BIOS configuration.
8. Browse to the Boot settings and there ensure that Legacy Boot is Disabled.
9. Use the F10 key to request the save of these changes and exit from BIOS Setup.
10. When the BIOS POST screen appears, power off.
11. On another Windows PC/Laptop, use the Microsoft Windows media creation tool (available here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10) to create a new installation image on your USB flash media.
12. Properly eject the USB flash disk; don't just yank it out.
13. Insert the USB flash disk into the NUC and then power on.
14. Use the F10 key at BIOS POST to enter the boot device selection dialog and select to do UEFI Boot from your USB flash media.
15. Proceed through the Windows Installation process until you come to the scene where you select where to install Windows.
16. At this scene, delete *all* partitions on the target drive. Then, select the free space entry for this driver and continue the install process. This ensures that a new UEFI partition table is created on the drive.

Again, if you followed all steps exactly, you will not be asked to provide any INF or driver files. If you are asked, then you didn't follow my instructions exactly.

...S

[myrsi]

I've followed your instructions to the letter, my BIOS version is now FNCML357.0058.2022.0720.1011 but I still get the same problem

[LeonWaksman]

Hi @myrsi ,

I've installed Windows 10 many times (including NUC10i7FNH, equipped with Samsung (970 EVO Plus SSD). Never got problem you have (i.e never asked to add any driver during installation)

Did you prepared the installation USB using Microsoft Media Creation Tool? I'm asking this because the link provided by Scott in his post is not working for me. Do not use the installation media you bought, use only created with the Microsoft Media Creation Tool.

Was your BIOS reset to default settings?

Leon

[myrsi]

yes, I used the microsoft media creation tool.
I have another computer (hp prodesk g3 mini equipped with another samsung nvme on which I already installed win10 3 years ago) on which I tried to install windows 10 just to test it and I got the same problem. I'll just reset everything on my intel NUC and restart from the begining. And if it still doesn't work, I'll try to copy the samsung drive from my prodesk to the samsung drive from my intel NUC.

[myrsi · Accepted solution]

Thanks y'all. The problem was I used the media creation tool to download the win10 iso file then create a bootable usb using fedora media writer (it worked when I did the same thing 3 years ago). This time I used the media creation tool to directly create the bootable usb and it finally worked.