Unable to use all 3 NVMe slots on the NUC12DCMv9 - Nuc 12 Extreme i9

[IDEIAS]

Hi,

I'm trying to configure an Intel Nuc Extreme NUC12DCMv9 populating all the 3 M2 slots.

If possible the 2x 4TB at the from and the 2TB at the back.

I'm using 1x 2TB Seagate Firecuda and 2x 4TB Seagate Firecuda with no success.

Even thought that all the 3 devices are shown on the BIOS, as soon as I try to install Windows 10 or Windows 11, only 2 of these are seen either on the Windows setup, either after Windows installation.

Already try to rotate the drives on the slots on all possible combinations.

No matter what I do, only 2 are seen at a time.

Even when 2 devices are seen, they appear randomly, sometimes ones, sometimes others.

Sometimes is the drive on the left slot unseen, sometimes the one at the right slot, and even happened the one on the back not seen.

NUC12DCMv9 is updated to the latest BIOS and have 64GB of memory.

Using Windows Device Manager, 3x Standard NVM Express Controllers are present, but one of these presents an exclamation mark.

It says:

"This device cannot start (Code 10)

An I/O adapter hardware error was occurred"

Tried with SATA enabled and disabled on the BIOS but the problems still there.

Is my NUC12DCMv9 broken? What can I do to solve this problem?

Many thanks for the help

[AndrewG_Intel]

Hello @IDEIAS

Thank you for posting on the Intel® communities.

First, we would recommend the following steps to see if the issue is solved:

1- We understand that you mentioned the BIOS has been updated to the latest. Just to make sure, is BIOS 0055 the one running on the device?

If you are running a previous version, please update to version 0055 and refer to the BIOS update instructions (we usually recommend the F7 update method).

2- Also, please set BIOS to default:

1. Press F2 during boot to enter the BIOS setup.
2. Press F9 to set defaults.
3. Press F10 to Save and Exit.

3- Check if there is a firmware update available for the M.2 NVMe drives.

4- If possible, please test with a different set of drives to see if the behavior is different.

If the problem persists, please provide us with the following information.

1- Is this a new Intel® NUC? Also, was it working as expected before with this configuration? If so, was any hardware or software change that might relate to the point when the issue started to occur?

2- Exact models and part numbers of the Seagate Firecuda:

3- Do you noticed any "drive detecting issue" if you only use one drive at a time on each M.2 slot?

4- Run the Intel® System Support Utility (Intel® SSU) to gather more details about the system:

• Download the Intel® SSU and save the application on your computer
• Open the application, check the "Everything" checkbox, and click "Scan" to see the system and device information. The Intel® SSU defaults to the "Summary View" on the output screen following the scan. Click the menu where it says "Summary" to change to "Detailed View".
• To save your scan, click Next and click Save.
• Once you have saved the file (.txt file), please attach it to your reply.

To upload and attach a file, use the "Drag and drop here or browse files to attach" option below the response textbox.

Best regards,

Andrew G.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[AndrewG_Intel]

Hello IDEIAS

We are checking this thread and we would like to know if you need further assistance. Please do not hesitate to contact us back if you have additional inquiries.

Best regards,

Andrew G.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[DeividA_Intel]

Hello IDEIAS, 

I was checking your thread and see that we have not heard back from you.  

I’m going to close your post, but if you need further assistance, please do not hesitate to create a new thread. 

Regards,  

Deivid A.  

Intel Customer Support Technician  

[IDEIAS]

Sorry for my silencie. Bern in the hospital.
Tomorrow will post the solution I found.
Many thanks

[IDEIAS]

Andrew,

Many thanks for your help.

I went into BIOS and, under STORAGE, I checked every box.

After that I was able to instal the Intel RST and after a Reboot, all the 3 drives come on.

On Device Manager, instead of the Microsoft Standard MVM Express driver, now are present 3 Intel based drivers, one for each drive.

This was done on a trial and error basis and I do have no idea if I should uncheck any of the boxes...

The NUC is a brand new one and before this "solution" every slot worked but only one or two drives were seen at a time.

RNUC12DCMI90000 with 64GB RAM

1x ZP2000GM3A013 Seagate Firecuda 530 2TB

2x ZP4000GM3A013 Seagate Firecuda 530 4TB

Please share with me your thoughts on this.

Many thanks

[AndrewG_Intel]

Hello IDEIAS

No problem, and thank you for your response.

Just to make sure we understand correctly: after you checked all the options in the BIOS related to storage and installed Intel® RST, is the problem solved and now all the 3 drives are properly detected? Is this statement correct?

Regarding your inquiries, could you please provide a clear picture of the BIOS options for which you are wondering if you "should uncheck any of the boxes or not"?

Also, since you mentioned that you installed Intel® RST, are you interested in configuring RAID on this Intel® NUC?

Best regards,

Andrew G.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[IDEIAS]

Andrew,

Thanks for your care.

Yes, after checked all storage option in the BIOS I was able to install The Intel RST.

I did it, not because I wanted to create or use any kind of RAID, but as a trial and error until the Microsoft Standard MVM Express drivers were substituted by the Intel ones. There might be a different way to accomplish it, but that was the way I was able to do.

Before installed RST I had no chance to have the Intel drivers installed. Maybe a coincidence, no idea.

With these Intel RST drivers all 3 drives are shown and working.

I do not want to use any kind of disk array.

I have no idea if I should uncheck some of the Storage options.

Please find attached photos of the BIOS under the Storage tab. Also enclosed a picture of the actual working drivers under Device Manager.

Many thanks for help.

[Jean_Intel]

Hello IDEIAS,

Thanks for the information you have shared with us.

I will proceed to check the issue internally and post back soon with more details. 

Best regards, 

Jean O.  

Intel Customer Support Technician

[Jean_Intel]

Hello IDEIAS,

Thanks for waiting for a response.

To further research this matter. Can you inform us if you have tested the drives individually on each slot?

Also, provide us with an Intel System Support Utility (Intel SSU), since it will gather information about your system, it will help us with our research process: 

• Download the Intel SSU

• Open the application and click on "Scan" to see the system and device information. By default, Intel SSU will take you to the "Summary View." 

• Click on the menu where it says: "Summary" to change it to "Detailed View." 

• To save your scan: click on "Next"; then "Save." 

Best regards, 

Jean O.  

Intel Customer Support Technician

[IDEIAS]

Hi Jean!

Yes, tried each drive at each slot, one at a time, then every possible combination of 2 of the 3 drives on the 3 slots.

At the end I tested all 3 drives rotating on the 3 slots with random results: sometimes I was able to see 2 drives, not every time the same ones, and sometimes only 1 were seen and even there, the one showed appears on randomly way after each restart.

On the BIOS, all the drives shown all the times.

As asked I attached the SSU log.

Many thanks for the help.

[AndrewG_Intel]

Hello IDEIAS

Thank you for your response.

We will continue investigating this matter and contact you back once more information is available.

Best regards,

Andrew G.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[AndrewG_Intel]

Hello IDEIAS

As per all the data that you shared looks like the system is reading the 3 drives, could you please share a screenshot from Disk Management?

To open Disk Management, right-click the Windows* Start button and select Disk Management.

Best regards,

Andrew G.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[IDEIAS]

Hello Andrew,

Please find enclosed the screenshot asked.

Thanks for the help.

[AndrewG_Intel]

Hello IDEIAS

Thank you for the screenshot. We are going to check this and keep you posted.

Best regards,

Andrew G.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[AndrewG_Intel]

Hello IDEIAS

After investigating this, we don't see any reason why RAID needs to be enabled for the 3 drivers to be recognized in Windows*.

If the 3 drives are recognized in BIOS, the operating system (OS) should be also able to map out the drives, perhaps not during Windows setup but for sure under "Disk Management".

The non-RAID mode (SATA mode) should be configured as follows:

Do not enable VMD controller if RAID is not intended:

We would recommend the following:

1- Try one drive and install the OS.

2- Add the second drive and map it using "Disk Management".

3- Run some Drive testing/stress.

4- Check if no issues are detected.

5- Add the third drive.

If the system stops recognizing any of the drives randomly, please let us know and provide us with details of the outcome of the steps.

Best regards,

Andrew G.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[AndrewG_Intel]

Hello IDEIAS

We are checking this thread and we would like to know if you need further assistance. Please do not hesitate to contact us back if you have additional inquiries.

Best regards,

Andrew G.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[AndrewG_Intel]

Hello IDEIAS

We have not heard back from you so we will proceed to close this thread now. If you need any additional information, please submit a new question as this thread will no longer be monitored.

Best regards,

Andrew G.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[EMSpilot]

I had this same issue with my NUC 13 Extreme i9. My NUC could never see the CPU M.2 slot. Which I would guess is the same issue you were having. I had to enable VMD and map the M.2 in Bios to get it to read in Windows. 

Cheers

Bill

[IDEIAS]

Same solution here.

Thanks for sharing.

Strange that Intel experts cannot explain that and give us a solution...

Cheers