Windows 7 install on Gigabyte GA-Z170X with Samsung SM951 NVMe M.2

[Abarbarian]

Windows 7 does not come with USB 3 drivers or any drivers for the SM951 NVMe so installing is not that simple. Here is how I managed to get things up and running.
After a search on the net I came across this thread and found the needed information.

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-2817439/install-windows-x64-sm951-drive.html

There was one very good post that gave very clear instructions for a dual boot with Windows 10. I have not tried to dual boot yet and only followed the guide to do a successful install of Windows 7.

Dual booting on Samsung SM951 NVMe M.2 and Gigabyte GA-Z170X-UD3. This is how I finally achieved it after literally hours of trying various combinations.

1. Used Rufus to create a Windows 7 Pro x64 SP1 bootable USB (GPT/FAT32/Default cluster size).

2. Copy/paste bootmgfw.efi (from C:\Windows\Boot\EFI) to G:\efi\microsoft\boot and rename to bootx64.efi.

3. Copy/paste G:\efi\microsoft\boot to G:\efi.

4. Using NTlite add package KB2990941-v3-x64.msu to install.wim of Windows 7 Professional x64 on the USB .

5. Using NTlite add Samsung NVMe driver (downloaded from HP Support Centre) to install.wim of Windows 7 Professional x 64 on the USB and to boot.wim by selecting Microsoft Windows Setup (X64).

6. Using NTlite add Gigabyte USB 3.0 driver (downloaded from Gigabyte.com) to install.wim of Windows 7 Professional x 64 on the USB and to boot.wim by selecting Microsoft Windows Setup (X64). This step is necessary for booting from USB on Gigabyte's 100 series boards.

7. Boot from the UEFI USB in system containing the Samsung SM951 NVMe M.2 with all SATA drives disconnected and you should see the NVMe drive.

8. Set up a partition for Windows 7 Pro allowing sufficient space for other os and install.

9. Boot other os from a bootable USB and install on remaining unallocated space on the NVMe drive.

10. You should now have a dual booting Samsung SM951 NVMe M.2 system.

http://h20564.www2.hp.com/hpsc/swd/public/detail?swItemId=wk_149537_1&swEnvOid=4059

HP Samsung NVMe driver

http://support2.microsoft.com/hotfix/KBHotfix.aspx?kbnum=2990941&kbln=en-us

Microsoft hotfix KB2990941-v3-x64.msu

I followed the guide after I had added SP1 with NTlite to a Windows 7 on a usb created with Rufus.

Worked a treat and I now have a working rig. Hope this helps anyone having trouble with a install.