How to Enable M.2 SSD on ASUS ROG Z390 Motherboard

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You recently purchased the latest NVME M.2 SSD drive and use it as your primary storage drive for your OS. Surprisingly, when you try to install Windows 10 on it there is a problem stopping you from installing it, the M.2 drive is not listed on the drive list. An error message saying “No drives were found. Click Load Driver to provide a mass storage driver for installation”.

This problem occurs because of the lacked of signed UEFI driver for PCIE-based storage like the NVME M.2 SSD due to latest Microsoft Secure Boot regulations. Resetting your motherboard settings to default will not work, the only way work around with it is to enable something on your BOOT settings of your ASUS ROG Z390 motherboard.

Table of Contents

  1. Removed SATA drives
  2. Enable Launch CSM
  3. How to go to BIOS in ASUS ROG Z390

Removed SATA drives

First of all, you have to remove all connected SATA storage drive from your computer. This is to make sure that there is no conflicting UEFI and non-UEFI storage drive that blocking you from installing an OS.

You can physically removed it from your motherboard or via BOOT menu (See instruction below if you have no idea how to enter BIOS, key is F1 or DEL).

At your BIOS settings, go to Advanced > SATA/Storage Configuration. Then disabled all of the SATA_1 up to 6 slots at the settings.

Enable Launch CSM

Once all SATA drives are disconnected. Make sure your M.2 NVME is connected to your motherboard. It is best to place it on the upper slot if you have two M.2 slots.

To enable the Compatibility Support Modules (CSM), you need to go to your BIOS (See instruction below for entering to BIOS).

Switch to Advanced if you’re in Easy Mode.

Then at the Boot tab, browse at the 3rd selection which is the CSM (Compatibility Support Module).

Then, set the Launch CSM to Enable.

The default values for further settings is as follow:

  • Boot Device Control – UEFI and Legacy OPROM
  • Boot from Network Devices – Legacy only
  • Boot from Storage Devices – Legacy only
  • Boot from PCI-E/PCI Expansion Devices – Legacy only

To apply the changes, go to Exit tab and select the Save Changes and Exit. This will boot your computer and once you’re in the Windows 10 installation you should now see the drive for your M.2 SSD.

How to go to BIOS in ASUS ROG Z390

To go to the BIOS menu of your motherboard, simply turn off your computer first. Then turn it on, while turning on, you need to press either F1 or DELETE key from your keyboard repeatedly. Once you are in the BIOS, stop pressing.

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