How to Make NVMe SSD Bootable: Simple & Complete Guide

Can you boot from NVME SSD?

Yes, you can definitely boot from NVMe SSD.

NVMe, which stands for Non-Volatile Memory Express, is the latest standard host controller interface designed for connecting solid-state drives (SSDs). Introduced in 2011, NVMe has become a standard feature in many computers. Its exceptional speed and low latency have made it a popular choice among users who wish to enhance their computer's performance. Many users choose to clone their boot drives to NVMe SSDs to take advantage of the significant speed improvements offered by this technology.

NVMe is rapidly becoming the industry standard for various computing devices, including servers, laptops, desktop PCs, and next-generation gaming consoles. You can choose to clone your existing SSD to an NVMe M.2 drive, regardless of whether you are using Windows 7, 8, 8.1, or Windows Server 2008 (R2), 2012 (R2), and 2016, as all these systems are supported for this process.

Then this article will guide you through the whole process of migrating your existing system to NVMe and guide you on how to make NVMe SSD bootable. You just need to follow the 3 steps as below.

Requirements to boot from an NVMe SSD

Before you start, please make sure your hardware has met the basic requirements to boot from NVMe, or the operation will fail. It’s also recommended to backup your previous system data in advance in case of unexpected accidents.

To utilize an NVMe SSD as your boot drive, your computer must meet these criteria:

1. Modern hardware: NVMe works best with Skylake chipset or newer, although it's compatible with older systems.
2. M.2 PCI-E x4 slot: Ensure your motherboard has this slot; if not, you might require a PCIe x4 adapter.
3. UEFI firmware: Booting from an NVMe SSD is supported only on systems with UEFI compatibility.
4. UEFI boot mode: If your computer is booting in Legacy boot mode, please change Legacy to UEFI mode in BIOS after you have transferred Windows 10/11 to the NVMe drive.

How to Make NVMe drive bootable (Easy 3 Steps)

Step 1. Install NVMe SSD on your computer

1. Disconnect the power source of your computer and then open the case. You might need to unscrew the thumbscrews located at the back of your PC's case to do this.

2. Find the M.2 slot on your motherboard, usually situated just below the PCIE connector. In the case of a mini-ITX motherboard, the M.2 slot would be positioned behind the board.

3. Insert the NVMe SSD into the slot, angling it correctly, and then secure it in place using the mounting screw.

💡Note: If your SSD is brand new, you should know how to initialize it.

Step 2. Transfer OS on NVMe

This is a comparatively complicated step. In order to learn how to make NVMe bootable, you need to migrate everything on your current running system. Since there’s no built-in cloning tool in Windows, opting for reliable and professional cloning software is the best choice. Here I will use AOMEI Backupper Professional to guide you to migrate HDD to NVMe SSD without reinstalling. Some cloning features may attract you here:

• SSD Alignment to improve your hard drive performance and enhance lifespan.
• Intelligent clone to clone the used sectors by default which allows you to clone larger HDDs to smaller SDDs.
• The Edit partitions feature allows you to adjust the partition size of the destination disk so that you can make full use of the space on the destination disk.
• It supports all Windows PCs, including Windows 11/10/8/8.1/7/XP/Vista.

Before you start, download this software and install it on your PC.

1. Launch this software and navigate to Clone > System Clone.

2. Select the new SSD as destination partition since all boot-related drives are selected by default. 

3. Tick the SSD Alignment option and then click Start Clone, it will align the partition during the cloning process.

Step 3. Set the NVMe SSD as the boot drive

If you're unsure about how to boot from the cloned NVMe SSD or need to confirm its bootability, please follow these steps for guidance.

1. Turn off your computer completely.

2. Reboot your computer and press the designated key (commonly F2, Del, ESC, F10, etc.) to access the BIOS.

3. Navigate to the Boot option in the BIOS and choose the NVMe SSD as the primary boot device. Save the changes you made and proceed to boot from it.

Conclusion

This article tells how to make NVMe SSD bootable with a full guide. The most complicated part must be the second, that’s installing your current OS on the NVMe SSD. Luckily, here is one best system cloning software AOMEI Backupper for you.

Apart from system clones, this software can also enable you to clone disk and partitions to meet different cloning requirements. Also, before you perform the cloning, it is advisable to backup the necessary data on your NVMe SSD in advance with this wonderful backup and restore software.

FQA

# 1. Is NVMe and M 2 the same?

The NVMe and M2 is not exactly the same. For NVMe, it's a protocol with faster transfer speed, 5 or 6 times than traditional SATA protocol. For M2, it's a more modern type of internally mounted expansion card using SATA or PCIe interface.

# 2. How to format the old hard drive for reuse

1. Open AOMEI Backupper Professional, switch to Tools tab and select Wipe Disk.

2. Then, you will be asked to select the wiping type, tick Wipe Disk to delete all the partitions on the old hard drive. Then, click Next.

3. Select HDD and click Next. Choose Fill sectors with zero or advanced disk wiping methods - fill sectors with random data, DoD 52220.22-M, Gutmann. Then, click Next.

4. Click Start to begin the disk wiping process. Then, all the data will be deleted from the disk.

# 3. Do I need to install any drivers for NVMe SSD to be bootable?

In most cases, modern operating systems like Windows 10 and Linux have built-in NVMe drivers, so you don't need to install additional drivers during the OS installation process.

# 4. Can I use an NVMe SSD as a secondary drive without making it bootable?

Yes, you can use an NVMe SSD as a secondary drive for additional storage without making it a boot drive. Just install it in an available M.2 slot or PCIe adapter and format it in the operating system.