M.2 Samsung SM951 NVME SSD Not Recognized On Linux

Complete details on how to install Ubuntu 15.10 on Precision Dell M7510 are reported in this google doc.

Copied below are the main details answering your questions.

Since this is my first post and I don't have at least 10 reputations, only few links are included here.


Disabling SATA mode should allow the disk to be recognized (and bootable) on Linux.

To do so, you will:

  1. Start the computer

  2. Access System Setup by pressing F2 key when you see the Dell logo. See here for details.

  3. Go to System Configuration then SATA operations, and finally change from RAID On to Disabled.

  4. Apply changes and exit.

Notes:

  • Following this suggestion, this is required to ensure the NMVe disk is found during installation.

  • As originally suggested in Dell documentation, specifying boot option nvme_load=YES does not work.


Now here are some comments regarding dual boot with Windows 7 and Ubuntu 15.10.

Considering that:

  • changing the SATA operation mode from RAID On to either AHCI or Disabled prevents Windows 7 from starting. A BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) appears.

  • proposed solution like Registry Fix to Migrate from ATA Mode to AHCI Mode or RAID On Mode in Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 failed. See http://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/19/SLN285045

I resumed to install only Ubuntu 15.10.

Notes:

  • Since Ubuntu can be installed with SATA operation set to either AHCI or Disabled, selecting AHCI and doing a fresh install of Windows 7 should work. (I have NOT tested)

  • That said, if you would like optimum performance, disabling SATA Operation and using NVMe protocol is best. The problem is that, as of January 2016, there are no NVMe Windows7 driver for SSD hard drive of type Samsung SM951 (the one installed in Precision M7510). This means that it is not possible to boot or install Windows 7 with SATA operations disabled.

  • A possible workaround is to create a bootable Windows 7 USB disk, by re-using the virtual OS originally bundled with the Window 10 install. The following post provide more details: http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2817439/install-windows-x64-sm951-drive.html#16747080

  • An other option would be to try to use the “950 PRO NVMe Driver” available at http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/minisite/SSD/global/html/support/downloads.html