Frequently Asked Questions Regarding NVMe Solid-State Drives (SSDs)

Table of Contents

• New Technologies
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Windows Transition Schedule
• Glossary
• Dell Skylake Models with Windows 7 Support

New Technologies

Many of the exciting new hardware technologies in the latest Dell OptiPlex, Precision, Latitude, Venue, and XPS computers work optimally with a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI)/GUID Partition Table (GPT) based image. UEFI also offers increased speed, performance, and added security with new Microsoft features.

While some of the newest Dell computers require UEFI, other recent models have increased stability when configured using UEFI. The new Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) drives also represent a technology leap forward which works optimally in UEFI configurations. While Windows 8, 8.1, 10, and 11 natively uses the UEFI standard, additional preparation and consideration must be taken with Windows 7 for compatibility.

Dell computers manufactured since 2011 are UEFI capable. Depending on the order configuration of the computer, and the operating system that is installed from the factory and other considerations, your computer may have shipped in a UEFI configuration or in a Legacy BIOS configuration. Generally, computers that are shipped with Windows 8 or 8.1 shipped with UEFI enabled. All Windows 10 and 11 computers ship from Dell in the UEFI mode.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is NVMe?
2. Should I use NVMe drives with MBR?
3. Why does my NVMe drive not work with Windows 7?
4. Do I must do anything for my NVMe drives to work with my Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 image?
5. Why will not my Windows 7 disc work with my new Dell computers?
6. What is Skylake and what do I must know about it?
7. What is UEFI?
8. What is the difference between MBR and GPT?
9. Which imaging technologies support UEFI?
10. What is the difference between Legacy BIOS and UEFI?
11. How are GPT and UEFI associated?
12. Is MBR the same as Legacy BIOS?
13. How do I switch my Dell computer from Legacy Mode to UEFI?
14. Can I configure my Windows 7 computers setup on UEFI for Secure Boot?
15. Can I configure my Windows 7 computers setup on UEFI for BitLocker?
16. Can I configure my Windows 7 computers setup on Legacy for BitLocker if I am unable to use UEFI?

1. Q: What is NVMe?
   A: Non-Volatile Memory express (NVMe) is a communications interface/protocol developed specially for solid state drives (SSD). Previously, solid state drives used hard drive controller interfaces (SATA, SAS, so forth…) that were designed for spinning hard disk drives. NVMe (Based on the PCI Express data bus) standardizes the interface for SSDs requiring only one driver for all drives using this specification. (Similar to USB devices)
2. Q: Should I use NVMe drives with MBR?
   A: No, Dell Technologies recommends NVMe drives be configured using UEFI and GPT for optimal performance, security, and reliability.
3. Q: Why does my NVMe drive not work with Windows 7?
   A: Windows 7 does not include support for NVMe drives natively. Usually, Windows 7 imaging failures are rooted in improper device configuration, legacy imaging software/processes and failure to load required drivers during the imaging process to provide Windows 7 support for NVMe drives. Dell Technologies recommends UEFI and GPT configuration of Windows 7 computers.
   • Imaging Articles:
     • Imaging M.2 solid state drives in Intel Skylake Chipset Systems
     • Imaging Intel Skylake systems with SCCM 2012 using DCIP 4.1
     • Imaging M.2 solid state drives in Intel Skylake Chipset Systems
     • Imaging Intel Skylake systems with SCCM 2012 using DCIP 4.1
     • Ghost Imaging on Skylake/Thunderbolt Systems
4. Q: Do I must do anything for my NVMe drives to work with my Windows 8,8.1,10,11 image?
   A: MAYBE - Depending on how your image was prepared and the source operating system that is used, you may need to inject NVMe drivers into your Windows 8,8.1,10,11 image.
5. Q: Why will not my Windows 7 disc work with my new Dell computers?
   A: Current Windows 7 media does not include the USB 3.1 driver or the NVMe driver support that is required to install itself on NVMe equipped computers.
6. Q: What is Skylake and what do I must know about it?
   A: Skylake refers to the sixth Generation of the Intel Core processor design, and it is the successor to the fifth generation Broadwell chipset. Some important differences with the Skylake chipset include:
   • No longer includes support for the USB 2.0 bus (Windows 7 requires USB 2.0 support unless specific USB 3.1 drivers are incorporated into your Windows 7 image.)
   • Thunderbolt 3.0 high-speed data transport support.
   • Iris Pro Graphics is capable of 4k display on up to three screens
7. Q: What is UEFI?
   A: Is a version of the computer setup that replaces the BIOS? UEFI is a technology specification that is managed by The Unified Extensible Firmware Interface Forum or (UEFI Forum) an alliance of multiple technology companies working to modernize the computer booting process.
   Advantages of UEFI included the following:
   • The ability to boot to disks in greater than 2 TB using GUID Partitions (GPT)
   • The computer architecture is not dependent on the Central Processing Unit (CPU) design
   • Greater flexibility in the pre-Operating System environment, including network capability
   • Modular design
   • Drivers are not dependent on the Central Processing Unit (CPU) design.
   • UEFI is a replacement technology for the Basic Input and Output System (BIOS)
   • Secure Boot: A security technology to help prevent virus/malware attacks at the system board level.

   Dell Technologies recommends that if you do use Windows 7, you migrate your computers to GPT partitioning or a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) computer setup configuration to obtain the best possible functionality for new hardware. This also reduces compatibility considerations during the eventual transition from Windows 7 to Windows 10 or 11.

   • Many Windows 7 users have planned to make the transition to GPT/UEFI along with the migration to Windows 10 or 11, but moving to GPT/UEFI with Windows 7 may be required now to support the latest hardware platforms and technology enhancements.
   • Moving to Windows 7 with GPT partitioning/UEFI computer setup configuration provides a bridge for Windows 7 users who are not ready to move to Windows 10 or 11 immediately.
8. Q: What is the difference between MBR and GPT?
   A: MBR stands for Master Boot Record. MBR dates to the start of personal computing in 1983 MBR uses a special boot sector on the drive containing a boot loader for the operating system. MBR's largest limitations are a maximum of primary partitions (4) and a limitation of 2-Terabyte disk size. MBR stores the boot and partitioning information in the dedicated boot sector providing a failure point and limiting disaster recovery.
   GPT stands for GUID Partition Table. It is called GUID Partition Table because every partition on your drive has a "globally unique identifier," or GUID—a random set of characters allowing GPT partitions their own unique identifier (GUID Format 00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000). On modern drives, the drive size limits 8 Zebibyte (ZiB) GPT stores multiple copies of the boot and partition data across the drive-providing redundancy and better disaster recovery.
9. Q: Which imaging technologies support UEFI?
   A: Dell Technologies recommends Dell ImageAssist (Dell’s cross-platform imaging technology), Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) 2012, 2012 R2, 2016 or newer and Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) as the recommended imaging technologies for UEFI-based computers.
10. Q: What is the difference between Legacy BIOS and UEFI?
    A: Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) is a replacement technology for the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS). Legacy BIOS has limitations that do not allow for optimal performance of new technologies and will likely no be longer supported soon as newer technologies are more incompatible with this older technology.
11. Q: How are GPT and UEFI associated?
    A:UEFI does not boot to MBR partitions without specific Legacy ROM support available in some Dell computer UEFI setups. UEFI is designed for GPT partitions. Secure Boot will not function with an MBR partition.
12. Q: Is MBR the same as Legacy BIOS?
    A: MBR refers to the Master Boot Record partitions of a hard drive. Legacy BIOS refers to computer setup designs prior to UEFI. Both Legacy BIOS and UEFI allow you to configure the computer options in the firmware of the motherboard. UEFI is intended to be used with the GPT partition type, but can be configured to use MBR on computers designed with Legacy BIOS support, but there are functional limitations and performance limitations that are associated with this legacy support.
13. Q: How do I switch my Dell system from Legacy Mode to UEFI?
    A: Dell computers that support Legacy BIOS in computer setup have an option to switch from UEFI to Legacy modes.
    NOTE: Switching a computer from UEFI to Legacy or Legacy to UEFI will render the computer unbootable, requiring the computer to have the operating system that is either reinstalled or reimaged.
14. Q: Can I configure my Windows 7 systems setup on UEFI for Secure Boot?
    A: Secure Boot is a feature of UEFI. It cannot be enabled in Windows 7.
15. Q: Can I configure my Windows 7 systems setup on UEFI for BitLocker?
    A: Yes Legacy Option ROMs must be enabled for Windows 7 to function correctly.
    NOTE: Some computers may not have Legacy Option ROMS capability. Check your computer setup to determine if this option is available in your computer setup.
16. Q: Can I configure my Windows 7 systems setup on Legacy for BitLocker if I am unable to use UEFI?
    Yes Some computers require a BIOS update to allow BitLocker to function in Legacy Mode.
    NOTE: Ensure that your system has the most current BIOS update installed.

If your computer is not listed, then Legacy BitLocker is not supported on your computer.

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Windows Transition Schedule

• June 30, 2017 End of Distribution
  • Windows 8
  • Windows 8 Pro DOWNGRADE to Windows 7 Pro
  • Windows 8.1 DOWNGRSDE to Windows 7 Pro
  • Windows 7 Home Basic (China ONLY)
• July 31, 2017 End of Distribution
  • Windows 10 Pro Small Tablet
  • Windows 10 Tablet 2-in-1 DOWNGRADE
• October 31, 2017 End of Distribution
  • Windows 7 Pro
  • Windows 8.1
  • Windows 10 Pro DOWNGRADE to Windows 7 Pro or 8.1 Pro

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Glossary

• UEFI - Unified Extensible Firmware Interface, System Setup interface that replaces BIOS (Basic Input and Output System) used for computer configuration.
• NVMe - Non-Volatile Memory express, a new technology that uses the PCI-Express bus for SSD operations, which is considerably faster than SATA technology.
• PCI Express - A high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard, which is designed to replace the older PCI, PCI-X, and AGP bus standards
• SATA - Serial ATA (abbreviated from Serial AT Attachment) is a computer bus interface that connects host bus adapters to mass storage devices such as hard disk drives, optical drives, and solid state drives.
• SAS - Serial-attached Small Computer System Interface (SCSI), a computer bus interface using SATA devices and the speed of the SCSI host controller.
• MBR - Master Boot Record
• GPT - GUID Partition Table
• GUID - Globally Unique Identifier
• ZiB - Zebibyte (1 zebibyte = 270 bytes = 1,180,591,620,717,411,303,424bytes = 1024 exbibytes)
• SCCM - System Center Configuration Manager (Microsoft)
• MDT - Microsoft Deployment Toolkit
• Legacy ROM - (Legacy Read-Only Memory) enables older boot device options when computers are configured for UEFI (Shows boot options other than EFI enabled boot drives.)
• Firmware - permanent software programmed into a read-only memory
• Skylake - Refers to the sixth Generation of the Intel Core Processor design.
• Kaby Lake - Refers to the seventh Generation of the Intel Core processor design. (It is expected that Kaby Lake will only support Windows 10.)
• Broadwell - Refers to the fourth Generation of the Intel Core processor design
• Haswell - Refers to the fourth Generation of the Intel Core processor design
• Thunderbolt 3 - Thunderbolt 3 is a hardware interface that uses the USB Type-C connector. Thunderbolt combines PCI Express (PCIe) and DisplayPort (DP) into one serial signal, and also provides DC power, all in one cable. Up to six devices may be supported by one Thunderbolt 3 connection.
• DisplayPort (DP) - A digital display interface primarily used to connect a video source to a display device such as an LCD Display. DisplayPort connections can also be used to carry audio, USB, and other forms of data over a single connection.

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Dell Skylake Models with Windows 7 Support

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Recommended Articles

Here are some recommended articles related to this topic that might be of interest to you.

• Imaging M.2 solid state drives in Intel Skylake Chipset Systems
• Windows 10 install with NVMe SSD and SATA drives
• OptiPlex 3050 support for PCIe M.2 SSD hard drives
• M.2 NVMe Device Specifications and Upgrade Requirements for Precision, OptiPlex, Latitude, and XPS Systems