Acer Aspire AT3-715A - NVME M.2 Errors

mbnb7076

Trying to add an NVME M.2 drive but cannot get it initialized on my Acer Aspire AT3-715A ...

I found the NVME M.2 slot (under the graphics card) and I'm trying to add an XPG SX6000 256GB M.2 SSD. I've tried too many thing to list and understand the basics of building PCs. 

Basically, I continue to get the following error when trying to first install the drive:

Using Disk Management (Windows 10)
Prompted with Disk 1 - Initialize Disk. Choice of MBR or GPT

After choosing either MBR or GPT, I always get the same error from Virtual Disk Manager: Data error (cyclic redundancy check).

I RMA'd one drive already thinking it was a bad drive but get the exact same error with the new drive. Also, in BIOS (R01-A4), I have AHCI for the SATA mode.

Not sure what else to do... Can't figure out if there is something wrong with the motherboard, settings in BIOS, or something else I haven't tried yet. I took pictures of all screens in BIOS and can share if needed.

Please help. 

JordanB

@mbnb7076

Try to re-install your M.2 SSD as there is a slight possibility that it is not inserted correctly in to the M.2 slot.  This person shows it "clicking" in properly.

I don't have an AT3-715a and have never used an XPG SX6000, but here are the steps I took to install Windows 10 on an Intel 600P NVMe M.2 SSD the other day.

I'll assume your BIOS settings are default., if not, then please go in to your BIOS settings and load the defaults F9 and then save/exit F10

I always recommend creating a factory default USB recovery drive if you haven't already...before you begin.


1. Create vanilla Windows 10 USB media using the media creation tool.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

2. Shutdown your computer and unplug.....and disconnect SATA power cable(s) on your other HDD/SSDs.  So you only have the XPG-SX6000 connected.

3. Insert Windows USB and turn on computer and when you see the language screen, press Shift+F10 on your keyboard

At the command prompt, type

diskpart
list disk
select disk x      x=the drive number of your XPG-sx6000
clean
exit
exit

4.  Press and hold your computer's power button until your computer shuts down.

5. Wait 10 seconds.....Turn on your computer

6. Install Windows 10...Select Custom Install

7.  Click on your M.2 drive (it should say unallocated space) and then click NEXT.  The Windows installer will automatically partition and format your M.2 SSD and install Windows 10.


For my little Intel M.2 600p NVMe SSD, it just uses the default Microsoft NVMe driver.....so no special driver for it.


Note: The steps above aren't really the steps I took, but are the steps that I think you should take since you're having problems.

Note2:  I noticed someone else using an Intel 600p NVMe M.2 so maybe you can try that SSD if you're still having problems. 

http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/6249501

http://www.userbenchmark.com/System/Acer-Aspire-T3-715/32926

Note3: Technically you're not supposed to use a magnetic screwdriver to install an M.2 SSD, but it's tricky without one (at least for me).

Screw:

https://www.moddiy.com/products/M2.0-x-3mm-Black-Screws-(CM2X3%2d3.3).html

zhazhaz

May I ask did this finally work out? I have some problem with my Western Digital NVMe SSD SN750. I have a Acer Aspire AT3-715A-UR11 desktop and it seems the machine cannot recognize it after I installed it. The SSD is not showing up neither in BIOS nor Disk Mangement in Windows. Did you do anything else after SSD installation to make disk management recognize it? Thanks. 

billsey

My specs for the T3-715 states SATA for the M.2 drive, not NVMe, but it's quite possible they changed that at some point during the product life cycle.

mbnb7076

zhazhaz said:

May I ask did this finally work out? I have some problem with my Western Digital NVMe SSD SN750. I have a Acer Aspire AT3-715A-UR11 desktop and it seems the machine cannot recognize it after I installed it. The SSD is not showing up neither in BIOS nor Disk Mangement in Windows. Did you do anything else after SSD installation to make disk management recognize it? Thanks. 

No, it never worked and I gave up trying things. I went with an SSD instead. I never did figure out what the motherboard model is. It would have helped to know that. 

JordanB

Theres' two different versions of the T3-715.
Version1 uses R1.xx BIOS
Version2 uses R2.xx BIOS

There's one version of the T3-715A
It uses R2.xx BIOS

Someone with an unknown version of T3-715 was able to use an Intel 600p M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD.  I know this to be true because I clicked on the link below.  But I don't know which version he has.  version 1? or version 2?  If I had a T3-715 (I don't), I could figure it out by looking at the BIOS date in the link below.  To confuse matters further, Acer uses the same mainboard part number for both T3-715 and T3-715A in the service guide.  Bottom line----use an M.2 SSD with sata interface such as Samsung 860 if you want to play it safe.  If you want to gamble and try an PCIe NVMe M.2, then try an Intel 600p or Intel 660p or Intel 760p.  The OP tried an Adata PCIe NVMe SSD that had a brand new Realtek controller that may or may not have broad compatibility with early Intel skylake mainboards/UEFI.

https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/6249501

It's clear that one of the versions of the T3-715 is compatible with M.2 PCIe NVMe SSDs, but it's unclear if the other version of the T3-715 or T3-715A is compatible with M.2 PCIe NVMe SSDs.

Again, use your mouse or touchpad and left click on the link below.

https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/6249501