Question MSI Godlike x670e - disable sata ports

Steelbom · Oct 9, 2024

Hi,

I want to do a fresh install of Windows 11. The last time I tried this, it put the bootloader on the same drive as my old Windows partition.
To avoid that, I'd like to disable all the other sata and NVME ports besides the new drive I'm installing Windows on.

Is there a way to do this with this motherboard?

Cheers,
SB

lopri · Oct 16, 2024

Usually there is no such option. Only time I see it is when the disk controller is supplied by a 3rd party. (Marvell, JMicron, ASMedia, etc.)

Just bite the tongue and unplug the cables.

In2Photos · Oct 17, 2024

Or disconnect the power cable from the PSU if that's any easier.

Steelbom · Oct 23, 2024

lopri said:
Usually there is no such option. Only time I see it is when the disk controller is supplied by a 3rd party. (Marvell, JMicron, ASMedia, etc.)

Just bite the tongue and unplug the cables.

Unfortunately they are all nvme, so it involves removing two GPUs, CPU cooler, repasting, etc., it's like a 4+ hour job. I went down the rabbit hole trying to get it sorted but I did in the end -- formatted unused Linux PC, installed Windows on that (easy access to side panels via SATA), put that into an external enclosure, connected to PC, rebooted into Acronis software and clonsed the install to the desired drive. Bit of a mission, but less so than actually pulling the main computer apart haha.

In2Photos said:
Or disconnect the power cable from the PSU if that's any easier.

Since they're nvme I didn't have that option

>>>

I wish Windows gave you an option where to put the bootloader! Even if it's buried in the command prompt or advanced settings.

Seba · Oct 23, 2024

Steelbom said:
Unfortunately they are all nvme

Then those are not SATA ports.

Steelbom · Oct 23, 2024

Correct, I have three NVME and one SATA drive in the system. I couldn't disable either, but nevertheless the workaround worked.

Seba · Oct 25, 2024

I took a look at that motherboard.

M2_1 slot is beyond the DIMM slots.
What kind of CPU cooler you have that covers that area?
Usually you want to install the OS in that first M.2 slot (because it is the fastest M.2), so there should not be a need to disconnect that one anyway during Windows install. No need to remove the CPU cooler and repaste the CPU.

The other 3 M.2 slots are placed between the PCIe slots. Removing PCIe cards is not that much of a hassle (unless those graphics cards are water cooled).

Steelbom · Oct 26, 2024

Seba said:
I took a look at that motherboard.

M2_1 slot is beyond the DIMM slots.
What kind of CPU cooler you have that covers that area?
Usually you want to install the OS in that first M.2 slot (because it is the fastest M.2), so there should not be a need to disconnect that one anyway during Windows install. No need to remove the CPU cooler and repaste the CPU.

The other 3 M.2 slots are placed between the PCIe slots. Removing PCIe cards is not that much of a hassle (unless those graphics cards are water cooled).

It's a Noctua NH-D15, and a 4090 and a 3090 Ti

Opening it up is a nightmare. Can't easily remove the 4090 either as there is no easy one button release (crazy for the price of the motherboard). So for me to get access it's: remove CPU cooler then 4090. If it had the one button release, it wouldn't be hard at all.

So I actually did put the M2 that I wanted to do the clean install of the OS on in the 1st slot. However, I installed Windows while the other M2 slots were populated with drives that previously were my OS drive, so that's where the bootloaders were. Soon, once I'm sure I've got all my data across, I'll wipe the two old drives and have some extra storage I can use.

CP5670 · Oct 26, 2024

I had this problem with windows once, you might be able to disable drives in the bios. Agree that removing M.2 drives is annoying.

lopri · Oct 27, 2024

I guess that linux box had a similar chipset to the other system? i.e. AMD to AMD, or Intel to Intel. I do not know how Windows deal with different chipsets these days, but back in the days trying to use Windows installs across AMD/Intel would result in BSOD.

Question MSI Godlike x670e - disable sata ports

Steelbom

Senior member

lopri

Elite Member

In2Photos

Platinum Member

Steelbom

Senior member

Seba

Golden Member

Steelbom

Senior member

Seba

Golden Member

Steelbom

Senior member

CP5670

Diamond Member

lopri

Elite Member

TRENDING THREADS