hi everyone
can any expert tell me if I can install and boot Windows with this old mobo without UEFI ?
https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/M5A78LM_LX_V2/
if the UEFI is mandatory I could try out the other alternative M2 SATA + PCI-E card.
will it work or does it require specific AHCI drivers ??
@caliber - This BIOS is too old to mod the BIOS and boot from NVME, or did you actually mean SSD M2 drive
If you meant NVME, these methods below are your best options, you’ll need PCIE adapter too
[Guide] NVMe-boot for systems with legacy BIOS and UEFI board (DUET-REFIND)
[Guide] NVMe-boot without modding your UEFI/BIOS (Clover-EFI bootloader method)
X58/LEGACY BOOTING FROM NVME DRIVES (PIZUSKI METHOD) (MOST QUICK&SIMPLE WAY)
If you mean normal SSD M2, then I don’t think you need anything special, but it may depend on how you connect it to the board @Fernando will have to confirm about this.
Best if you put your actual drive model # here so we’re not guessing what drive you’re talking about
I didn’t take any decision yet. if the BIOS is too old I won’t mess with Duet or Clover utilities
I will just buy a standard SSD SATA or M2 SATA + adapter card via PCI-E or DRAM
https://www.aliexpress.com/i/32931709348…56e65578xAyTKa
BIOS is not too old for Duet/Clover, I meant those are the only methods you CAN use, because BIOS is old and not UEFI
If you don’t want to mess with those things, you need a normal/standard SATA SSD, not M2 + adapter (That will require those methods, unless maybe you get certain special M2 drives, Fernando will probably tell you which)
I don’t see any difference between a SATA SDD and M2 SATA. they both plug into the same port.
if you have no clue do not reply and stop asking help from Fernando. if he wants to reply he will do so.
@caliber :
Why do you insist on the usage of an M.2 SSD with your old mainboard, which neither supports UEFI nor PCIe 3.0?
As I already told you within another thread, you will not be able to boot off an NVMe SSD (only known exception: Samsung 950 Pro).
The usage of an M.2 SATA SSD instead of a "normal" 2,5 inch SATA SSD only makes sense for mobile devices, where the space is very limited.
I started this thread yesterday before your reply on the other thread… 
No I don’t insist it’s the other one Lost_N_BIOS who doesn’t know what a M2 SATA is and has been implying the M2 wording as if it was me.
ok. the NVMe option is totally discarded I will not mess with 3rd party drivers because the performance difference is unnoticeable https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3AMz-xZ2VM&feature=emb_logo
it makes sense for laptops because they don’t have an external power supply
I also want save space and the power supply cable because all other SATA ports are taken for HDD’s