[Request] NVMe booting with ASUS M5A97 R2.0

Special Topics NVMe Support for old Systems
1

Hello everyone, I’m currently using the Int13h option rom project to boot my motherboard (ASUS M5A97 R2.0) into Windows XP 32 bit, however I’m currently using a USB stick.

As I understand, I should be able to modify the PXE bootrom stored in my bios and replace it with the Int13h option rom instead, and it should be as simple as replacing the module in MMTool I think, a quick look in MMTool and I have a “UefiPxeBcDxe”, which I think this is it?

Just wondering if anyone has done something similar and can maybe advise how to proceed safely, thanks.


Edit by Fernando: Thread moved into the matching Forum Category and title customized

2

@AaronS
What is the target of your doing?
Your linked “Int13h option rom” module has been designed to support booting off an NVMe SSD for BIOSes of old mainboards without that option.
If you really want to boot off an NVMe SSD, you should better move your request into >this< Forum Category and give the thread a customized and specified title.

3

Hello, this has been the only way to allow me to boot my NVMe adapter into a legacy OS such as XP SP3. Despite successfully modifying my bios with the NvmExpressDxe_5.ffs module, it can only boot UEFI/GPT (Windows Vista and higher).

This motherboard only has a UEFI bios but with the linked option rom I can boot Windows NT based OS such as 2000 and XP with an MBR formatted NVMe. I have no interest in using newer OS’s on this system.

The only downside is needing a USB stick inserted. Since I never intend to boot over network (via PXE), I’d like to replace it with this so I can boot my NVMe adaper into XP without needing anything “attached”.

4

@AaronS
To be able to boot off your NVMe SSD in LEGACY mode (no UEFI/GPT), you have to insert an appropriate NVMe Option ROM module into the mainboard BIOS.

5

Yes I know, that’s what I’m asking in the OP. I want to replace the PXE bootrom in my bios with the kittenlabs PXE bootrom, so I don’t need to use the USB stick anymore (its like Clover but it works for booting Windows XP etc.).

6

No, this is an Option ROM module, which is only usable, if you want to boot off a network (Wake-on-LAN) connection.
You can find a solution for your problem within >this< thread.

7

But there are PXE bootroms available for download on the github for use with a PCI or PCIe network adapter. That thread is no help to me, I already did that mod and it only allows the booting of a GPT formatted NVMe.

This video shows how it works. We no longer need a Samsung 950 Pro NVMe to boot older OSs anymore.

8

@AaronS
If you have found an alternative or maybe even a better solution, why didn’t you follow the related guide?

I doubt, that you are right regarding this point.

9

Because he only mentions doing it to a PCI network drop in card, not the built in PXE bootrom on the motherboard itself.

I mean, I followed that thread and have done the mod myself and cannot boot Windows 7 MBR but can boot Windows 7 GPT with it. I asked here because you guys know bios modding.

I’ll ask elsewhere instead, thanks anyway.

10

While using the GPT partition scheme, the NVMe SSD is detected while booting due to the NVMe EFI module of the BIOS, but the booting off an NVMe SSD fails in MBR mode, if the SSD itself (e.g. the Samsung 950 Pro) or the mainboard BIOS doesn’t contain a matching NVMe Option ROM module.
So I suspect, that you haven’t inserted the related Option ROM correctly into the BIOS.