Hi,
---- UPDATE:
Yes it's possible, You would need to go to regedit and edit the
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\HardwareConfig\Current\BootDriverFlags
And set it's value from 0 to 0x1c (Hexadecimal, 28 Decimal), this flags control which drivers are available at boot time, and
we need USB 3 drivers for this.
That's it.
----- OLD question:
I have a work laptop that I don't want to reinstall windows on (because of work stuff), and I'm getting a m.2 egpu (R43SG)
which would replace the currently only internal storage port (m.2) in the laptop (hp elitebook 840 g5).
So I need to move the ssd to external storage, either TB (expensive) or USB.
For this I ordered MyDigitalSSD m2x m.2 to usb 3.1 gen 2 usb-c enclosure.
I still haven't got the parts yet.
Would moving the ssd to the enclosure be enough to boot to my current installation?
Or do I need to change something?
Thanks,
Paul.
To do: Create my signature with system and expected eGPU configuration information to give context to my posts. I have no builds.
.
I think it should work. I used a similar USB-C NVMe drive to boot Ubuntu. At least moving the M.2 drive won't erase or change any of the data.
@sskillz, I did exactly the same thing with a 840 G5, tidbits here. As the 840 G5's CPU can be TDP unlocked with Throttlestop, if can keep the CPU cool it behaves like a 45W 4-core H CPU. Very impressive performance from a highly portable 14" notebook.
If you use a Thunderbolt NVME SSD enclosure then can transfer the internal NVME SSD directly across and it will boot up. I used a JEYI one and the 840 G5 BIOS did support Thunderbolt bootup and it booted OK.
If the the enclosure is a USB 3.1 one, then it won't boot when swapped in. I used WinToUSB software to do a fresh Win10 installation which then allowed it to boot up OK. The fresh Win10 installation had installed the necessary USB drivers.
eGPU Setup 1.35 • eGPU Port Bandwidth Reference Table
2015 15" Dell Precision 7510 (Q M1000M) [6th,4C,H] + GTX 1080 Ti @32Gbps-M.2 (ADT-Link R43SG) + Win10 1803 // compares M.2 vs TB3 performance inc unoptimized H-CPU BIOS [build link]
@sskillz, I did exactly the same thing with a 840 G5, tidbits here. As the 840 G5's CPU can be TDP unlocked with Throttlestop, if can keep the CPU cool it behaves like a 45W 4-core H CPU. Very impressive performance from a highly portable 14" notebook.
If you use a Thunderbolt NVME SSD enclosure then can transfer the internal NVME SSD directly across and it will boot up. I used a JEYI one and the 840 G5 BIOS did support Thunderbolt bootup and it booted OK.
If the the enclosure is a USB 3.1 one, then it won't boot when swapped in. I used WinToUSB software to do a fresh Win10 installation which then allowed it to boot up OK. The fresh Win10 installation had installed the necessary USB drivers.
Yeah your post, is why I chose the M.2 to begin with 
Do you think I can install the usb drivers ahead of time avoiding the need to re-install?
For example, inserting the enclosure with a different SSD first so it would be recognized and then
Thanks, Paul.
To do: Create my signature with system and expected eGPU configuration information to give context to my posts. I have no builds.
.@sskillz , I found no guide on how to convert from NVME to USB boot. I reverted to a fresh WinToGo install as a workaround. Maybe using Macrium Reflect? Pls post if you find a way.
eGPU Setup 1.35 • eGPU Port Bandwidth Reference Table
2015 15" Dell Precision 7510 (Q M1000M) [6th,4C,H] + GTX 1080 Ti @32Gbps-M.2 (ADT-Link R43SG) + Win10 1803 // compares M.2 vs TB3 performance inc unoptimized H-CPU BIOS [build link]
I don't understand the difficulty. Connect the USB drive, press F12 at startup or whatever, then select the Windows boot loader from the EFI partition of the USB drive?
Unless you're trying to boot from legacy BIOS?
I'll try some tests on my own PC.
Thanks guys, I got the external enclosure to try.
I was afraid this would happen, but SSD doesn't boot because of work installed mcafee drive encryption 😐
I'll check if there is a workaround for it, maybe I can disable it on boot.
To do: Create my signature with system and expected eGPU configuration information to give context to my posts. I have no builds.
.They allowed me to remove the encryption for now.
Now I get windows blue screen "inaccessible boot device", seems like usb 3.1 or some other drivers aren't loaded.
Others in the internet say try windows registry edits such as
BootDriverFlags , and PortableOperatingSystem.
Tried BootDriverFlags as 0x14 (My system default was already 0x1C so I guess the 0x04 flag was on already) and creating a Q64 reg key for PortableOperatingSystem with value 1.
To do: Create my signature with system and expected eGPU configuration information to give context to my posts. I have no builds.
.Hey it worked!
Changed the BootDriverFlags in a different location this time.
I have 2 entries for it in my WIN 10.
One in HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control (which is symbolic link to either, HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\ControlSet001 or ControlSet002, depending on last boot).
I had this value already with usb 3 enabled it was 0x1C.
I had another one (BootDriverFlags) in HKLM\SYSTEM\HardwareConfig\Current (Again a symbolic link to some configuration under Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\HardwareConfig).
This one was 0, and I set to to 0x1C as well.
There are reference on the internet for changing Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\HardwareConfig\BootDriverFlags, but I didn't have this key, I created it anyway
and set it to 0x1C as well.
First boot didn't work with some blue screen too fast to read. Second one worked
I'll verify which one worked for me by deleting one of them.
Work IT will try and encrypt the drive again, and I hope that still works.
Performace is shown in screenshot.
Now I need the m.2 to pci-e to get here.
To do: Create my signature with system and expected eGPU configuration information to give context to my posts. I have no builds.
.I have two SSDs, work one WD SN520, and the bench in last post is when booted to it from thunderbolt/usb-c port.
But it seems the enclosure can handle more (or because I booted to it), when I tested SILICON POWER P34A80 1TB as additional drive, I got faster write:
Still, fast enough.
To do: Create my signature with system and expected eGPU configuration information to give context to my posts. I have no builds.
.