NucleusPlus fails to install ROCK on M.2 SSD (ref#K69IKB)

[Gabor_Korodi]

Hi! What’s not quite right with Roon?

· None of the above quite fits

None of the above quite fits

· None of these quite match

Tell us what's going on

· I have a NucleusPlus Roon server. I need to reinstall the Roon Optimized Core Kit. When booting from the pendrive, it fails to install on the M.2 SSD. Only on the built-in HDD. What could be the problem?

Tell us about your home network

· Synology RouterRT1900ac

[benjamin]

Hey @Gabor_Korodi,

Thanks so much for writing in and sharing your report! It could be the case here that the M.2 SSD is not being presented as a bootable NVMe device

What to check
In BIOS:

• Storage / Advanced / NVMe Configuration → Make sure the SSD appears as NVMe
• SATA Mode → AHCI (not RAID)
• If there’s an option for M.2 Mode, set it explicitly to NVMe

I’d also check in BIOS:

• Secure Boot → Disabled
• CSM → Disabled
• Boot Mode → UEFI only
• Fast Boot → Disabled

If Secure Boot is on, ROCK may silently refuse the NVMe target.

What SSD did you install specifically?

Thank you!

[Gabor_Korodi]

Hello Benjamin!
Thank you the answer.
What was in it. Kingston A2000, 250GB. formated FAT32.

Thank You!

[vadim]

Hello @Gabor_Korodi,

Thank you for the clarification.

The fact that the SSD is formatted as FAT32 isn’t an issue by itself, since ROCK will fully repartition and format the target drive during installation. However, existing partitions on the M.2 SSD can sometimes prevent ROCK from selecting it correctly.

Please try the following:

1. Temporarily remove or disconnect the built-in HDD (if possible), so only the M.2 SSD is present
2. Boot another system (or use the Nucleus BIOS tools, if available) and delete all existing partitions on the Kingston A2000, leaving it as completely unallocated space
3. Boot again from the ROCK USB installer and run the installation

Additionally, please make sure the BIOS settings previously mentioned are still in place (UEFI only, Secure Boot disabled, NVMe visible in BIOS).

We strongly recommend following the official step-by-step ROCK installation guide, which also includes a short video walkthrough:

ROCK Install Guide

This should help ensure everything is set up correctly.

Please let us know how it goes after clearing the partitions and retrying the install.

[Gabor_Korodi]

Hello Vadim!
Yes, I deleted all partitions from the M2 SSD, I see it all as “Unallocated partition”. When I insert it into the Nucleus, I can’t even enter to the BIOS.

Thank you!

[vadim]

Hello @Gabor_Korodi

Thank you for the update.

The best next step here is to get in touch with our RMA department directly, as they’re in charge of all hardware-related Nucleus issues. To do so, open the Typeform link below and select ‘Other’ followed by 'This issue is related to a physical component".

Typeform link : Nucleus Troubleshooting

Screenshot for reference:

They’ll help get you sorted out moving forward. Thanks!