NUC Install Issues - nvme pcie drive

[gold_finger]

Good job finding the error.  I was in a rush when I typed that out and somehow slipped my mind to put in the "--".  Duh!  (I've typed those instructions sooo many times for people I can't believe I left that off.)  Sorry.

[size=1em]I'm going to have 1 last go at clearing all partition, and installing just LL[/size]
[size=1em]If this fails, I will get my friend to RMA/Swap the drive.[/size]

If the Win 7 version you have is a 64-bit retail copy (not an OEM version), I believe you can install that in UEFI mode.  You may want to try installing both Windows and LL in UEFI mode instead.  As I'm sure you're already aware of, you'll need to follow m654321's tutorial for the LL install.  Use GParted from live LL to wipe out drive; then create new GPT partition table on it before trying to install anything.  It must be using GPT partitions to install either OS in UEFI mode.  Check Windows 7 forums for info on installing in that mode, but I think once it sees a GPT partition table it may automatically know to install that way.  (That's just a guess, so please confirm on their forums.)

[size=1em]The question is then,[/size]
[size=1em]Go for the "AHCI" version of this drive, or just a standard M.2 SATA SSD[/size]

I'm pretty clueless when it comes to SSDs -- I don't have one myself and haven't spent any time learning about them.