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Question

cant make my windows drive bootable

May 8, 2019 10:34AM PDT

My Drive C has windows installed and all my programs. I have a 2nd SATA drive (Drive D) that I must have set up a long time ago as the bootable drive (I dont know why or how) -this drive does not have windows on it. Recently I formatted Drive D. Now my computer wont start! I have tried many solutions I've found from the net but nothing is working so far. Drive C shows as Active and Primary. Drive D shows as System, boot, Active, Primary. I have tried using Partition manager. I tried installing windows on Drive D in the hope I can then change the boot up drive to C. Tried startup repair. Tried DISKPART in CMD. Tried Bootrec commands but keep getting 'Element not found'. Any help would be really appreciated Happy

Discussion is locked

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Answer
As the damage is unknown.
May 8, 2019 11:00AM PDT
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Answer
Are these two physical drives?
May 8, 2019 1:16PM PDT

Or a single drive with two partitions labeled as C & D?

If two physical drives, then when the computer starts POST, push the proper function button to access the BIOS and set it to boot from the drive that is now booted from.

If just one drive, obtain or create a bootable DVD which has a file manager with it, and copy out your data to a backup.

I'd suggest Linux Mint, 17-19 and if your system is 64 bit, then be sure to get that particular ISO file you burn to DVD, or order one.

32 bit
https://www.osdisc.com/products/linuxmint/linux-mint-183-mate-install-live-dvd-32bit.html

64 bit

https://www.osdisc.com/products/linuxmint/linux-mint-183-mate-install-live-dvd-64bit.html

When you boot to it, set the BIOS for boot from CD/DVD, and once it's loaded (NOT installed) you can click the "Home" button on the desktop and that's the file manager. If you open the "Disks" program from Menu (just type in the search box on menu) and you can see if you have a single HDD/SSD or double physical drives.

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problem solved
May 15, 2019 8:40AM PDT

after some more trial and error, SUCCESS! I used Easy BCD and created a 'new entry' which then on re boot gave the option to use my desired windows to start Happy