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Question

Installed an SSD next to my HDD, though can't boot from it

Oct 16, 2015 9:05AM PDT

Hello,

Today i installed a new SSD in my computer, copied all the files using data migration software, and tried to make windows boot from the ssd, though for some reason i can't.

The first option in the BIOS is "Windows boot manager" which makes windows boot from the HDD.
I can tell the bios to not boot using Windows boot manager, though it is the only option available with Hard Disk, and if i turn it off the computer starts looking for an CD/DVD to boot from.

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
Is this an UEFI type motherboard?
Oct 18, 2015 9:13AM PDT

Do you see the SSD among the devices set as boot? Or do you even see it listed anywhere in the UEFI BIOS?

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Answer
That can be true for most PCs.
Oct 16, 2015 9:09AM PDT

Most PCs boot from the lowest numbered SATA port so after the clone/move work did you move the SSD to where the old HDD was?

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Also doesn't work
Oct 17, 2015 7:29AM PDT

Yeah i did, still doesn't work... The ssd is in the first sata port, though the OS still boots from the HDD. If i take out the hdd and only have the ssd plugged in it also starts looking for an CD/DVD to boot from, and just ignores the ssd.

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Then it's probably missing the boot partition.
Oct 17, 2015 9:23AM PDT

Did you copy or clone?

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Then it's not a clone job.
Oct 17, 2015 10:05AM PDT

You need to use cloning software next time. I like those Apricom kits (about 25 bucks.)

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Mistake in the description
Oct 17, 2015 10:51AM PDT

I used cloning software from Macrium. What i said in the description was wrong about copying.

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Answer
Re: copied all files
Oct 17, 2015 7:40AM PDT

That's not enough. That doesn't make the SSD bootable. Nothing wrong with the system, I think. Only with what you did.

Kees

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Did use cloning software
Oct 17, 2015 10:50AM PDT

I described it wrong in the description. I used Macrium Reflect for the cloning (because it was free).

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Can you see the Hdd. partition with Macrium?
Oct 17, 2015 4:00PM PDT

If you can, take a look and see if the the boot partition is there or not. Normally I believe there are 3 partitions (boot, recovery, and windows). If not there then obviously the cloning was not successful.

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Maybe not
Oct 17, 2015 4:44PM PDT
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I believe you are correct...my mistake.
Oct 17, 2015 6:38PM PDT

I appeared not all system are the same. The computer that I built and installed only has ONE partition. Go figure.

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Ignore this post.
Oct 17, 2015 6:43PM PDT

Itsdiggers pointed out my mistake. Don't look for the boot partition. Just compare the 2 Hdd. or maybe redo it again.

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Found no boot partion on my ssd
Oct 18, 2015 1:07AM PDT

So i went to Disk Management and found only one boot partion on my HDD.
http://i.imgur.com/bAkGXpJ.png?1
The disk with the red circle around it is my ssd, the one with the green circle is the half of the hdd that had windows pre installed on it.
Underneath it it says "opstarten" which is dutch for Booting. Since this doesn't appear on my ssd i guess this is where the problem is.

How can solve this?

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Re: booting
Oct 18, 2015 1:44AM PDT

Something went wrong with the cloning. Seems you only copied the c:-partition, not the whole disk.

I'd get my Windows disk and try a Startup Repair on that SSD. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/startup-repair-faq#1TC=windows-7 tells more for Windows 7 and Vista. But there should be comparable functions in 8, 8.1 and 10.
One of the links in that link is "What if Startup Repair can't fix my problems?". Let's hope you don't need that.

Kees

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Yeah, somethings not making sense to me than
Oct 18, 2015 7:15AM PDT

if the C drive WAS cloned and it has the boot sequence as part of the partition , why when the E partition was created on the SSD, why wasn't the boot also cloned ?

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I meant
Oct 18, 2015 7:21AM PDT

Why wasn't the boot sequence carried over to the E drive from the cloned C drive

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Answer
Two ways that have worked for me.
Oct 18, 2015 8:40AM PDT

First I've backed up to an external hard drive, placed the SSD where the original C: drive was, then restored to the SSD. The second method was to do a fresh install to the SSD. On my two 5 & 6 year old desktops, the install found and installed all the drivers I needed with no problems. I have triple boot with Windows 7, 8.1, and 10 on one 240 GB SSD (3 way partitioned). YMMV.
`
Good luck.

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Clean install
Oct 18, 2015 10:22AM PDT

Well, i wanted to do a clean install because i'm getting tired of this.
I already have a .iso file of windows 10 on my pc, though when i tried to install it all over again, it didn't ask where. It just decided that it had to be installed on my C: drive without asking me where i wanted it to install.

Did you encounter the same problem?

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No.
Oct 18, 2015 11:12AM PDT

Because I made the bootable USB Windows 10 install stick, I could have a lot more control on the next install. Remember I may omit a lot of caveats and steps that are on the web.

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Answer
Maybe
Oct 18, 2015 3:18PM PDT

The maker of that ssd should have a clone util.
It may have come with the ssd on optical or be available as a download.
Perhaps give that a shot.

I'll assume your not trying to clone 500GB of data to a 250GB ssd.

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ROFL!!!
Oct 18, 2015 9:52PM PDT

"but I chose compression...." Wink