Question Boot drive option missing in the BIOS ?

[instawookie]

I just finished a Z690 to a Z790 motherboard swap a few days ago, and for the most part everything went smoothly. However I noticed I don't have a boot option in the BIOS. Currently its not causing an issue as it's booting into Windows just fine, Windows has been activated to the new motherboard etc.. .

Will the missing boot drive option in the BIOS be an issue later down the line?
Is an easy solution removing my M.2s and SSDs and doing a Windows reinstall?
I sifted through a few reddit threads and they say an easy fix is a 20 min Windows bootable usb drive, but I'm just not sure how true that is.

 

[Lutfij]

z690 to z790
Did you reinstall the OS after the motherboard swap?

 

[instawookie]

z690 to z790
Did you reinstall the OS after the motherboard swap?

I did not, got alot of mixed reviews on that. Some said not needed, others said I got to do that.
Here is a link to my drive setups if that helps: https://ibb.co/gdskfhc

 

[Lutfij]

Your first order of business is to disconnect all drives, besides the one you intend to have the OS on, then reinstall your OS after fabricating your bootable USB installer for the OS.

 

[instawookie]

Your first order of business is to disconnect all drives, besides the one you intend to have the OS on, then reinstall your OS after fabricating your bootable USB installer for the OS.

I figured that would be the easiest solution, saw some other options utilizing windows cmd prompts but that looks less fun.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Your first order of business is to disconnect all drives, besides the one you intend to have the OS on, then reinstall your OS after fabricating your bootable USB installer for the OS.

Actually, while this is a good recommendation, it really shouldn't have anything to do with what boot options are available in the BIOS. If Windows is installed, then there should be options for, at minimum, Windows boot loader, and often, Windows boot loader AND/OR the drive letter of the drive with Windows installed on it, depending on the Windows version and the type of installation that was done.

First thing I would do is make sure you have the latest BIOS version installed according to what is shown on the product page for your motherboard. And, it IS a very good idea that you back up anything important from Windows that you don't already have backed up elsewhere, disconnect ALL drives except the drive you are installing Windows FROM and the drive you are installing Windows TO, and do a clean install. What version of Windows are you running?

 

[instawookie]

Actually, while this is a good recommendation, it really shouldn't have anything to do with what boot options are available in the BIOS. If Windows is installed, then there should be options for, at minimum, Windows boot loader, and often, Windows boot loader AND/OR the drive letter of the drive with Windows installed on it, depending on the Windows version and the type of installation that was done.

First thing I would do is make sure you have the latest BIOS version installed according to what is shown on the product page for your motherboard. And, it IS a very good idea that you back up anything important from Windows that you don't already have backed up elsewhere, disconnect ALL drives except the drive you are installing Windows FROM and the drive you are installing Windows TO, and do a clean install. What version of Windows are you running?

If i recall should be on the latest version of windows 11, first thing i did after initial boot of the pc was a restart and install the latest bios for the asus z790e , after that let windows check for updates and let armory crate update drivers for the board etc..

 

[SkyNetRising]

However I noticed I don't have a boot option in bios. Currently its not causing an issue I'm booting into windows just fine, Windows has been activated too the new MB etc.. .
Will this be an issue later down the line? is an easy solution removing my m.2s and ssd's and doing a windows reinstall?

Currently bootloader is located on Disk1 ( 500GB drive containing partition E: ).
Bootloader is small 99MB EFI System partition on Disk1.
That is only bootlable drive in your system and
will appear in boot priority list as "Windows Boot Manager" boot entry.

Disk4 (1TB drive containing C: windows OS partition) is not bootable.
Making it bootable would require making EFI system partition on it, formatting and placing bootloader on it.

 

[instawookie]

Currently bootloader is located on Disk1 ( 500GB drive containing partition E: ).
Bootloader is small 99MB EFI System partition on Disk1.
That is only bootlable drive in your system and
will appear in boot priority list as "Windows Boot Manager" boot entry.

Disk4 (1TB drive containing C: windows OS partition) is not bootable.
Making it bootable would require making EFI system partition on it, formatting and placing bootloader on it.

Just to understand it correctly or have better clarity of my options. Easiest way to go about this is to disconnect my harddrives with exception of Disk4 and install windows from there? Or do I actually have to wipe that drive and install windows afterwards?

Side question, i just got an additional 990 pro 4tb m.2 could I simply just leave that as the only drive in the machine and use my windows bootable usb to make that the primary drive after a clean install? I can format the 970evo afterwards Im actually trying to part ways from the 850/860 evo, i dont use them. So removing cables i dont need would be great.

 

[USAFRet]

Just to understand it correctly or have better clarity of my options. Easiest way to go about this is to disconnect my harddrives with exception of Disk4 and install windows from there? Or do I actually have to wipe that drive and install windows afterwards?

Side question, i just got an additional 990 pro 4tb m.2 could I simply just leave that as the only drive in the machine and use my windows bootable usb to make that the primary drive after a clean install? I can format the 970evo afterwards Im actually trying to part ways from the 850/860 evo, i dont use them. So removing cables i dont need would be great.

Whatever drive you want the OS on, that needs to be the only drive physically connected in the system while you do this install.

 

[SkyNetRising]

Easiest way to go about this is to disconnect my harddrives with exception of Disk4 and install windows from there?
Or do I actually have to wipe that drive and install windows afterwards?

Easiest way would be - creating bootloader partition on the disk manually.
If you're interested, we could provide with instructions, how to do that.

Reinstall is also an option. A nuclear option though,
because you'd have to clean the drive before install, to make it bootable.

i just got an additional 990 pro 4tb m.2
could I simply just leave that as the only drive in the machine and
use my windows bootable usb to make that the primary drive after a clean install?

Sure.

I can format the 970evo afterwards Im actually trying to part ways from the 850/860 evo,
i dont use them. So removing cables i dont need would be great.

Sure.

 

[instawookie]

Currently bootloader is located on Disk1 ( 500GB drive containing partition E: ).
Bootloader is small 99MB EFI System partition on Disk1.
That is only bootlable drive in your system and
will appear in boot priority list as "Windows Boot Manager" boot entry.

Disk4 (1TB drive containing C: windows OS partition) is not bootable.
Making it bootable would require making EFI system partition on it, formatting and placing bootloader on it.

Just to understand it correctly or have better clarity of my options. Easiest way to go about this is to disconnect my harddrives with exception of Disk4 and install windows from there? Or do I actually have to wipe that drive and install windows afterwards?

Side question, i just got an additional 990 pro 4tb m.2 could I simply just leave that as the only drive in the machine and use my windows bootable usb to make that the primary drive after a clean install? I can format the 970evo afterwards Im actually trying to part ways from the 850/860 evo, i dont use them. So removing cables i dont need would be great

Easiest way would be - creating bootloader partition on the disk manually.
If you're interested, we could provide with instructions, how to do that.

Reinstall is also an option. A nuclear option though,
because you'd have to clean the drive before install, to make it bootable.

Sure.

Sure.

Apologies for the slow response, was swapping to a new AIO and removing m.2s etc... currently only having the 970 evo installed prior to reading your post.

I can stop where im at and remove the 970, and swap it with the 990 pro it sounds like. Unless you think the bootable usb will correct the 970 evo with a windows reinstall. In the previous set up, the 970 was never a bootable option in bios either. I only relocated windows and all data from the 850 to the 970evo in the previous rig.

 

[SkyNetRising]

currently only having the 970 evo installed prior to reading your post.
I can stop where im at and remove the 970, and swap it with the 990 pro it sounds like.

Depends on what you want to achieve.

Booting into windows currently requires two drives present:
860 Evo - containing EFI bootloader and
970 Evo - containing windows OS partition.

If you want to make 990 Pro bootable, then
1. remove 970 evo and install 990 Pro and
2. do clean install of windows.

If you want to make 970 Evo bootable, then
1. Connect 860 evo and 970 evo,
2. Boot into windows and
3. Create bootloader on 970 Evo.

Execute from elevated command prompt. Regular command prompt will give error on last step.
If you get any errors, then stop immediately. And show screenshot with command output

diskpart​

list disk​

select disk x​

(select 970 evo disk, replace x with appropriate number)​

list partition​

select partition 3​

(select 736MB recovery partition)​

delete partition override​

create partition efi​

format fs=fat32 quick​

assign letter=H​

exit​

bcdboot c:\windows /s H: /f UEFI​

​

Last message should be "Boot files created successfully."

Then reboot into BIOS and change boot priority to boot from
Windows Boot Manager on 970 evo.

 

[instawookie]

Wo

Depends on what you want to achieve.

Booting into windows currently requires two drives present:
860 Evo - containing EFI bootloader and
970 Evo - containing windows OS partition.

If you want to make 990 Pro bootable, then
1. remove 970 evo and install 990 Pro and
2. do clean install of windows.

If you want to make 970 Evo bootable, then
1. Connect 860 evo and 970 evo,
2. Boot into windows and
3. Create bootloader on 970 Evo.

Execute from elevated command prompt. Regular command prompt will give error on last step.
If you get any errors, then stop immediately. And show screenshot with command output

diskpart​

list disk​

select disk x​

(select 970 evo disk, replace x with appropriate number)​

list partition​

select partition 3​

(select 736MB recovery partition)​

delete partition override​

create partition efi​

format fs=fat32 quick​

assign letter=H​

exit​

bcdboot c:\windows /s H: /f UEFI​

​

Last message should be "Boot files created successfully."

Then reboot into BIOS and change boot priority to boot from
Windows Boot Manager on 970 evo.

current status , i stopped after list partition/select partition 3. https://ibb.co/wShnKsF

 

[SkyNetRising]

current status , i stopped after list partition/select partition 3. https://ibb.co/wShnKsF

Command syntax error in some previous command line.
You have to type commands in correct syntax and in correct order.

bcdboot is the last command.
Somehow you have entered it in wrong syntax and then
executed diskpart commands - list partition, select partition 3

 

[instawookie]

Command syntax error in some previous command line.
You have to type commands in correct syntax and in correct order.

got to this part https://ibb.co/xFrPMFt

 

[SkyNetRising]

Syntax errors again.
you typed
select desk 1
instead of
select disk 1

 

[instawookie]

Syntax errors again.
you typed
select desk 1
instead of
select disk 1

this was the last one on the last command , my apologies for my blonde moments

https://ibb.co/61ss7zM

 

[SkyNetRising]

this was the last one on the last command , my apologies for my blonde moments
https://ibb.co/61ss7zM

Missing space symbol between "H:" and "/f" and
missing space symbol between "c:\windows" and "/s"

You typed
bcdboot c:\windows/s H:/f UEFI
instead of
bcdboot c:\windows /s H: /f UEFI

 

[instawookie]

Missing space symbol between "H:" and "/f" and
missing space symbol between "c:\windows" and "/s"

You typed
bcdboot c:\windows/s H:/f UEFI
instead of
bcdboot c:\windows /s H: /f UEFI

not my day for typing apparently, I just got the command though. boot files created succesfully after correcting it.

 

[SkyNetRising]

I just got the command though. boot files created successfully after correcting it.

Then it should be all good.
Boot into BIOS and change boot priority.
Set first boot option to
Windows boot manager on 970 evo.

 

[instawookie]

Just to verify from here, reboot into bios, 970 evo should magically appear set my boot priority etc... then disconnect my 860/ slap in my old m.2's and I should be good to go correct?

Disregard just saw the other post, I'll return in a few

I thank you soooooo much for your help.

 

[SkyNetRising]

You'll have to change boot priority settings in BIOS.

Or you can just disconnect 860 evo and
should be able to boot into windows with only 970 evo connected.

 

[instawookie]

Let me select what I needed too, and boot right into windows . I'll return in a few after I add in my other m.2's and attach my pc porn as the least I can do.

I can't thank you enough. if I learned any lessons from this... Just fresh install windows on an empty drive for a MB swap lol....

 

[instawookie]

Heres a pic of the semi completed build now 🥰 Antec c8 Curved case, 14700k ,corsair titanium 7600mhz cl36, gigabyte oc 4090, silverstone ice myst aio push/pull config, asus z790 gaming wifi 2. Got correct orientation D30 fans coming next week for the bottom

https://ibb.co/FqhgJPX