Question Cannot boot from cloned SSD

[WideArchShark]

Hi all,

Firstly, apologies if this is already solved somewhere here. I promise I've looked, but can't seem to find the answer.

So I cloned all of the partitions from my Windows 10 C: to a new S: (using Macrium Reflect).The SSD was smaller, so I backed up Videos, Downloads, Photos etc.

The cloned disk is visible to see and does look identical as far as I can tell in device manager (ie same partitions).

However, I can't seem to boot from it. It's not appearing as a bootable device in the BIOS. Oddly, it is there, but complains that it doesn't have a boot sector or some such.

I'm so confused! Is there something I need to do to make this disk bootable? I ensured the boot is UEFI/Legacy compatible. I'm not sure what else to try!

 

[Fix_that_Glitch]

Is it the only drive installed?

 

[justin.m.beauvais]

It sounds like it didn't clone over the MBR and the bootloader.

If you haven't tried it, follow the instructions here for Windows 10: https://neosmart.net/wiki/fix-mbr/

Hopefully you'll be in business. If not, disconnect all other drives and run a fresh Windows install on the drive, then clone it. This will get the proper bootloader onto the drive, then you're just cloning the data.

Hope that helps!

 

[WideArchShark]

Is it the only drive installed?

Hi, thanks for responding. Two drives in at the moment. The "old" C: and the SSD. I can see the old drive as a bootable option in the BIOS. The BIOS does show the SSD, but not as bootable.

 

[WideArchShark]

It sounds like it didn't clone over the MBR and the bootloader.

Why thank you sir. This sounds very promising. I don't actually know what you're referring to (yet) !

Why would they do this to me!?!?

 

[Fix_that_Glitch]

You have to remove the original disc so the new os can be recognized with new install and assign boot order.. After that you can hook the drive back up.

 

[justin.m.beauvais]

Why thank you sir. This sounds very promising. I don't actually know what you're referring to (yet) !

Why would they do this to me!?!?

Well, there are a number of options when cloning a drive. Chances are that you just cloned the partition data instead of the whole drive. It happens to everyone at some point. Plus it was probably the default for cloning a larger drive to a smaller one.

 

[WideArchShark]

You have to remove the original disc so the new os can be recognized with new install and assign boot order.. After that you can hook the drive back up.

Thank you. I did try that actually. No dice. It simply wouldn't boot at all. There is something I haven't done to the SSD for sure. I'm going to follow the advice given by Justin. But I'm still a bit confused.

It says to run the following commands:

bootrec /FixMbr
bootrec /FixBoot
bootrec /ScanOs
bootrec /RebuildBcd

Do I need to ensure I am "cd"d to the SSD drive? Will this fix the MBR for both my current and new hard disk?

I apologise in advance. You're dealing with an IT idiot here. I used to think I knew what I was doing....

 

[WideArchShark]

Well, there are a number of options when cloning a drive. Chances are that you just cloned the partition data instead of the whole drive. It happens to everyone at some point. Plus it was probably the default for cloning a larger drive to a smaller one.

Thanks again fella. I can't show you right now (I'm at work), but there were three partitions on the C: which I did copy to the SSD as far as I can tell. One was the Data (large), one was recovery, the other... Dunno. I wondered if that was the boot partition. It was a few MB I think. But they're all on there. And in the same order as the C:

Maybe it's this Macrium Reflect?

 

[ElectrO_90]

I think you need to start again and look up the user USAFRet - he is the resident expert on cloning.
Most of his posts are about cloning, should be easy to find.
He offers precise and easy to follow instructions

 

[ElectrO_90]

Thanks again fella. I can't show you right now (I'm at work), but there were three partitions on the C: which I did copy to the SSD as far as I can tell. One was the Data (large), one was recovery, the other... Dunno. I wondered if that was the boot partition. It was a few MB I think. But they're all on there. And in the same order as the C:

Maybe it's this Macrium Reflect?

I think it sounds like you didn't clone it properly, just copy.

You will have to start listing your specs and hard drive/ssd drives/sizes of each partition

 

[justin.m.beauvais]

Thank you. I did try that actually. No dice. It simply wouldn't boot at all. There is something I haven't done to the SSD for sure. I'm going to follow the advice given by Justin. But I'm still a bit confused.

It says to run the following commands:

bootrec /FixMbr
bootrec /FixBoot
bootrec /ScanOs
bootrec /RebuildBcd

Do I need to ensure I am "cd"d to the SSD drive? Will this fix the MBR for both my current and new hard disk?

I apologise in advance. You're dealing with an IT idiot here. I used to think I knew what I was doing....

My suggestion is to have it as the only drive plugged in when you do it. Boot from your Windows recovery media, get into command prompt. CD to the drive and run the commands in succession. Command then enter, then the next command.

 

[WideArchShark]

My suggestion is to have it as the only drive plugged in when you do it. Boot from your Windows recovery media, get into command prompt. CD to the drive and run the commands in succession. Command then enter, then the next command.

Thank you for this... But... Who knows where my recovery disk is !!

 

[WideArchShark]

I think it sounds like you didn't clone it properly, just copy.

You will have to start listing your specs and hard drive/ssd drives/sizes of each partition

That's the thing though. There's a "Clone Disk" option in Macrium. I'm wondering if it's because I didn't set the "Active" partition. I'm not even sure what that means !!!

 

[justin.m.beauvais]

Thank you for this... But... Who knows where my recovery disk is !!

All you need is a Windows 10 installation to make it happen.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

So, download the Windows Installation Media Creation tool and write the media to a USB drive. Then boot to it and you can access the recovery options.

 

[USAFRet]

Assuming you can return the system to original operating condition, with only the original drive connected, redo this clone operation

-----------------------------
Specific steps for a successful clone operation:
-----------------------------
Verify the actual used space on the current drive is significantly below the size of the new SSD
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung SSD)
Power off
Disconnect ALL drives except the current C and the new SSD
Power up
Run the Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration)
Select ALL the partitions on the existing C drive
Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD
This is to allow the system to try to boot from ONLY the SSD
Swap the SATA cables around so that the new drive is connected to the same SATA port as the old drive
Power up, and verify the BIOS boot order
If good, continue the power up

It should boot from the new drive, just like the old drive.
Maybe reboot a time or two, just to make sure.

If it works, and it should, all is good.

Later, reconnect the old drive and wipe all partitions on it.
This will probably require the commandline diskpart function, and the clean command.

Ask questions if anything is unclear.
-----------------------------

 

[WideArchShark]

Assuming you can return the system to original operating condition, with only the original drive connected, redo this clone operation
...
Ask questions if anything is unclear.
-----------------------------

Legendary stuff. Thank you. I did try removing the C: and replace the SATA connections. No luck. I am sure there is something missing from the clone.