Question cloned HDD wont boot

[rymik444]

I cloned my HDD with windows 10 and macrium cloning software.

I transfered the system reserved, recovery and finally the C drive. I then expanded the C drive capacity and then cloned the partitions.

I confirmed with disk management that both the old and new drives were MBR. I see the SATA connection with the harddrive as the first boot method in BIOS. However, it wont boot.

Reinstalling the old drive it boots correctly.

Im sure I am missing something simple. What am I doing wrong?

 

[TerryLaze]

Cloning the separate partitions does not clone the boot block(MBR) of the hard disk.
In general this is not a big problem because most disks do have one coming from the factory but some don't.

Pop in a windows 10 installation dvd/usb and go to the recovery options let it run the recovery several times so it can see what the problem is and fix it,or look up a guide on how to manually install a BCD (should already exist on your disk) and write a new MBR.

 

[rymik444]

I thought the "boot block" was the system reserve. Unfortunetly I dont have a windows install dvd... I did make a recovery dvd with macrium prior to starting the cloning process but I dont think thats the recovery you are refering to.

If I dont have a windows disc or do not how to manually write BCD, then is my only option is to get a fresh install of windows?

 

[TerryLaze]

I thought the "boot block" was the system reserve. Unfortunetly I dont have a windows install dvd... I did make a recovery dvd with macrium prior to starting the cloning process but I dont think thats the recovery you are refering to.

If I dont have a windows disc or do not how to manually write BCD, then is my only option is to get a fresh install of windows?

You can download a install disk from windows they have a tool that writes it to a usb or dvd you don't even have to search for your serial to download it you can just get it.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
You can also put in both disks boot from the old one and fix the bcdstore either with windows commands or with the help of easybcd which is free for personal use and has a lot of guides online.
EasyBCD also made a bootable repair thingy recently but I didn't use it yet and have no idea if it's any good.

 

[USAFRet]

You don't do it one piece at a time.

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Specific steps for a successful clone operation:
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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.
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