Question How do I change my boot to one drive when it’s currently on two?

[GnarGiraffe]

Hello there,

Long time reader / user, first time poster.

Apologies in advance as I have tried to read threads that are similar to my issue but I am out of my depth and don’t really understand.

I will be discussing three storage devices in my systems,:

m.2 which I refer to as m2
My original ssd, which I will refer to as ssd 1
And my new ssd, which I will refer to as ssd 2.

My original m2 died, I got another one, and installed windows back on it a while ago, with it being a while ago I can’t remember how I’ve done it or what I did.

With buying ssd2 I plan to swap it out with ssd1 till I can be bothered to buy the additional bits to install it.

Upon installing ssd2, my system won’t boot, and I have realised I have somehow split the boot between two different drives, my OS is on my m2, while my boot manager is on ssd1.

I want to change my boot manager to my m2 so its all together however, I don’t believe that I can do that because of how I partitioned it, and can’t figure out how to amend this partition for me to move it.

Like I say, I am out of my depth here, so any help and patience will be greatly appreciated.

If any further info is needed, I will happily supply.

Thanks.

 

[SkyNetRising]

I want to change my boot manager to my m2 so its all together however, I don’t believe that I can do that because of how I partitioned it, and can’t figure out how to amend this partition for me to move it.
Like I say, I am out of my depth here, so any help and patience will be greatly appreciated.

Please show screenshot from Disk Management.
(upload to imgur.com and post link)

This can be done.
Essentially you have to shrink C: partition,
create a new bootloader partition and
format it and put bootloader files on it.

Show Disk Management screenshot and
we can provide you with instructions, how to accomplish this.

 

[GnarGiraffe]

Please show screenshot from Disk Management.
(upload to imgur.com and post link)

This can be done.
Essentially you have to shrink C: partition,
create a new bootloader partition and
format it and put bootloader files on it.

Show Disk Management screenshot and
we can provide you with instructions, how to accomplish this.

phew, that's great to hear, thanks for your reply.

Please see below for the image.

Image is here

 

[SkyNetRising]

Please see below for the image.
Image is here

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

diskpart​

list disk​

select disk 1​

(select 465GB disk containing C: partition)​

list partition​

select partition x​

(select 465GB C: partition, x=1 or x=2, replace x in previous command with appropriate number)​

shrink desired=500​

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."

If all went well, then boot into BIOS and change boot priority so
first device is Windows Boot Manager on M.2 drive.

 

[GnarGiraffe]

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

diskpart​

list disk​

select disk 1​

(select 465GB disk containing C: partition)​

list partition​

select partition x​

(select 465GB C: partition, x=1 or x=2, replace x in previous command with appropriate number)​

shrink desired=500​

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."

If all went well, then boot into BIOS and change boot priority so
first device is Windows Boot Manager on M.2 drive.

can I ask why letter why "assign letter=H"?

 

[SkyNetRising]

can I ask why letter why "assign letter=H"?

That's necessary for last command, so you can specify, where to place bootloader files.

 

[GnarGiraffe]

I've just gone into my bios and I don't have boot manager on m.2, it remains the same. I did see "bootfiles created successfully" at the end though.

I've just check the disk manager and there is 500 MB of EFI system partition

I've added images to the original album with the disk manager here

 

[SkyNetRising]

Boot Mode Select - UEFI only,
Boot Option #1 - UEFI Hard Disk,

In Hard Drive BBS - set M.2 drive as first.

 

[GnarGiraffe]

Boot Mode Select - UEFI only,
Boot Option #1 - UEFI Hard Disk,

In Hard Drive BBS - set M.2 drive as first.

Hey thanks for your reply, I’ve just done that and I think it works, I need to go to sleep now for work tomorrow, and I’m in the office.

I will show you what I’ve changed just to make sure I’ve selected the right thing thinking it’s hard drive bbs and I will unplug the old ssd and try to boot because that will be my ultimate “it’s worked” moment.

Look forward to speaking to you tomorrow

 

[GnarGiraffe]

Hello,

Apologies for the late reply I have been busy.

I can confirm it has worked, thanks so much you’re amazing

I have uploaded images to imgur (the last 3) to check whether i selected the right thing for the hard drive BBS Can you please confirm to put my mind at ease.

Thanks

 

[SkyNetRising]

I have uploaded images to imgur (the last 3) to check whether i selected the right thing for the hard drive BBS
Can you please confirm to put my mind at ease.

Looks good.