Question Very Strange Booting Issue with My PC

[flon_klar]

I’ve been having trouble with my desktop machine for a few days. In the process of troubleshooting, I have discovered that it will successfully boot up with no drive connected. Additionally, it boots up to the account and configuration of the person who owned it before me (my son). I don’t see how this is possible. How can this be explained? Thanks.

 

[rgd1101]

so a used pc?
did you do a fresh os install when you first got it?

 

[flon_klar]

When I inherited the PC, I removed my son’s C drive and installed my own brand new 500GB SSD. Last September, I bought a new 2TB SSD and cloned my old drive to it. It’s been working fine until several days ago when the computer started taking 15-30 minutes to boot. I upgraded to a new PSU, which did not fix the problem. It was then that I noticed the machine would boot with no drive connected, and as I said, would boot to my son’s old drive.

 

[SkyNetRising]

It was then that I noticed the machine would boot with no drive connected, and as I said, would boot to my son’s old drive.

Well - it can't boot into OS without any storage device connected.
That simply is not possible.

So there has to be either SATA drive, USB drive, PCIE SSD or something like that.

The drive could be in some hidden spot - installed behind motherboard tray - for example.

 

[rgd1101]

remove the old drive. sound like the new one failed

 

[flon_klar]

@rgd1101- Which old drive are you talking about? Do you mean my ex-C: drive that I cloned? It is currently not in the system. And yes, I am replacing the new drive, which I assume has failed. How does this relate to my current issue of strange bootup?

 

[rgd1101]

are these the drive? 4 drive, which one is old one
OS/Program Drive: Samsung 850 EVO 500GB File Drive: Samsung SSD 850 EVO- (2) 500GB and (1) 250GB Data

 

[flon_klar]

@SkyNetRising-

Are you saying there could be a hidden drive on the back side of the MoBo?

 

[flon_klar]

@ rgd1101-

Yes, the first "OS Drive" is my old C: drive. It is disconnected. At this time, all my drives are disconnected. This is why I don't understand why it boots with no drive attached.

Also- I just discovered that the computer will NOT boot at all with my apparently damaged 2TB drive connected.

 

[SkyNetRising]

Are you saying there could be a hidden drive on the back side of the MoBo?

Yes. There are pc cases, where 2.5" drives can be installed behind motherboard tray.

Remove second side panel and check it.

Anyway - if you're confused about your pc, cant you ask previous owner (your son) about it?

 

[flon_klar]

I wish I could. He died about 5 years ago.

 

[rgd1101]

count all the sata data cable make sure they are not connect to anything

 

[SkyNetRising]

I wish I could.

Oh. Too bad.

Can you show a photo of your system with side panel removed?
(upload to imgur.com and post link)

 

[flon_klar]

I have 8 cables:
(5) SSDs
(1) HDD
(1) DVD drive
(1) SATA extension port w/ card reader

They are all unplugged.

Disk Management says I am running a single 500GB C: Drive (Drive #0). Under "Properties," the hardware is a Samsung SSD 970 SCSI Disk Device. There are no SCSI ports. Not sure the mobo even supports SCSI.

If there is a hidden drive behind the motherboard, that must be it, but I'm not pulling my mobo out to find out; too much work. There is no mention in the ASUS Z97-PRO manual to suggest that there are any user connections or drives on the rear of the board. But this computer is NOT connected to any drive device that I know of, and it boots up perfectly and quickly each time. I don't know what's going on, but it's weird!

 

[35below0]

You don't have to pull the motherboard out. Just open the case from both sides and look if there's a drive attached. Many cases have slots for SSD drives behind the plate the motherboard is screwed onto. There's space between that plate and the case.

It seems this is exactly what is happening. That 500GB SSD drive is bootable, and hidden somewhere in the case.

Edit - It won't be mentioned in the motherbaord manual, but it will be noted in the case manual, as the trays or slots are part of the case.

 

[pete_101]

The answer is simple, on the lower right side of that motherboard is a M.2 slot and it has a samsung M.2 SSD installed in it.

 

[35below0]

Oh, lol. An M.2 SSD? 😏

Basically, it's "plugged in" to the motherboard itself. No cables.
No need to pry anything apart.

 

[rgd1101]

yup. sound like samsung ssd 970 m.2 on the motherboard

 

[flon_klar]

You don't have to pull the motherboard out. Just open the case from both sides and look if there's a drive attached. Many cases have slots for SSD drives behind the plate the motherboard is screwed onto. There's space between that plate and the case.

It seems this is exactly what is happening. That 500GB SSD drive is bootable, and hidden somewhere in the case.

Edit - It won't be mentioned in the motherbaord manual, but it will be noted in the case manual, as the trays or slots are part of the case.

The mobo is mounted to the tray, and the tray covers the back side of the mobo. There is a small window directly behind the GPU, but to see anything else on the back of the board, I would have to separate it from the tray.

But you're right, I don't have to look there. It IS in the M.2 slot, but it's covered by a heat sink, which I assumed was just part of the board. I love learning new stuff. Thanks to everyone for helping with this!