[SOLVED] Voodoo NVMe drive only boots when empty SSDs are plugged in too

[andrewaltogether]

I had two Intel SSDs in RAID 0 as my main drive for a long time. About a year or two ago, I upgraded to an Intel 660p M.2 NVMe drive. I installed Windows onto it and used the RAIDed drives for storage. There were no issues.

I'd like to give the drives to my brother now, but when I take them out, the computer can't boot anymore. The RAIDed drives are an empty partition now and cannot be booted from; the NVMe drive is in Disk Management as being Healthy and it even says "Boot" on it. But when I turn on the computer, it goes to the BIOS. The only way I can get into Windows is if I have the two empty SSDs plugged in. There's nothing wrong with any of the drives.

I tried installing Intel's drivers, but failed. I have Intel's NVME Miniport and Filter Device Management (which is what installs when you ask to install the driver), but it always says Device Not Detected even when Intel's Memory and Storage Tool correctly identifies the drive. The drive shows up properly in Disk Management and Device Manager. Windows seems to think the driver version is from 2006, which is impossible as none of this stuff existed then.

So yeah, there's clearly some black magic going on. The drive is fine and bootable, but only when there are two empty SSDs plugged in at the same time.

I would backup and restore, but I don't have enough space anywhere to do a backup, and it takes forever, so I'd rather avoid it. Worst-case scenario, my warlock computer keeps its quirk and my brother has to buy his own drives.

 

[SkyNetRising]

Can you show screenshot from Disk Management?
(upload to imgur.com and post link)

Anyway - you have to look for partition, that says "System" or "EFI System". This is, where bootloader lives. Without this partition your pc is unbootable.

So .. obviously this bootloader partition is located on drives, you're trying to remove. You have to recreate it on nvme drive.

 

[andrewaltogether]

Yeah, the EFI System Partition is on the otherwise empty drives. (I spent literally three hours searching for the answer to my problem and never saw the EFI System Partition mentioned once.) OK, so how do I get an EFI System Partition onto my NVMe? (Also, it's b.s. that having "Boot" on your drive does not mean that it can boot. Another reason I hate Windows.)

 

[andrewaltogether]

Also, I do not know how to upload a screenshot without signing up for a third-party platform, and I'm not going to do that. I can describe it to you I guess if you need, but problem located anyway.

 

[USAFRet]

Also, I do not know how to upload a screenshot without signing up for a third-party platform, and I'm not going to do that. I can describe it to you I guess if you need, but problem located anyway.

Upload your image to imgur.com.
You do not need to create an account there.

 

[andrewaltogether]

I don't need to upload a picture. I just need to get an EFI System Partition onto my NVMe.

 

[Deleted member 14196]

You detach your empty SSDs and you format and reinstall windows on the one boot SSD that’s how you get boot partitions on your drive. After windows is successfully installed in building on NVme drive you can replug in the blank SSDs

 

[andrewaltogether]

You detach your empty SSDs and you format and reinstall windows on the one boot SSD that’s how you get boot partitions on your drive. After windows is successfully installed in building on NVme drive you can replug in the blank SSDs

I'd rather not go through the five hour process of reinstalling Windows, downloading all the various drivers and utilities and apps and stuff, choosing the right settings... I'd rather just have a messed up drive that I have to bodge.

 

[cfbcfb]

Yes, the magic of Microsoft and various clumsy ways to prevent you from pirating windows, which largely fail while providing nothing but trouble for people wanting to do something simple.

Fortunately, your solution is simple. Do a full system backup of all the partitions on the nvme. You can even do it to one of those empty SSD's if it'll fit. Not a clone, but a partition by partition backup. Make a windows install usb key. Install windows on the nvme, wiping it out as a new drive. When its up and happy, restore the C:\ partition to the NVME, which will already have the boot sector and the UEFI partition on it. You may need to 'reactivate' windows after this. You may also do a little sidestepping. You can try backing up the NVME, do a disk clone from the disk with the boot sector and UEFI partition to the NVME and then restore your data partition. That avoids a windows reinstall but may not work.

 

[SkyNetRising]

I don't need to upload a picture. I just need to get an EFI System Partition onto my NVMe.

Show screenshot from Disk Management first.
Then we can provide you with instructions, how to recreate EFI system partition on nvme drive.

 

[andrewaltogether]

Show screenshot from Disk Management first.
Then we can provide you with instructions, how to recreate EFI system partition on nvme drive.

OK, gimme a half hour or so. (During which time you can explain what extra information this screenshot will show.)

 

[andrewaltogether]

Nevermind, guys. I was working in my case and dropped my glasses and they broke, so it'll be a few weeks before I get new ones. And there goes my budget for a backup drive, too. Gotta love America…

 

[mdd1963]

As the boot mngr is already on the wrong drive, the future seems certain....

Fresh install with only the NVME drive connected initially. (if you gave all your drivers ready, a fresh install from USB flash media takes 4 minutes, and, drivers 10 more minutes, windows updates another 10 minutes....)

Redo your apps at your leisure....

 

[Deleted member 14196]

I'd rather not go through the five hour process of reinstalling Windows, downloading all the various drivers and utilities and apps and stuff, choosing the right settings... I'd rather just have a messed up drive that I have to bodge.

oh well, live with it then.

FACT, on an nvme, it should install in about 8 minutes flat. Win 10 already comes with all the drivers you need except for MAYBE your chipset and video card.

do it right or live with it.

 

[SkyNetRising]

You can recreate bootloader in couple of minutes.
No need to reinstall windows for this.

Idea is:
making enough free space on the drive for bootloader partition (by shrinking existing partition);
creating bootloader partition;
formatting and setting up bootloader files on it;
changing boot options in bios.

That's it.

Reinstalling windows for this would be like shooting pigeons with ballistic missile weapons. Stupid and completely unnecessary.

 

[Deleted member 14196]

Yeah and that all takes longer than reinstalling windows And is fraught with potential pitfalls if the user is not familiar with doing this

 

[SkyNetRising]

All the work is typing in and executing 11 commands.
(for precise values on X and Y - would have to see screenshot from Disk Management)

diskpart​

list disk​

select disk x​

list partition​

select partition y​

shrink desired=500​

create partition efi​

format fs=fat32 quick​

assign letter=H​

exit​

bcdboot C:\windows /s H:​

How exactly reinstalling windows, all security updates, all installed software, reconfiguration for all of that - is any faster?

 

[Deleted member 14196]

If you create a new windows 10 USB with latest OS there’s no need for updates so an eight minute install is all it takes. Configuration settings? You don’t need to do anything but turn off some privacy settings that takes a few seconds. I will never agree with you on this. and the fact that you go around calling people stupid is rude.

My bet is if he takes your advice he fcks it up. Don’t bother to respond it won’t be looked at or read

 

[SkyNetRising]

Re-installation obviously is the easiest way. Probably you can teach fist-grader to do it.
But it's not smartest nor most efficient nor fastest way.

I think you took my comment about shooting pigeons with missile weapons too personally.