Whenever SSD is plugged in, HDD does not boot windows

[JhonConners]

My friend got a samsung 850 evo (120gb) and migrated his windows from his old HDD to the new ssd, and planned to run Windows and maybe a game or two on the ssd, and have the hdd for bulk storage.

However after migrating his windows to the SSD, as long as the SSD is plugged into the machine it gives him a blueish screen that says "select proper boot device, windows is not installed on this" or something around there...

How can he fix it?

 

[t53186]

How did he "migrate" windows. You should check bios to make sure the SSD is set as a boot device.

 

[USAFRet]

My friend got a samsung 850 evo (120gb) and migrated his windows from his old HDD to the new ssd, and planned to run Windows and maybe a game or two on the ssd, and have the hdd for bulk storage.

However after migrating his windows to the SSD, as long as the SSD is plugged into the machine it gives him a blueish screen that says "select proper boot device, windows is not installed on this" or something around there...

How can he fix it?

He did something completely wrong with the migration operation.

 

[USAFRet]

How to fix?

Assuming the system can be returned to original working condition, with only the original drive in it, redo it
Like this. These steps exactly, no deviations:
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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
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 as necessary.
Delete the original boot partitions, here:
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/4f1b84ac-b193-40e3-943a-f45d52e23685/cant-delete-extra-healthy-recovery-partitions-and-healthy-efi-system-partition?forum=w8itproinstall
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