Windows wont boot after HDD removal

[luddomack]

Hello!

So I have Windows 10 installed on my Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB. 2nd drive is a Seagate Barracuda 1TB. But the Seagate disk is like 4-5 years old and have started to act wierd (hard to describe how), any ways. I bought a new one (WD Blue 1TB).

Today, I were gonna switch the HDDs, but when I tried to start the PC, I just ended up on BIOS.

I legit only have games folders on my old Seagate (Steam, Battle.net & Rockstar Games and so on) and some are empty, some have old files on them, but all games are uninstalled. I can't see any Windows files on it.
But still some how I need it to boot Windows.

As soon as I unplug the old HDD, Windows can't seem to boot, I have tried to unplug every disk exept the SSD but it only get me to BIOS.
I have also tried to switch the SATA cables to see if that is any help, but nothing.

Does any one here know what the problem is? I would rather not have to re-install Windows on my SSD even tho it works, but only with the old HDD that have no important files on it.

Thanks.

 

[vapour]

so if you plug in the HDD back, it will boot successfully?
What is your booting order in BIOS?

 

[jay32267]

I would have only the SSD hooked up....as you said....it will go to BIOS.

I would check the BIOS and make sure everything looks good and fix anything that doesn't.

Then SAVE THE BIOS. Very important. Then reboot and see what happens.

If this doesn't work....I would reset the BIOS to default and do the same thing with just the SSD.

 

[geofelt]

When you installed windows on the SSD, was the HDD connected?
If so, windows put a hidden recovery partition on the HDD and will not run without it.

There should be a solution, but I have not done the research to find out what needs to be done.

 

[luddomack]

When you installed windows on the SSD, was the HDD connected?
If so, windows put a hidden recovery partition on the HDD and will not run without it.

There should be a solution, but I have not done the research to find out what needs to be done.

Yeah, im 99% sure it was in.

 

[luddomack]

I would have only the SSD hooked up....as you said....it will go to BIOS.

I would check the BIOS and make sure everything looks good and fix anything that doesn't.

Then SAVE THE BIOS. Very important. Then reboot and see what happens.

If this doesn't work....I would reset the BIOS to default and do the same thing with just the SSD.

Yeah, I have tried to only have the SSD hooked up, and I have never changed anything in BIOS. So it is default, have also tried to reset BIOS to default.

 

[luddomack]

so if you plug in the HDD back, it will boot successfully?
What is your booting order in BIOS?

Yes, when I plug the old HDD back it works, so I need both the SSD and HDD in order to boot Windows.

Booting order is 1. SSD then HDD.

 

[jay32267]

If nothing else works I would do a clean Windows install on the SSD with only the SSD connected to the MB.

 

[luddomack]

If nothing else works I would do a clean Windows install on the SSD with only the SSD connected to the MB.

Yeah I have to do that if I can't find any answers that works.
Thank you any ways!

 

[vapour]

I will try to connect the new HDD and clone everything on the old HDD to new HDD. Then unplug the old HDD and retry? Try Windows Easy Transfer

 

[geofelt]

If you use windows easy transfer, you can export your files and settings from the current ssd to a file on the old HDD.
Some files like installed programs will not export.
If you have steam games, those can be moved.
Then, do a clean install on the ssd(with the HDD disconnected)

Boot up the new ssd with windows and reconnect your old HDD.

Find the exported file and restore anything that got exported.

Since you will have a new & clean registry, any apps that were previously installed will need to be reinstalled.

Later, you can add a new HDD and copy whatever you want to it from the old HDD.

I might look at WD or Hitachi for slightly better reliability in a HDD.

 

[luddomack]

I will try to connect the new HDD and clone everything on the old HDD to new HDD. Then unplug the old HDD and retry? Try Windows Easy Transfer

Ok, thank you for the answer.

 

[luddomack]

If you use windows easy transfer, you can export your files and settings from the current ssd to a file on the old HDD.
Some files like installed programs will not export.
If you have steam games, those can be moved.
Then, do a clean install on the ssd(with the HDD disconnected)

Boot up the new ssd with windows and reconnect your old HDD.

Find the exported file and restore anything that got exported.

Since you will have a new & clean registry, any apps that were previously installed will need to be reinstalled.

Later, you can add a new HDD and copy whatever you want to it from the old HDD.

I might look at WD or Hitachi for slightly better reliability in a HDD.

Gonna have to look in to this, thanks.

 

[ssan8995]

I would recomend checking the boot order in the bios if it isnt correct put correct drive first to boot if still dosnt work i would recomend a fresh install