Windows won't boot after replacing a drive

[sadfacebunny]

Hello,

*To be clear this is not a replacement of my boot drive but a secondary SSD*

I have recently purchased a new SSD (480gb) to replace an older SSD (60gb) so that i have more storage for my games.

I removed all of the necessary files from the old drive and plugged in the new drive and the system wont boot now.

I checked the boot priorities and it still has my boot drive as number 1 and i disabled all other drives

the computer also wont boot without the old drive plugged in.

configs i've tried:

Boot drive + new ssd = no boot
Boot drive (alone) = no boot
Boot drive + old SSD = boot

i have no system files or any other data on the drive. i even formatted it and deleted it from the disk manager

my specs:

i7-8700k
asus strix z370 - e
samsung 860 256gb SSD (Boot drive)
Corsair Force GT 60GB (old drive)
Intel Series 730 480gb SSD (new drive to replace old drive)

 

[Colif]

Was the old ssd in the PC when Windows was installed on current C drive? Windows 10 has a terrible habit of putting boot partition on any spare space it finds lying around.

Can you show us a screen shot of disk management when you boot from Boot drive + old drive? upload to an image sharing web site and show link here.

I am not 100% sure how Asus motherboards treat UEFI boot. Its possible it ignores the boot order and looks for any drive that has an EFI partition on it. UEFI boot is standard with windows 10. You don't need to have the boot drive as 1st anymore as long as EFI partition has the location of the drive saved on it.

Your manual - https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/LGA1151/ROG_STRIX_Z370-E_GAMING/E13238_ROG_STRIX_Z370-E_GAMING_UM_WEB_082417.pdf - I was hoping it would have more screenshots.

 

[cherry blossoms]

If your BCD store simply needs moved, EasyBCD would be helpful. There is a simple illustrated thread to be found at:

https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/209885-bootmgr-move-c-easybcd.html?s=1427471781a9b50c8233de5905244d09