Windows won't boot without both the HDD and SSD

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lakimens

Honorable
Hello, I just needed a quick CD-ROM, took the one in my drawer, installed it and because my PSU only has two Sata Power Connectors, I disconnected the HDD.
Windows is installed on my SSD, so I expected it to boot up, it didn't.
"Please insert media into boot device..."
Swapped ports on motherboard, still didn't work.
Worked as soon as I connected the HDD.
Why is it this way? I didn't clone the drive, I cleanly installed directly to the SSD.
 
Solution
It's quite easy.
1. Shrink C: partition by 500MB
2. Make a new primary partition in freed up space, format NTFS, drive letter X:
3. Make the new partition active
4. execute command from elevated command prompt:
  • bcdboot c:\windows /s x:
5. Reboot your pc into BIOS, change boot priority so that 120GB drive is first
6. Reboot and done
After that you can disconnect your 300GB drive and system should be able to boot without it.

Post screenshot from DIsk Management.
Most likely you installed windows onto SSD with HDD still connected to the system - resulting in situation, when bootloader is on hdd, but windows on SSD.
This type of configuration requires both drives be present, to boot windows.
 

lakimens

Honorable
RYztPtR.png

I see, it seems like the 500MB drive is onto the HDD. But I do think it was disconnected when I installed Windows.
 
It's quite easy.
1. Shrink C: partition by 500MB
2. Make a new primary partition in freed up space, format NTFS, drive letter X:
3. Make the new partition active
4. execute command from elevated command prompt:
  • bcdboot c:\windows /s x:
5. Reboot your pc into BIOS, change boot priority so that 120GB drive is first
6. Reboot and done
After that you can disconnect your 300GB drive and system should be able to boot without it.
 
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