2nd HDD stops Windows from loading

othelios

othelios

othelios

Associate
Joined
11 Sep 2008
Posts
70
Location
UK
My system has an SSD for Windows 7 and a HDD for all of my user files and storage. This includes my windows user folder and temp files.

Everything was working fine until it started hanging at the Windows 7 loading screen. I thought maybe it was the SSD so I unplugged everything except the SSD and it booted to Windows but of course I couldn't log in as my user folder is on the HDD. I tried again with the HDD plugged in and again it hung at the loading screen. This also happens when trying to boot into safe mode.

Because the HDD has all of my work on it I decided to boot into Ubuntu using a live CD. Once Ubunutu was loaded I was able to access the drive and all of its files as if there was nothing wrong with it.

The drive is a Samsung F3 1TB drive and is only ~1 month old (it replaced an older 1TB drive which I cloned to this one). I have just finished doing a scan of the drive using Samsungs ESTools diagnostics boot CD and the drive passed every test.

I am going to try a different SATA cable tomorrow morning but I think this may be in vain. Does anyone have any ideas as to how I can get it to boot properly? Could it be a corrupted MBR? Or is the drive bust?

I will also check to see if there is a BIOS update and as well but I don't see how the current BIOS could just stop working and I also tried resetting it to optimized defaults.

Thanks.
 
More info needed:
What make is the SSD & how old is it?
When you installed Windows was the hdd connected?
OCZ say only have SSD connected when installing to avoid any files being written to 2nd drive.
As you get to the load/login screen I doubt it is the cable, try a different sata port instead.

You might be on the right track about MBR.
Have you done a repair install of Windows? Not the recovery console!
I doubt it is the BIOS [upgrade needed] but you could try clearing the CMOS & then set it up again.
Is system overclocked? revert to system defaults. [oops:o]
Last resort is to wipe/SE [erase] SSD & clean install windows.

Others may have different suggestions: Good luck.
 
SSD is a OCZ Vertex 2 and I got it around May this year. This is when I installed W7 on it (without any HDD's attached) and has been working fine since then. When this started my computer froze (wasn't doing anything special just browsing) and I restarted and Windows wouldn't load.

Now with the HDD disconnected I am able to boot to the Windows login screen but I cant login and Windows spits out an error saying that it cannot load my profile as this is due to my user folders being located on the HDD. So from this I would say it was the HDD at fault and not the SSD. Or do you think that Windows is somehow corrupted and cannot load the user profile regardless of where it is?

Would a repair install of Windows affect the HDD? If/when I do a repair install should I have the HDD connected as well, or just SSD? Will a repair install repair the MBR? If it does, will it repair the MBR on the HDD as well?

System isn't overclocked and I have tried a different SATA port and cable now. No luck.

I'm going to try to repair Windows and see if that works. If not, I'll try backing up the HDD and reformatting it.

Thanks
 
See this for support
http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/f...nfo-on-firmware-guides-and-tools-you-may-need.

In case you need a firmware update. You will need to use the Linux iso Parted Magic] to update as it can't be done with Windows on drive.
Not sure why you would want your user profile folder on another drive:confused: Once this is resolved maybe best to leave it on C:\

Not sure what your problem is caused by tbh.

A repair install shouldn't affect files, I would do it without the HDD attached to get the SSD to boot/load Windows. If you have any important data use your Linux live CD to copy it. In Linux you could try copying your user profile to the ssd before the repair install & see what happens.
As for the mbr on the hdd you will find out once you reconnect after you know the ssd is working
 
I put the user folder on the HDD (D:\) as having temp folders etc on the SSD (C:\) would mean frequently writing to the drive, which shortens its lifespan. At least this is what I've read.

Also, I can boot into Windows, just not with the HDD connected. Which is what I need.

So I dont think its the SSD.

Still in the middle of doing a full backup. After which I'll try the repair install and if that doesn't work I'll just reformat both drives and start again.

Wish I knew what caused this in the first place though.
 
I had a similar problem with the same drive

Mine would not post correctly with this SSD in

I worked out it was the partition alignment being borked that caused it
(I restored my system using acronis and it was not ssd partition alignment aware)

With SATA mode = AHCI system not post
With SATA mode = IDE , system posted ok and ran

You might want to check your ssd partition allignment
 
Went into GGParted, on the Ubuntu Live CD, to format the HDD and there's a warning symbol. Clicking it to get details, it mentions a number of "Cluster accounting failed at ####### (########): extra cluster in $Bitmap" and that NTFS is inconsistent and I should run chkdsk /f on Windows. Looks like the drive is corrupted somehow.

I then booted in to the Windows 7 DVD and loaded command prompt and ran chkdsk /f on the HDD. Several bad sectors were found and repaired. I then changed the drive letters back to their defaults using diskpart and I am now able to log back in to Windows.

Although I cannot access some items in the control panel like Administrative Tools. It says it is not available and may be at another location.

The drive is less than a month old so I think I may get it replaced under warranty and perform a full reinstall of Windows on both the SSD and the replacement HDD.

Thanks for the assist guys.
 
Just one final question:

As some files became corrupted on the HDD and I've since repaired/recovered it, with everything back to normal, would it be good practice to get the drive replaced under warranty? Just wondering if this is likely to happen again or if its probably a one time thing.

Thanks
 
othelios said:
Just one final question:

As some files became corrupted on the HDD and I've since repaired/recovered it, with everything back to normal, would it be good practice to get the drive replaced under warranty? Just wondering if this is likely to happen again or if its probably a one time thing.

Thanks
Click to expand...

That's the $64.000 question. I would think not, the forum here & OcUK will give you more info on the drives reliability. You could get a replacement & sell it to get another brand

Glad you have resolved things. Remeber do'n't have the hdd connected when installing windows. [ I just got an RMA via WD only took about 9 or 10 days]
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom