Change boot drives

HPTL7 · 1 Jan 2016 at 13:53

Hi
I had bought a new SSD yesterday. I installed windows 10 on it, moved all my files from hdd to ssd, now I want to get rid of the HDD, so i took it out of the motherboard.
However, When i boot now, it says 'need a bootable drive' or something. I can get into windows at all. When i reconnect the HDD it all works fine.
How can i change boot drive?
Thanks.

Not sure if this is correct place to post, please move if it ain't.

Borealis · 1 Jan 2016 at 14:29

Was it a fresh install of windows 10?

If you leave a HDD attached when installing windows onto a SSD, I believe it puts some sort of boot record on the HDD. Meaning that when you unplug the HDD you get the problem you've encountered.

A clean install without the HDD connected should sort the problem. Obviously back up all your files to the HDD before doing the clean install. Then copy the data back across to the SSD when you've done the clean install.

lee32uk · 1 Jan 2016 at 14:36

Is it booting from the SSD in the bios ?

HPTL7 · 1 Jan 2016 at 14:38

lee32uk said:
Is it booting from the SSD in the bios ?

Yes, I have changed the priority to SSD first.
I even checked when only ssd was inside. The boot sequence was first SSD. Nothing else after it.

Nix · 1 Jan 2016 at 14:42

Sounds like the MBR may be on the HDD? You'll probably need to follow Borealis's advice.

HPTL7 · 1 Jan 2016 at 14:54

Could this be it?

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/kb/223188

Nix · 1 Jan 2016 at 15:14

HPTL7 said:
Could this be it?

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/kb/223188

I doubt it as the SSD should boot without the HDD if that was the case.

Borealis · 1 Jan 2016 at 15:20

Thanks Nix. Couldn't remember the term. I'm pretty sure that if you install windows to an SSD without disconnecting any mechanical drives first, it will put an MBR on the HDD whether you like it or not!

I thought Microsoft had changed this with Windows 10 but perhaps they haven't.

That knowledge base article relates to Win XP/ Server 2003 and is for changing the drive letter. Unfortunately if there's an MBR on an HDD, the only way to resolve the issue will be to do a clean install with just the SSD plugged in. Once you have Windows installed, you can then reconnect any other storage drives.

HPTL7 · 1 Jan 2016 at 17:03

yeah, ain't no way I am installing Windows again.
Found a way to do it, more than one day.

Simply typed this command in Command Prompt
bcdboot c:\windows /s c:
And set the drive as Active and Voila.

Thanks all for the help.

Nix · 1 Jan 2016 at 17:18

Borealis · 1 Jan 2016 at 17:53

My google-fu was weak today. It's good that there is an alternative because otherwise it's a total PITA!

I take it you've successfully disconnected the HDD and it now happily boots from the SSD?

HPTL7 · 1 Jan 2016 at 17:54

Borealis said:
My google-fu was weak today. It's good that there is an alternative because otherwise it's a total PITA!

I take it you've successfully disconnected the HDD and it now happily boots from the SSD?

Yup, Gave it to my little brother to play with...