Fixing the MBR (or something) when running two drives?

[stockhausen]

I have a system with Windows 10 Pro 64-bit installed on a 250GB SSD in the NVMe M.2 slot.

Because I wanted to “experiment” with Windows 10 and also because I wanted to set up a “Data” partition I decided also to install a shiny new 1TB SSD as a SATA III drive and to install Windows 10 in a dedicated partition on that drive.

Since I am lazy and it is tricky to do as it is hidden by the CPU cooler, I didn’t bother to remove the M.2 SSD when installing Windows on the 1TB SSD - I probably should have done

As a result of loading Windows 10 on to the new 1TB drive (while the M.2 SSD was still in place) I seem to have altered the MBR on the M.2 SSD such that when the system boots it asks whether I now want to boot

Windows 10 on volume 5

-or-​

Windows 10 on volume 2
​

With me so far?


90% of the time I just want to boot Windows from the M.2 SSD (on volume 5). When I do not want to boot from there I would press [F12] and choose to boot from the 1TB SSD (on volume 2) instead.

Can someone please tell me how I can (easily) correct this tiresome situation? Back in the day I could have edited the Linux GRUB but I don't know where to start with Windows.

Thanks

 

[thenewoc]

Is it in the Advanced Start Up options?

Try:

Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Advanced start-up > Restart now


I've not tried it but I think you want somewhere that states Boot options, like MSConfg dialog would have. If you can find an option that shows the second drive as a boot option you could delete that. I'm assuming it's under 'Startup Settings' once you have the Advanced options window shown.

Are you happy to format the second drive as you no longer want to boot to it? The best way I think to have two systems like this is to install the second one as a Hyper-V one so you can boot that one up from inside the normal one that you use most often.

 

[stockhausen]

Many thanks for that @thenewoc, I am/was very familiar with MSconfig - it has of course now been superseded by the all-encompassing "settings" App.

I tried working through your suggestion but stopped when I realised that I might end up with a totally borked system.
I have decided to persevere with the current strategy; I have set a password on the 1TB SSD system and set the background image on it to a threatening "DO NOT USE" reminder.
I may move the M.2 SSD to a PCI Express M.2 SSD Adapter card when I have time.

 

[thenewoc]

@stockhausen

The site I was looking at had misspelled MSConfig so actually it is there when using the correct spelling.

To access System Configuration options, press Windows+R keys and type “msconfig” in the “Run” dialog. You will see multiple tabs to configure the system, like:

Boot
Here you can change boot options, like boot into Safe Mode, change the default operating system (if you have multiple ones) and other similar boot options.


From here you should be able to delete the entry for the secondary OS drive providing you are booted into your primary OS installation.

 

[neur0maniak]

[WINKEY] + Break
Advanced System Settings (right side, or at the bottom on a narrow window)

Section on the window that pops up "Start-up and Recovery"
Click the Settings button

Try setting "Time to display list of operating systems" to 0, or uncheck it completely.