HDD Replacement, won't boot from USB or disc Drive

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L3iGH

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Jan 18, 2014
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10,510
I'm replacing a hard drive for a friend. The hard drive is failing and prompted her to backup her data. All of her data has been secured and I'm attempting to do a fresh install for her.

Like most systems released in the past few years the recovery partition is on the same failing drive and she did not make a backup image. Something a lot of new computer users aren't aware of.

I've done a clean install using the recovery partition and created an image hoping I can get this on the new HDD without issue.

The problem I'm having is:
When I replace the old HDD with the new one I get a "PXE-M0F: Exiting Intel PXE ROM No Bootable device" no matter what I select. I have a backup image both on USB and on 2 DL DVDs. I get the same reading regardless of which one I select.

I have both selected the boot order by going through F12 at startup and by changing the boot order under BIOS. I have tried two new HDD and received the same error. Both of the new HDD are listed next to HDD in BIOS showing their model number.

I also tried an HDD that has Ubuntu installed and that booted up on the system no problem. The old drive also boots up no problem. When drives that already have an OS installed are used it seems to start right up, the USB and DVD boot options also seem to work in this case. I assumed the drivers for the USB and DVD are on the HDD so I checked to make sure legacy USB was enabled. I'm all out of ideas.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
 
Solution
bryonhowley
The USB and Disc you created is not bootable that is why the motherboard is trying to boot from the network the next boot option. How did you create the recovery media? Your best option would be to find/download(legally) the same version OS she has instead of trying to use the recovery media that is not working. That way you can do a standard Windows install. While it will not have any custom app's settings that the OEM did it would get the system up and running. You would use the KEY attached to the computer to activate the OS.
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bryonhowley

bryonhowley

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Oct 24, 2011
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The USB and Disc you created is not bootable that is why the motherboard is trying to boot from the network the next boot option. How did you create the recovery media? Your best option would be to find/download(legally) the same version OS she has instead of trying to use the recovery media that is not working. That way you can do a standard Windows install. While it will not have any custom app's settings that the OEM did it would get the system up and running. You would use the KEY attached to the computer to activate the OS.
 
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Solution
L

L3iGH

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Jan 18, 2014
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10,510
I used the Windows System and Security tool in the Backup and Restore section of the Control Panel. I created a System Image and not a Backup. I was hoping this would work similar to Norton Ghost but doesn't appear to be the case.

@bryonhowley Would you happen to know a source location where I can download it legally to activate it using the key thats attached to the laptop?
 
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L

L3iGH

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Jan 18, 2014
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10,510
Also. I don't understand why I need to order or download anything to recover the OS when the laptops current HDD has a recovery partition. Isn't there a way I can create a recovery disc from the original HDD? I thought that was the reason behind manufacturers using partitions versus the old school recovery and install disc that came with systems before 2006.
 
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friedricezilla

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Jan 17, 2014
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the microsoft image creator only makes a copy of your user profile and associated settings (not the OS). it is not the same as a recovery cd or partitions. as someone already mentioned, you will need a copy of windows and install the OS before you can restore from the backup you created.
 
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L

L3iGH

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Jan 18, 2014
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10,510
Thanks for responding.

So does Windows not have an option to create an .iso (aka System Image)? Something similar to Norton Ghost? From my experience a System Image is an exact copy of the drive, a clone that includes all settings, programs, folders and files including the Operating System. Under the Control Panel it has an option to Create System Image. On Microsoft's Website it describes a system image as what I've always understood it as being, so your response is confusing.

With an .iso I should be able to save the image to a USB drive and boot from USB. Even if the contents of the USB isn't an .iso I should still be able to select the boot from USB option which would then prompt me "Missing Operating System"

I would much rather create an .iso, does anyone have any clarity on Windows ability to do this within its tool set? Windows says that it can, but I'm having trouble and the information I'm getting here says different.
 
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L

L3iGH

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Jan 18, 2014
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10,510


Attempting your solution, I downloaded a legal copy of the version of windows thats on the failing hard drive. I used the Digital River .iso available on their servers. They sold legal digital copies for Microsoft. With the legal iso on my USB drive, I'm still getting the same error on multiple new hard drives. This only happens when a blank hard drive is mounted to the system. It appears when I'm using a hard drive that already has an OS on it, I'm able to boot from any device. Anyone familiar with this issue?
 
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