windows doesn't boot from cloned SSD and boots from old HDD--dell n5110

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megabyzus

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May 10, 2014
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I have Dell n5110 that I want to install a faster SSD to boot from. The HDD is very difficult to removed so I left it in there and haven't removed it. The SSD is in a DVD caddy in place of the optical drive. (ODD). I used two cloning software (to make sure), EaseUs and Reflect namely, and the cloning seems have completed correctly in both cases (both show MBRs). In BIOS I changed the boot order too.

However, the computer still boots off of the original (slow) HDD.

I have read various fora and it seems I might be close to what I need but I just can't exactly get to it and I don't want to mess with the original HDD blindly.

To reiterate, assume I cannot removed the original HDD.

Can anyone suggest next steps or give me a hand with this?

Thanks!
 
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clutchc

clutchc

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When you clone drives with some software, you have to specifically include the boot sector. I know from past experience that EaseUS needs to have that checked manually. At least in the older versions I've used. I suspect that is the problem. You can test it by unplugging the HDD. If it won't boot from the SSD that way, the boot sector probably didn't get cloned.

If you re-do the cloning here is a handy guide to follow: http://www.howtogeek.com/97242/how-to-migrate-windows-7-to-a-solid-state-drive/
 
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megabyzus

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I can't unplug the HDD unfortunately because it's deep in the laptop. As for the EaseUS, I have used it on another machine and it worked without requiring the step you indicated. Unlikely that's the problem.

 
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megabyzus

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I must reiterate that after I cloned the SSD from my HDD, I didn't remove the HDD. The HDD is still in place (I can't remove it. It's deep in the bowels of the laptop). Again, I have successfully cloned the SSD (I think) which is now in the optical drive slot, but the computer still boots from the HDD even though I changed boot order in BIOS. Any thoughts and help will be greatly appreciated!.
 
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ArtPog

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We'll assume that the disk-cloning operation was successful and we'll further assume that you've set the boot priority order of the laptop's BIOS/UEFI so that the SSD is first in boot priority order.

The problem *may* arise because the SSD has been installed in the laptop's optical drive's bay. We have come across a number of laptops where the OEM's proprietary BIOS/UEFI has prevented a boot from an otherwise bootable drive that has been installed in the optical drive's bay. We have not found a workaround when this situation exists other than installing the drive in the laptop's primary hard drive bay.

I can't recall ever working with your specific Dell model so I'm unsure whether the above applies.

I assume that when the system currently boots to the HDD the SSD is detected as a secondary drive.

You might want to contact Dell's tech support to see if they can shed any light on this problem.
 
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megabyzus

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Mo Moadeli

Artpog, thank you for your response. What you indicate may very well be the case. Before I go down that route, is it possible to prove that it is indeed the case (other than not being able to boot off of the SSD)? Also, in all the previous cases where I cloned the HDD to a SSD, I immediately removed the HDD and replaced it with the SSD and then booted successfully. Is it possible that since I haven't removed the HDD, the operating system re-assigns the HDD as the primary boot drive and doesn't see the proper information on the SSD and doesn't boot from it? In other words, is there an OS route to fixing this possibly?

Many thanks for your time and thoughts.
 
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ArtPog

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Mo:
Since you've reiterated that you did set the boot priority order for a boot to the (presumably successful) cloned SSD there shouldn't be a problem that the system would boot to the HDD. Having said that, as we all know s*&t does happen when working with a PC and the possibility exists.

Ordinarily I would have previously suggested that you uninstall the HDD from the system and attempt a boot from the SSD while that drive is installed in the laptop's optical bay, and assuming negative results, then install the SSD in the primary hard drive bay to determine whether a boot to the SSD would be successful. However, you stated you apparently did not want to remove (uninstall) the HDD.

I don't know any way to determine whether you can or cannot boot to a bootable HDD/SSD while installed in your specific model laptop's optical bay without either attempting to do so (as you have) or getting definitive info from either Dell or other owners of your specific laptop.

 
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