Help setting boot device to SSD

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jimthenagual

jimthenagual

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Apr 8, 2012
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I just purchased an Asus ROG G752VS laptop. I installed the Samsung 950 Pro 256Gb. I cloned the HDD onto the SSD. Now here's my problem.

I can't get it to boot from the SSD unless the HDD is removed. If the HDD is connected, it boots from the HDD every time. In the bios I went to the boot priority and removed the HDD. ONLY the SSD shows up in boot priority, but it ALWAYS boots from the HDD. If I physically remove the HDD it boots from the SSD beautifully fast. If the HDD is installed, it boots like a slug.

Thank you for any help.
 
Solution
Hlsgsz
The disk is probably GPT. Only the old MBR system uses "active" partitions.

Two options:
1. if you can wipe the whole disk:
diskpart
list disk
select disk x
clean
convert gpt(if you want it to remain GPT)
exit

2. I'm quoting from a forum post somewhere else: https://disqus.com/home/discussion/thewindowsclub/fix_the_drive_where_windows_is_installed_is_locked/

I've spent a lot of time trying to get my Windows 8 PC to boot again after cloning to a new SSD and try to summarise how I finally got it all working -

Firstly, boot from a UEFI Windows 8 recovery disk (CD/DVD/USB) - I found that the automated recovery process didn't find the correct Windows partition, nor when I managed to add it to BCD settings would it make it reliably...
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Hlsgsz

Hlsgsz

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Feb 29, 2016
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Just delete the Win and associated partitions from the HDD...
 
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jimthenagual

jimthenagual

Splendid
Apr 8, 2012
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Plot thickens.

I deleted the HDD with diskpart. Now when I go to boot my computer it is automatically booting from the HDD still, even though the bios says to boot from the SSD. When it goes to load windows it crashes and says I need to do a system restore.

If I remove the HDD, it boots from the SSD no problem.
 
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jimthenagual

jimthenagual

Splendid
Apr 8, 2012
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Thank you for your help, I really appreciate it.

I did what you said. I went through the steps, but when I get to the step where I enter the 'inactive' command, it responds by saying:

The disk is not a fixed MBR disk.
the INACTIVE command can only be used on fixed MBR disks.

I was trying to access the 'system' partition on the HDD.
 
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Hlsgsz

Hlsgsz

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Feb 29, 2016
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The disk is probably GPT. Only the old MBR system uses "active" partitions.

Two options:
1. if you can wipe the whole disk:
diskpart
list disk
select disk x
clean
convert gpt(if you want it to remain GPT)
exit

2. I'm quoting from a forum post somewhere else: https://disqus.com/home/discussion/thewindowsclub/fix_the_drive_where_windows_is_installed_is_locked/

I've spent a lot of time trying to get my Windows 8 PC to boot again after cloning to a new SSD and try to summarise how I finally got it all working -

Firstly, boot from a UEFI Windows 8 recovery disk (CD/DVD/USB) - I found that the automated recovery process didn't find the correct Windows partition, nor when I managed to add it to BCD settings would it make it reliably bootable e.g. using BCDEDIT I got it to find and launch the Windows partition but it refused to cold boot or would not "keep" the settings after a 2nd reboot or power off.

Go into the Advanced options and run the Command Prompt.

Enter diskpart to use the DiskPart tool to ensure you have all the right partitions and to identify your EFI partition - the key thing here is that your EFI partition is formatted as FAT32:

DISKPART> sel disk 0

Disk 0 is now the selected disk.

DISKPART> list vol

Volume ### Ltr Label Fs Type Size Status Info
---------- --- ----------- ----- ---------- ------- --------- --------
Volume 0 E DVD-ROM 0 B No Media
Volume 1 C NTFS Partition 195 GB Healthy Boot
Volume 2 WINRE NTFS Partition 400 MB Healthy Hidden
Volume 3 FAT32 Partition 260 MB Healthy System

Then assign a drive letter to the EFI partition:

DISKPART> sel vol 3

Volume 3 is the selected volume.

DISKPART> assign letter=b:

DiskPart successfully assigned the drive letter or mount point.

Exit DiskPart tool by entering exit and at the command prompt run the following:

cd /d b:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\

bootrec /fixboot

Delete or rename the BCD file:

ren BCD BCD.bak

Use bcdboot.exe to recreate BCD store:

bcdboot c:\Windows /l en-gb /s b: /f ALL

The /f ALL parameter updates the BIOS settings including UEFI firmware/NVRAM, /l en-gb is to localise for UK/GB locale. The localisation defaults to US English, or use en-US.

Reboot and cross your fingers.

This gave me headaches. I was going in circles for a long while. There isn't a lot of reliable info about fixing UEFI/Windows 8 at the time of writing.

[EDIT]

To re-enable Hyper-V, I also had to run the following from an Administrator Command Prompt within Windows after rebooting:

bcdedit /set {default} hypervisorlaunchtype Auto
bcdedit /set {default} nx OptIn
Click to expand...
 
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Solution
Hlsgsz

Hlsgsz

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Feb 29, 2016
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Weird indeed. Try a load optimized defaults in the BIOS, then under teh boot section disable CSM and enable "secure boot"(this is assuming the install you cloned is in UEFI mode. After a restart teh BIOS shoud see the SSD as "Windows Boot Manager"(you will never see it thereon it's own if it's not with windows on it. that's why you had trouble with making the BIOS boot from it).
Anyway after that, I'm thinking it should be recognized.
 
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