Reinstalling Windows onto a new HDD. If Serial active on broken SSD?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
D

Daynhg

Distinguished
Jun 24, 2015
164
19
18,585
Hello, and please can anyone help. I have 3 questions all in the same subject.

Setup is..
SSD with windows on it. Plus some other files etc.
HDD most other stuff.
Windows 10
Gigabyte Gaming 5 motherboard.


1. Today I got the "reboot and select proper boot device windows 10" message.
I could not get away from it. I started my old laptop, and did some searches.

And after some searching in Bios, discovered that its not seeing my SSD, the one with Windows on.
I put it to the front of the "daisy chain" power cable. The one usually used by the HDD (which bios is seeing) Nothing.
I then swapped the SATA port from the HDD to the SD, again nothing.
I am assuming this means that the SSD is broken.

3 Questions please guys.

1, Is there anything I can do to repair the SSD? As it has not only Windows on it. But also some other files I dont want to loose.

2, In the event, that cannot. Or there is now way of repairing my SSD....
If I purchase another HDD to swap Windows onto. How do I do it.?
I have the Windows 10 disc, and also I have the serial key.

And I assume that if my Windows license key wasn't already activated, I would just put the new drive and and it would ask me to install Windows, and activate it. Just like a new build.

....But seeing as the key is already activated on the SSD drive, how do I do it please?
How do I activate the same Windows on a new HDD, if I cant deactivate it on the SSD?

3, Last point. Is there an easier way of doing all of this please.

And thank yo sincerely anyone who can. or tries to help.





 
Solution
Blankie440
If you can make it to the windows loading screen then it must have a corrupt library file or other file that is preventing the system from booting into the OS correctly. You can try to hit F8 and attempt to go into "safemode" and see if it loads that way. Either way it seems you may be able to fix this with a win10 recovery.

I'd think you can salvage your current SSD.

Side note: SSD's are great but you have to be careful of the brand/specs. I stick with Samsung and OCZ personally and I have SSD's that are 4-5 years old and still kicking the crap out of my HDD's.
Sort by date Sort by votes
Blankie440

Blankie440

Distinguished
Jan 27, 2011
68
0
18,660
I would take your windows 10 disk and boot to it to see if the OS will recognize your SSD and maybe the partition has become corrupt. If you can see it this way then repair it from that menu and you should be good. If Win10 can't see the SSD and your BIOS won't recognize it then it may be dead, at that point you can install a new SSD and complete a fresh installation of Win10 on it. Due to the computer being the same specs except for the new SSD it may allow the license to transfer but if not then you can call microsoft and they will update it for you so you can use your current license, just explain what happened to your last SSD.

One question I have for you is:
Did you have a raid setup on your HDDs or did you just have one SSD and one HDD? If you have a windows software raid established on your previous installation of Win10 then that will be lost when installing a new SSD.

Let me know if you have any more questions and I hope you get it all resolved with little issue
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
M

mbarnes86

Splendid
Sep 16, 2010
3,839
7
26,965
Hi

If you have previously installed win 10 and have the original dvd or usb
Or upgraded from win 7 or 8 as a free upgrade then go ahead to re install on the new hard disk or ssd

This is not a new PC or motherboard so there should be no problem in re-installing or re-activating windows

Regards
Mike Barnes
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
D

Daynhg

Distinguished
Jun 24, 2015
164
19
18,585


Thank you so much for this answer Blankie440.
I will work through the things you have suggested, and get back to you.

But before even trying your excellent advice.
If I leave it with the SSD, and the HDD in, it goes to a black screen with the Windows logo (in blue) And a spinning circle of dots. (the one see when windows in loading) but that just goes on and on. Im not sure if this means anything.

And also as a side point, if I do have to get another drive, I wasn't going to get an SSD, as this one is only about 15 months old. I was looking at a WD black.Not sure if this is the right course.?

I'm hoping the SSD isn't completely shot TBH.

Again thank you for your invaluable help.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
D

Daynhg

Distinguished
Jun 24, 2015
164
19
18,585


Thank you very much for your reply, and help mbarnes86.

I am really really hoping I dont have to get another drive, and that the SSD is working still.
But in the eventuality that it isn't.

This is really great news. Knowing that I can at least get another drive, and it should work with my existing Windows.

I appreciate the help Sir.


 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Blankie440

Blankie440

Distinguished
Jan 27, 2011
68
0
18,660
If you can make it to the windows loading screen then it must have a corrupt library file or other file that is preventing the system from booting into the OS correctly. You can try to hit F8 and attempt to go into "safemode" and see if it loads that way. Either way it seems you may be able to fix this with a win10 recovery.

I'd think you can salvage your current SSD.

Side note: SSD's are great but you have to be careful of the brand/specs. I stick with Samsung and OCZ personally and I have SSD's that are 4-5 years old and still kicking the crap out of my HDD's.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom