SSD not booting after MB replacement to Z77-GD65

[mfarlow]

My GA-Z77X-UD5H died, so I decided to replace it with an MSI Z77A-GD65 (was a great price). Everything else in the system is the same. I'm using a Mushkin Chronos 120GB SSD as my Win7 boot drive.

After replacing the motherboard, the BIOS recognizes the SSD, but when I try to boot to it, I get a no boot device found error. I have the SSD listed as my first boot device, although I also have a 3TB HDD installed too. I have the SSD set to ACHI mode (which is the mode it was in when I originally installed Win7 on it)

To make matters worse, I tried to replace the SSD with a 250GB HDD and reinstall Win7 to the HDD drive (wanted to save the contents on the SSD if possible). Win7 would throw an error when trying to partition the HDD. I can format and partition the HDD on another PC, so I think the drive is fine.

I'm thinking it has something to do with ACHI. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[inzone]

Maybe try a bios update and see if that can help.

 

[TheBigTroll]

you need a new copy of windows or explain to microsoft about your dead board to get another activation code for windows.

wipe all data on the hard drive and the SSD
the windows license is tied to your motherboard not the hard drive

 

[mfarlow]

Maybe try a bios update and see if that can help.

I'll certainly try a BIOS update, as it couldn't hurt.

 

[mfarlow]

you need a new copy of windows or explain to microsoft about your dead board to get another activation code for windows.

wipe all data on the hard drive and the SSD
the windows license is tied to your motherboard not the hard drive

I can't even get that far.

The existing SSD already has a Win 7 install on it. I realize I'll need to update MB specific drivers for it, but it's telling me there's no boot record.

When I tried to reinstall Win7 on it, the win install won't install to that drive because it says it already has a version of Windows 7 on it. It won't even let me format or partition the drive. I'm using an OEM version of Win 7, and I plan on having to contact them to have it reactivated, but the PC should still at least see the MBR on the drive and attempt to boot.

All I get is that there is no bootable device.

If I can get access to another PC, I'll try swapping the SDD into it to see if it boots. I'm wondering if there is some ACHI driver that needs to be installed at the BIOS level before ACHI will operate.

 

[TheBigTroll]

there is no AHCI driver

can you use another computer to make sure that there is no more data on the SSD?. also, try different sata ports

 

[octashoo]

I had the same problem. MOBO died, had to replace. I ended up taking it to a local tech shop, kid popped in a disc, got it to patch or boot my windows in rough shape, something like safe mode, but not safe mode, enough to execute the MOBO disc app that installed all the drivers, while DL'ing all the other needed drivers via a LAN connection, took about 5 or 6 reboots after continuous driver installs, but BOOYA~ system runs great. You may loose some application licenses and authorizations as I did, but call the company or reinstall etc. No prob.

I don't know what the hell it was that he used. I think it has something to do with MSI.surf. google that~ see what you can find.

wish I could be more specific or of more help, but just wanted to let you know, there is a way around it, and relatively easy, if you got the tool.

PS: I even switched from AMD to Intel.. totally different company for motherboard too.. from foxconn to ASUS.

 

[mfarlow]

I wound up just reinstalling Windows to another SSD I had laying around. I was able to read the contents of the old SSD once I was able to boot into windows.

Thanks for the help.

 

[TheBigTroll]

no problem

 

[inzone]

That's odd you tried a different hard drive (250gb) and it wouldn't work and yet you then tried a different SSD and it did work. The regular hdd must have been configured IDE and not AHCI and that's why the ssd worked , maybe.