No OS on restart as comp tries to boot from USB drive.

[CalypsoArt]

I built this machine a while back. I have this problem all the time. If I start the already shut down machine everything is fine. If however, I restart or hit reset, I get the "no OS" error. I've discovered that it is trying to load the OS from my external USB 500gb drive. If I unplug the external drive or just shut down completely and restart it works fine. I've fiddled with boot order etc., in the BIOS with no change. How do I get the machine to know not to look for the boot info on the USB drive.?

 

[Here To Help]

Just change the Boot Priority in the bios. Your external hard drive must be pluged in so you can tell it the order. I usaly have my hard drives first then DVD/CD then Floppy then Network then USB Devices. Most bios can't go past USB if that is the first drive. For some reason it can't skip it if that is on the top of the boot priority.

 

[gregrocker]

In addition you may want to move the data off your external to wipe it using free Partition wizard bootable CD or Diskpart Clean All from the Win7 Command Line to overwrite undesirable boot code: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52129-disk-clean-clean-all-diskpart-command.html

 

[CalypsoArt]

Did not work. May have something to do with my initial build. I originally loaded W7 on one drive. Then I got a SSD and loaded W7 on that also. I then had a dual boot of two W7 drives. When I was certain the SSD had everything loaded, I foolishly erased the W7 on the first drive. Not Good. Apparently, (as I learned) the dual boot was on the first drive and in erasing the OS I removed it and the SSD OS could not be found. I was able to find some help on the interwebz to fix this problem and boot from the main SSD. However, as posted, if I restart or reset with any usb drive inserted the machine looks there for the OS. If I shutdown completely, there is no problem on start up.

Just change the Boot Priority in the bios. Your external hard drive must be pluged in so you can tell it the order. I usaly have my hard drives first then DVD/CD then Floppy then Network then USB Devices. Most bios can't go past USB if that is the first drive. For some reason it can't skip it if that is on the top of the boot priority.

 

[gregrocker]

Please post back a screenshot of your full Disk Management drive map and listings, with all drives plugged including the external and any flash drives you regularly use.

The best method to avoid these problems when you have separate HD's is to unplug the old OS HD during install to the new SSD. Then after install plug back in the other HD, boot preferred OS HD by setting first to boot in BIOS Boot Order, boot the other using one-time BIOS Boot Menu. This keeps the HD's independent to come and go as you please.

We sort these issues here all the time but need to see Disk Mgmt screenshot to see for sure.

 

[CalypsoArt]

Is this the info you need?

 

[gregrocker]

Use Diskpart to mark G Inactive following these steps from elevated Command Prompt: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/71432-partition-mark-active.html

Then move C to DISK0 position by swapping cables with D, changing BIOS Boot Order so C is set to boot first after DVD drive.

With these changes everythign is configured correctly. If problems persist I would update the BIOS if needed; if not, reset the CMOS: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

 

[theog]

As you USB drive is set ACTIVE, reset to INACTIVE.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/71432-partition-mark-active.html?ltr=P

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

There is some very useful information and an outline of marking a HDD/partition inactive at Option Two #2 along with other pertinent info in this tutorial at the link below.


Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

 

[CalypsoArt]

Use Diskpart to mark G Inactive following these steps from elevated Command Prompt: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/71432-partition-mark-active.html

Then move C to DISK0 position by swapping cables with D, changing BIOS Boot Order so C is set to boot first after DVD drive.

With these changes everythign is configured correctly. If problems persist I would update the BIOS if needed; if not, reset the CMOS: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

Finally got to this today. Made all the changes and everything is working fine.

Thanks

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Good to see you got it running and thanks for the update!

 

[CalypsoArt]

Argg! New situation. I ran the windows system repair. It "fixed" start up errors which I think means it found the old original first install of windows on the 1TB drive. Now when I startup I get the dual boot screen that gives me two choices. below is how they are listed.

Windows 7 professional 64 (recovered)
recovered.

Is there any way to cleanly remove the dual boot without having to wipe and reinstall?

 

[SIW2]

Yes, type msconfig in start search - click the "boot" tab.

Delete the unwanted entry.

 

[CalypsoArt]

Yes, type msconfig in start search - click the "boot" tab.

Delete the unwanted entry.

Thanks that worked. However, now I'm back to the problem in the original post--in a sense. It seems to have reversed.

Whereas previously, The machine started fine but would hang on a restart or reset--right when it should boot into Windows. Now when I first start up it hangs after post right at the same place. If it hit reset it runs the process again and boots into windows fine. This is the same every time. Intital switch on hangs, reset gives a correct boot up.

 

[SIW2]

Where does it hang - straight after the beep?

 

[mjf]

You could try removing disk 1 (the 1TB) disk entirely from the boot sequence options in the BIOS. In AMI it's under "Advanced BIOS features".

Then with disk 0 alone connected run the system repair up to 3 times.

If on occasion system repair still identifies disk 1 as having a valid OS and puts it back in the BCD as a windows load entry, then you only have one of 2 options as I see it:
(1) disconnect disk 1 when doing a repair or
(2) remove the OS from disk 1.

 

[CalypsoArt]

Ok, did all the processes recommended and eventually it seems to be working. Bios sees the C-300 drive and now has it as the default windows drive. Just plugged in my 500gig external usb drive and restarted. The machine defaulted to the correct drive, found windows and started fine. I believe this problem has finally been solved.

Can anyone recommend a good hardware forum. I still have to solve some hardware problems. I tried registering at [Hard] Forum and they rejected me. Huh?

 

[theog]

Ok, did all the processes recommended and eventually it seems to be working. Bios sees the C-300 drive and now has it as the default windows drive. Just plugged in my 500gig external usb drive and restarted. The machine defaulted to the correct drive, found windows and started fine. I believe this problem has finally been solved.

Can anyone recommend a good hardware forum. I still have to solve some hardware problems. I tried registering at [Hard] Forum and they rejected me. Huh?

Just make a new thread & we will try to help.

 

[CalypsoArt]

Arrg! @#%$& problem is back! I spoke to soon. Sorry to be so stupid.

Hope this info can help if anyone feels like sticking with me on this one. Ok.

When I start-up I see Bios info that shows both harddrives.
Disk 0 C-300 (my SSD)
Disk 1 WD-1T (the 1 terrabyte WD drive)

As the start up continues it will often hang. Always if I have the 500gb USB drive plugged in. If before the hang I exit to bios config, the two drives are listed under BOOT in the Hard Drive section, but in boot order the c-300 is not. Yet the USb drive is. (I never has an OS on the USB drive) Resets somehow reconfigure and the c-300 shows up. I have to go into boot order and redo the order. This seems to be happening all the time.

 

[gregrocker]

Can you post another maximized Disk Mgmt screenshot with all drives plugged in?