Can't Boot After Removing SSD from PC with 2 Win 7 OS on separate Disk

General T · 12 Mar 2013

Hi,

My problem is as follows:

I installed Windows 7 onto an SSD and used this for about 7 months - everthing working well. I recently decided that I needed more storage space so I added on a WD 1TB internal HDD and put Windows 7 on this drive as well.

So now when I boot up I get a choice of 2 Windows 7 OS to choose from - one on the SSD and one on the new HDD. I decided that I didn't want to have the SSD drive anymore (too small) so I removed it from the computer - thinking (apparently naively) that the other HDD would work fine.

This was not the case. With the SSD removed I cannot boot up the computer - apparently the other Windows 7 OS on the HDD does not contain any bootmgr info to boot up with. It seems that only the SSD has the boot info?

I had to reinstall the SSD back into the computer in order to be able to boot to the other Windows 7 OS on the HDD.

So my question is - how do I remove the SSD and still be able to boot to the other internal HDD Windows 7 OS?

I have included a picture of my HDs from Computer Management (there are also 2 data drives on the system.

Appreciate any insight into this problem.

I also noted that in Device Manager it shows the WD 1TB as a SCSI HD - but its not?

Can't Boot After Removing SSD from PC with 2 Win 7 OS on separate Disk-disk-drives.jpg

Thanks

VistaKing · 12 Mar 2013

Hi General T

Remove the SSD drive . Power on the PC and run the Startup Repair

Startup Repair

Kaktussoft · 12 Mar 2013

Mark C in screenshot active so it's a boot candidate (it is already so no action needed). Mark D (SSD) inactive. Be sure you have a win7 install dvd or system repair DVD!
So from Elevated Command Prompt

Code:

 
diskpart
select vol D
inactive
exit

Now disconnect SSD.

Now do a Startup Repair 3 times from dvd with reboots in between. this will put bootmgr on active partition and create the bootmenu.

Now you can reconnect SSD and use it for other things

whs · 12 Mar 2013

This is a bit strange because it shows the C partition on the HDD as active. Try this with the SSD connected: Bootmgr - Move to C:\ with EasyBCD It could very well be that it uses the bootmgr on the SSD for booting.

Btw: I think it is a BIG mistake to move the OS from a SSD to a spinner. Your system will be a lot slower. With proprer organization, your system should easily fit into 30GB - all my 6 systems that are on SSDs do. If you need to know how to do that, let's discuss.

General T · 12 Mar 2013

Wow,

Thank you all for the quick responses. I will try your options.

WHS:

I do love the SSD...but I want to get a 500Gig version..I did fill it up with a lot of Adobe products...I know it is still a lot of space...

Thanks Again All

whs · 12 Mar 2013

Why don't you move your Adobe stuff to the spinner and leave the OS on the SSD.