PC refuses to boot without extra non-OS drive


  1. Posts : 54
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
       #1

    PC refuses to boot without extra non-OS drive


    So today I was going to use Windows to make a system image of my OS drive in case I needed it later. However, Windows 7 doesn't allow you to choose which drives to include in the image. I currently have two drives, a 120 GB Samsung 840 EVO SSD for my OS and a 1 TB WD Black HDD for storage. After searching the forums for a while it looked like the easiest way to remove my 1 TB HDD from the system image would be to unplug its power cable temporarily; so I tried that. Upon boot, my computer asked me to either change the boot drive or plug it in and press any key. I restarted my computer and checked the BIOS boot settings, my Samsung SSD with the OS on it was indeed the stated boot drive.

    I am totally baffled. Why will my PC not boot when I unplug my WD 1 TB storage drive? All I have on it are some games and programs, nothing related to the actual OS.

    **EDIT**: I have been doing research, and people with the same issue as me have solved it by moving the bootloader onto the C: drive. This doesn't apply to me however because I added my WD HDD and formatted it after the OS was already installed on my SSD.

    Any help is appreciated.

    Specs:

    Windows Seven Ultimate SP1
    ASUS M5A99X EVO R2.0
    AMD FX-8320 @ 4.5 GHz (1.425 volts)
    Zalman CNPS9500A-LED CPU Cooler
    G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 (8-8-8-24)
    Samsung 840 EVO 120GB SSD
    Western Digital BLACK SERIES 1TB 7500 RPM
    PNY GeForce GTX 760 OC 2GB
    NZXT Phantom 410 (Black/Orange) ATX Mid Tower
    Corsair 600W Modular
    Last edited by Ocman76; 28 Jul 2014 at 15:25.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 6,292
    Windows 7 64 Bit Home Premium SP1
       #2

    If you post a screenshot of your Disk Management window - expanded so we can read everything - then we can usually see the problem, should it be one of the usual suspects.
    Be sure both drives are connected.

    Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 54
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
    Thread Starter
       #3

    TVeblen said:
    If you post a screenshot of your Disk Management window - expanded so we can read everything - then we can usually see the problem, should it be one of the usual suspects.
    Be sure both drives are connected.

    Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums
    I think I figured out what the problem is, I will post back here with the solution if I am correct.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 54
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Problem solved, the boot manager was indeed somehow on the WD HDD. Maybe when I formatted the drive it somehow ignored the 100 Megabyte system reserve partition.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 6,292
    Windows 7 64 Bit Home Premium SP1
       #5

    Nice solve!
      My Computer


 

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