"Reboot and Select Proper Boot Device," etc. Error - Just Sometimes

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  1. Posts : 2,171
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #11

    ESL said:
    I haven't fully switched to AHCI yet. Let me tell you what I did, and it may or may not have solved the problem. I read instructions somewhere about switching to AHCI AFTER installing Windows 7. It involved going into the registry and changing an entry. I'm not a huge fan of doing that. Long story short, that method I read about didn't work. After I switched to AHCI, it would get to the Starting Windows screen, then reboot, and ask me if I wanted to launch startup repair. I did a repair, it took forever to check for problems, and said it couldn't fix the problems. I restarted the PC. I went into BIOS and changed the setting back to RAID. I exited the BIOS, then did an F9 at the HP splash screen to run the HP diagnostics and this time everything (including the hard drive) passed. No more BIOHD-2 error. If I had switched to AHCI without going into the registry, would that have destroyed the Windows 7 installation on the 750 GB drive, or would going into BIOS and changing it back to RAID have enabled me to boot into Windows, as I did with the registry method?
    No matter which route you take there are ways to get around either method to avoid declaring the installation as "destroyed".

    ESL said:
    I am definitely going to switch to AHCI and then reinstall Windows 7 on the 750 GB drive. Right now, because of all the problems I have had with this particular WD 750 GB drive, it is more or less a testing drive, as I don't fully trust using it as my main drive just yet. As I write this, I am using my reliable WD 2 TB (WD20EARS) drive. If I do have a concern, it is that perhaps switching to AHCI may affect the performance of the 2 TB, which has performed perfectly set to RAID in BIOS. I'm a bit concerned that my 2 TB drive may start giving me the same boot device message.
    If you do get the same message switching the controller back to the original setting should get you back in business.

    What does the WD diagnostics tool report for SMART results (both drives)?
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  2.    #12
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  3. ESL
    Posts : 190
    Windows 7 Professional x64
    Thread Starter
       #13

    I haven't run the SMART test on my main drive yet, only the 750 GB. It says it passes, with a green checkmark beside it. The method of switching to AHCI after installing Windows 7 was from another forum. The steps were similar, but I didn't have to launch an elevated command prompt to do it.
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  4. ESL
    Posts : 190
    Windows 7 Professional x64
    Thread Starter
       #14

    Here's an update. I set the controller to AHCI, reinstalled Windows 7 on the 750 GB drive, ran the HP diagnostics and everything passed. I then put back my 2 TB drive into my computer that had my other Windows 7 installation on it (set to RAID). On the weekend, I'll have more time to test the 750 GB drive, doing reboots, and trying to reproduce the error. But, considering the "select boot device" error occurred when the HP diagnostics gave me the "no drives detected" message, and that problem is now gone, I'd say it's a good bet that the "select boot device" message is also a thing of the past. I'll keep everyone posted.

    By the way, Greg, in your Windows 7 reinstallation tutorial, you link to several ISO files of different versions of Windows 7 SP1. Can I use one of these ISOs with my current product key to replace the Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit OEM disc (without SP1) I am using now? I actually bought it because I didn't like the HP bloatware. I've used it since day one instead of HP's version. Would I need to use the key from my tower or the key from the Windows 7 Home Premium OEM disc?
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  5.    #15

    You should use the Product Key on COA sticker on the tower since you own that $100+valued version of Windows 7 for the PC's life, to reinstall as often and in any way you please in either 32- or 64-bit.

    Unfortunately if you already used the retail OEM version Product Key you purchased then it has already become locked to that mobo. I would call MS Customer Service and explain that retail key was used accidentally to activate an HP factory OEM PC which already has a OEM-COA key that was intended to be used. Based on reports we've had they may issue you a new key for the retail purchase or reset the purchased key so it can be used on a fresh install. If one agent says no, the next agent may say yes, or you may need to wait until time to activate with it on another install and use phone activation option to get the leniency MS is shown to have as of late on retail OEM.
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  6. ESL
    Posts : 190
    Windows 7 Professional x64
    Thread Starter
       #16

    Thank you, Greg. I appreciate your help in this thread. To the others who also helped, thanks, also. This is a great forum and there are some very good people here. :)
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  7. ESL
    Posts : 190
    Windows 7 Professional x64
    Thread Starter
       #17

    ESL said:
    On the weekend, I'll have more time to test the 750 GB drive, doing reboots, and trying to reproduce the error. But, considering the "select boot device" error occurred when the HP diagnostics gave me the "no drives detected" message, and that problem is now gone, I'd say it's a good bet that the "select boot device" message is also a thing of the past. I'll keep everyone posted.
    Well, I was a bit too optimistic. I set the drive to AHCI, used Diskpart's erase all command, reinstalled Windows 7, installed the updates, and when it came time to reboot, I got the "select boot device" error again. Before this, I ran HP Diagnostics and it said everything was fine. I also ran Windows Repair and it said it couldn't detect a problem. One thing, though, is that I had a USB flash drive plugged into my PC when the error appeared, and also, the error appeared while I was installing SP1. I removed the USB flash drive, rebooted, and Windows 7 booted up. I wanted to see if having the USB flash drive connected could trigger the error again, so I put the USB flash drive back in, rebooted, and Windows booted up normally. Any more ideas, guys?
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  8. Posts : 2,171
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #18

    Bad cabling/connections/power?

    Does your other drive always work without issue?

    Maybe intermittent hard drive problem. Download CrystalDisk (portable version to avoid installation of additional adware); you can use it to keep track of your HDD's SMART attributes (SMART doesn't do that on its own): CrystalDiskInfo - Software - Crystal Dew World
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  9. ESL
    Posts : 190
    Windows 7 Professional x64
    Thread Starter
       #19

    F5ing said:
    Bad cabling/connections/power?

    Does your other drive always work without issue?

    Maybe intermittent hard drive problem. Download CrystalDisk (portable version to avoid installation of additional adware); you can use it to keep track of your HDD's SMART attributes (SMART doesn't do that on its own): CrystalDiskInfo - Software - Crystal Dew World
    The cabling, etc. is all good. The other drive always works, yes. I'll check out CrystalDisk. Thanks for your reply.
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  10. Posts : 2,171
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #20

    ESL said:
    The cabling, etc. is all good. The other drive always works, yes. I'll check out CrystalDisk. Thanks for your reply.
    You're welcome! Let us know what you find...
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