new install on new drive, wont load unless old drive is connected..


  1. Posts : 12
    windows 7 ultimate 64 bit
       #1

    new install on new drive, wont load unless old drive is connected..


    Up until recently I had 2x 1tb drives.. one with the install and one as storage. I connected a new 3tb, installed windows again, copied data across from old drives. it wouldn't load unless I had at least one fo the old tb drives connected too though.. if either one is connected then its fine, even if its just the drive that never had an installation on it, wtf? I tried tthe rescue option from windows 7 disc, and it detected and SAID it fixed issues, it didnt. I got a different error message though after doing that, bootmgr or something (I forget) missing. I disconeccted the other damn drives completely and did anotehr new installation on 3tb drive, you know where you are left with a windows old folder (I didnt format) still failed, it just hangs indefinitely at loading operaitng system message now, unless I reconnect either of the other drives!

    Help please?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 6
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
       #2

    Your problem appears to be that your boot manager (mbr) is on one of your old drives which was presumably your system disc.
    You need to make your 3TB drive a primary partition and set it as "Active".
    There are a few things you can do.
    You could use Partition Master to do the above or try the steps below taken from a similar post on this forum.
    Boot free Partition Wizard bootable CD, rightclick on Win7 partition to Modify>Convert to Primary, click OK.

    next rightclick on Win7 partition again to Modify>Set to Active, click OK.

    then click on Win7 HD to highlight it, from Disk tab select Rebuild MBR, OK, Apply all steps.
    HTH.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 6
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
       #3

    Just to add to my above note, you will need to rebuild the mbr on the new system disc.
    More Information.
    I hope this helps and I'm not teaching Grandma to suck eggs.
    Here's how I believe it all works, I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.
    When you boot your PC the BIOS loads and looks at the "boot order" list.
    This is usually a CD/DVD drive first followed by your system disc containing Windows.
    The sys disc is usually connected to the mother board's Port 0.
    The BIOS will try to boot from Disc 0, partition 0.
    This contains the MBR.
    The mbr points to the disc and partition that is "active" i.e. Windows. (It doesn't have to be on disc 0)
    If you want your system to work with only one disc installed then make sure it's plugged into port 0, it has windows on it, it's a primary partition and is active and also contains the mbr.
    You can do all this by using Partition Master (free download) in Windows and rebuilding the mbr on your new disc.
    Then switch off and put the sys disc on port 0 and it will fire up.
    Another alternative which I can vouch for as I've used it myself when changing to an SSD for Windows is to create only one partition, i.e. partition 0, as a primary and load Windows in it. Connect the drive to port 0 on your mobo and the BIOS then boots straight to Windows.
    HTH.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 12
    windows 7 ultimate 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #4

    ...
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 12
    windows 7 ultimate 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Ford Prefect said:
    Just to add to my above note, you will need to rebuild the mbr on the new system disc.
    More Information.
    I hope this helps and I'm not teaching Grandma to suck eggs.
    Here's how I believe it all works, I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.
    When you boot your PC the BIOS loads and looks at the "boot order" list.
    This is usually a CD/DVD drive first followed by your system disc containing Windows.
    The sys disc is usually connected to the mother board's Port 0.
    The BIOS will try to boot from Disc 0, partition 0.
    This contains the MBR.
    The mbr points to the disc and partition that is "active" i.e. Windows. (It doesn't have to be on disc 0)
    If you want your system to work with only one disc installed then make sure it's plugged into port 0, it has windows on it, it's a primary partition and is active and also contains the mbr.
    You can do all this by using Partition Master (free download) in Windows and rebuilding the mbr on your new disc.
    Then switch off and put the sys disc on port 0 and it will fire up.
    Another alternative which I can vouch for as I've used it myself when changing to an SSD for Windows is to create only one partition, i.e. partition 0, as a primary and load Windows in it. Connect the drive to port 0 on your mobo and the BIOS then boots straight to Windows.
    HTH.
    Thanks, I did all this but it did not seem to work unfortunately, the program gave me no error messages.
    I disconnected all drives except the one I wanted, and even tried it in every port, but it would just hang on loading operating system. I connect the old drive and as usual I am greeted with 3 versions of windows 7 to choose from, and I choose the bottom to load up my old install.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 6
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
       #6

    Go to the Control Panel
    System Properties
    Advance3d
    Start up and Recovery
    Set the desired operating system as the default and set the time to display choice of Operating Systems to 0secs
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 6
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
       #7

    There's a typo
    It's should say Advanced tab not Advanc3d
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 12
    windows 7 ultimate 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Hm? I dont understand what that will do, only my old drive displays the 3 installs. the new drive just hangs. Im on the bottoms listed install on the old drive atm, the other 2 are even older installs that no longer work, due to me for years faffing with the sata cables when buying more drives or something, I really dont recall. Oh or is my latest install from the new drive still linked to the old drive through that? I still am trying to the new drive to work without needing any others connected.

    When I get a new drive I copy the old ones contents over to the new one and remove the old to use as a backup for emergencies, maybe that screwed it up somewhow. I only copied non system files though, is weird and frustrating.
    Last edited by notatallsvelte; 29 Feb 2016 at 13:50.
      My Computer


 

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