Black Screen after BIOS

[Squaredude798]

I just installed my new SSD and installed windows 7 to it.Everything was working fine until I reconnected my hdd,now every time I start my pc I get a black screen with a flashing _ on it for about a minute then it boots to windows.How do I fix this?

 

[gregrocker]

Try another SATA port.

Check the BIOS boot order to set SSD first, HDD second. If you need to boot a disk or stick use the BIOS Boot menu key at boot.

Did the HD have an OS at one point? It may have boot code remaining that needs to be wiped with Diskpart Clean Command after moving the data off.

Let us see a maximized Disk Mgmt screenshot showing drive map and listings with all drives attached. Use Snipping Tool in Start Menu, attach file using Paper Clip in Reply Box. Tell us what's on each drive.

 

[Squaredude798]

Yeah everything is fine in the BIOS. I've only got windows and a few programs on the C drive and a few installers on the E drive.I managed to fix the black screen issue by formatting the system reserved partition and doing a system repair.The only issue I seem to be having now is the time it takes to boot.With just the SSD connected my system boots in 24 seconds but with the SSD and HDD connected it takes around 50 seconds to boot,the HDD did have Win 7 on it but I've formatted it so it should be fine.

 

[gregrocker]

I would not have said that the HD may need to be wiped of boot code if formatting was sufficient. Formatting does nothing about the /nt60 boot code which remains until it's wiped.

How was the System Reserved causing a black screen issue? I've never heard of this. In addition when you abandon the SysReserved partition you must write the boot files to the new Active partition by running Startup Repair - Run up to 3 Separate Times before everything is set right. Rarely is one repair enough.

 

[Squaredude798]

I'll wipe it with disk part and see if it helps.When I was installing windows on the ssd it installed the boot files to the system reserved partition and windows to the C partition.Don't know why it was causing a black screen issue,but getting rid of it and putting everything on the C drive seems to have fixed it.

 

[Squaredude798]

I've done start up repair 3 times and I've wiped the HDD using disk part.It's booting fine its just booting slower than it's able to. I've tried the HDD on different sata ports but I get the same result,I think the HDD might be going bad. I've a new HDD coming next week so that'll hopefully rectify the issue. I've installed SSD's on other PC's with no problems but when I go to do it for myself nothing goes right.

 

[gregrocker]

You can test the HD to determine its condition with maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan followed by full Disk Check.

For WD use Data Lifeguard bootable from Hiren’s BootCD 15.1 since the WD website isn't competent enough to keep a working download.