Fresh Windows 7 Install on SSD - Drive works but isn't in BIOS?

[Griffith]

Hey,

So, today I decided to backup my SSD, completely wipe it using diskpart, and then do a fresh install of Windows 7. My hard drive has been giving me some errors recently and it was time for a fresh install anyways. So far everything has been working pretty well except for the fact that my computer keeps booting into my secondary hard drive instead of the 120 GB SSD. However, I can boot into the SSD easily by opening up the boot menu (hitting the 'F12' key) and manually selecting the SSD as my boot device.

Even though the SSD is showing up in my boot menu, it doesn't show up under my boot menu in the full-BIOS. I am not too sure what is wrong. I can make a video if helps explain the problem with a little more clarity.

I followed this guide to do the fresh install of Windows 7:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html

Thanks and let me know if you need more information.

 

[rvcjew]

This might not pertain to your problem but could help some other areas, when you installed windows to the ssd did you have only the ssd in the pc at the time, if not your BCD is most likely on the bigger drive and removing it will make windows unable to boot, that being said it should not make your ssd not show up in the bios. Did you install the EVO in UEFI mode, with a UEFI windows installer?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Thanks and let me know if you need more information.

Post a screen shot of Windows Disk Management.

Does the machine boot OK if the SSD is the ONLY drive connected??

 

[Griffith]

Thanks and let me know if you need more information.

Post a screen shot of Windows Disk Management.

Does the machine boot OK if the SSD is the ONLY drive connected??

Thanks for the replies, guys. Here is some more information/screenshots of my BIOS settings.

BIOS Screenshots with both drives installed:
**Computer only boots to SSD until I go to the boot manager and manually boot to "MKNSSDAT120GB-DX"**

Boot Manager Screen (2 hard drives):

BIOS Settings (2 hard drives):

BIOS Screenshots with just the SSD installed:

With the second hard drive removed, the SSD boots to Windows 7 without an issue. Also, the computer will automatically boot to the SSD without needing the boot manager.


Disk Management Screenshot:

 

[bigmck]

Here is the preferred way to show the screen shots. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/274797-disk-management-post-screen-capture-image.html If you could post the Disk Management with all of your drives showing, it can tell us if there is a problem with the way they are set up. Thanks,

 

[Griffith]

Here is the preferred way to show the screen shots. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/274797-disk-management-post-screen-capture-image.html If you could post the Disk Management with all of your drives showing, it can tell us if there is a problem with the way they are set up. Thanks,

Sorry about that. In case you are wondering, the second HDD came with all of those partitions in it. The only one I added was "SSD Storage" about 6 months ago in order to store games, pictures, and documents on the HDD.

 

[bigmck]

C: drive has the System, boot and active markings on it. It should boot to that. None of the other drives have anything on them. Where does it boot to? -- I don't see how it could boot anywhere else but C: Could you try it again. Plug in all disks and boot. It just has to go to C: == Your disk with all of the partitions can have some of them removed, but I would feel more comfortable if someone else helped with that when we get the booting problem fixed.

 

[Griffith]

C: drive has the System, boot and active markings on it. It should boot to that. None of the other drives have anything on them. Where does it boot to? -- I don't see how it could boot anywhere else but C: Could you try it again. Plug in all disks and boot. It just has to go to C: == Your disk with all of the partitions can have some of them removed, but I would feel more comfortable if someone else helped with that when we get the booting problem fixed.

Thanks for the reply, Bigmck. I have posted a video below with a little more information about the problem I am having. It is really weird that this problem is so persistent, as everything appears to be working fine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQf453Lo0wA&feature=youtu.be

Also, my secondary hard drive needs a fresh install as well. This time, however, I would install Windows 8 onto the hard drive. The computer came with a Windows 8 OEM key installed into the BIOS (so I can't access it), but apparently if I install Windows 8 (not 8.1) via a CD then the computer will automatically activate the OS. Do any of you know where I can find an iso image of Windows 8?

 

[Mellon Head]

In your BIOS, this page:

Try setting the Boot Priority to something other than "UEFI first". It's causing your computer to boot from the listed UEFI drive, which is not the 120 DX. Notice what Windows Boot Manager is saying. It's looking at your other drive for where to find the boot files.

Try changing those two things (one at a time) and see if the system boots properly, please.

 

[Ranger4]

This is just a stab in the dark. It seems that Win 7 has been installed as NTFS MBR, whereas Win 8 seems to be installed as UEFI. Is it possible that your BIOS will not recognise the NTFS SSD & show it, but it allows booting from it.
A solution might be to reinstall Win 7 using UEFI.

This is only a thought as I mentioned. Someone with more knowledge than I have would be best to answer that.

 

[bigmck]

I think you said that the PC came with Windows 8 and you installed Windows 7 afterwards, is that correct? I have never used Windows 8 so my knowledge of it is zero. I am sure that Windows 8 is doing something to mess things up for you. I will have to become a lurker and wait for a Windows 8 guy to show up. Mellonhead who posted above runs Win 8. He will be back I am sure. If you don't get an answer here, you might try the Windows 8 Forum, but don't give up here yet.

 

[Griffith]

This is just a stab in the dark. It seems that Win 7 has been installed as NTFS MBR, whereas Win 8 seems to be installed as UEFI. Is it possible that your BIOS will not recognise the NTFS SSD & show it, but it allows booting from it.
A solution might be to reinstall Win 7 using UEFI.

This is only a thought as I mentioned. Someone with more knowledge than I have would be best to answer that.

This might be very possible. I formatted the drive as NTFS via diskpart before installing Windows 7. Before I invest too much time into installing all my programs again I might have to try cleaning and re-formatting the SSD as UEFI.

 

[Mellon Head]

Before I invest too much time into installing all my programs again I might have to try cleaning and re-formatting the SSD as UEFI.

Before you go to all of that trouble, did you try changing the BIOS parameters like I suggested in post #9? It may just be that BIOS is looking at the wrong drive.