Solved Windows doesn't see second SSD

yankleber

IT Dinosaur
Member
VIP
Local time
11:36 AM
Messages
212
Location
Home
I am with this weird issue.

I replaced my old SSD 120GB with a new 240GB one. Both are Kingston (respectively A300 and A400) and used Macrium Reflect to transfer the system volume. Everything went fine, unless by the fact that in the process Macrium allocated only 120GB from the 240GB available and later I had to manually extend the volume to include the unallocated space. Not a big deal.

My problems started when I connected the old SSD 120GB in a secondary SATA port to use the extra space, perhaps for memory paging because Windows simply doesn't see the drive! The BIOS does but not Windows.

First I imagined that maybe it could be a port or cabling issue but swapping the drives the issue persists (the new 240GB keep booting and the old 120GB keep not being visible to the system). Then I thought that something bad could have happened to the old drive along the process then I disconnected the new SSD and left the old SSD hung to the system and dang... Windows loads normally from the old SSD! Then I guessed that having two disks with a boot record could be confusing the system then I connected only the old 120GB SSD to the computer, booted with a Windows installation CD and used the tool to remove the partition. Guess what... the problem persists, that is, with both SSDs connected Windows still doesn't see the old small one.

I have no idea what is causing it specially because I already had two SSDs attached to this same computer in the past (two 120GB ones) and it worked fine by then.

This is not an emergency or a big deal other than have a 120GB SSD that I won't be able to use. Sure I can just throw it in my spare stuff drawer and keep it there as a replacement part in case of my current SSD dies or I can advertise it in Craig's list but this is ridiculous. :confused:

Any idea?
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom
OS
Windows 7 Professional 64bit
CPU
Intel i5-3330
Motherboard
GigaByte B75M-D3H
Memory
8GB
Graphics Card(s)
Onboard
Sound Card
Behringer UCA222
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung 22.5"
Screen Resolution
1920x1080
Hard Drives
SSD Kingston 120GB
HDD Samsung 320GB
Internet Speed
1M
Antivirus
ZoneAlarm FW + AV Free
Browser
Chrome
Hi yankleber,
Is your drive online in disk management?
Capture.JPG
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
HP Desktop & Compaq Laptop
OS
Win 10 x64, Linux Lite, Win 7 x64, BlackArch, & Kali
Hard Drives
Samsung 850 Pro 256Gb,
Hitachi HDD 1Tb,
Crucial MX SSD 250Gb
Segate 3Tb USB 3.0 Ext. Backup HDD
Internet Speed
150Mbps dn, 20Mbps up
Antivirus
Avast Free, Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit & Anti-Ransomware
Browser
Firefox, Chrome, Opera, & VPN

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom
OS
Windows 7 Professional 64bit
CPU
Intel i5-3330
Motherboard
GigaByte B75M-D3H
Memory
8GB
Graphics Card(s)
Onboard
Sound Card
Behringer UCA222
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung 22.5"
Screen Resolution
1920x1080
Hard Drives
SSD Kingston 120GB
HDD Samsung 320GB
Internet Speed
1M
Antivirus
ZoneAlarm FW + AV Free
Browser
Chrome
When you clone a disk, you also clone the ID to be used. So when you install the new and old, for windows, both has same ID.

To fix it, detach the old (128G), boot from the installation disk, go to repair and do a Boot repair. It will set the proper ID for the 256G.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
    custom build
    OS
    Windows 7 HP 64
    CPU
    i5 6600K - 800MHz to 4200MHz
    Motherboard
    GA-Z170-HD3P
    Memory
    4+4G GSkill DDR4 3000
    Graphics Card(s)
    IG - Intel 530
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 226BW
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    (1) -1 SM951 – 128GB M.2 AHCI PCIe SSD drive for Windows 7 and Lubuntu
    (2) -1 WD SATA 3 - 1T for Data
    (3) -1 WD SATA 3 - 1T for backup
    PSU
    Thermaltake 450W TR2 gold
    Keyboard
    Old and good Chicony mechanical keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech mX performance - 9 buttons (had to disable some)
    Internet Speed
    500Mb/s
    Browser
    Firefox 64
    Other Info
    TinyWall firewall
  • Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model Number
    Asus Q550LF
    OS
    Windows 7 Pro
    CPU
    i7-4500U 800MHz to 3.0GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus Q550LF
    Memory
    (4+4)G DDR3 1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    IG intel 4400 + NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Display LP156WF4-SPH1
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    BX500 120G SSD for Windows and programs +
    1T HDD for data
    Internet Speed
    500 Mb/s
    Browser
    Firefox
    Other Info
    TinyWall firewall
When you clone a disk, you also clone the ID to be used. So when you install the new and old, for windows, both has same ID.

To fix it, detach the old (128G), boot from the installation disk, go to repair and do a Boot repair. It will set the proper ID for the 256G.

I see, very good tip, thank you! :-)
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom
OS
Windows 7 Professional 64bit
CPU
Intel i5-3330
Motherboard
GigaByte B75M-D3H
Memory
8GB
Graphics Card(s)
Onboard
Sound Card
Behringer UCA222
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung 22.5"
Screen Resolution
1920x1080
Hard Drives
SSD Kingston 120GB
HDD Samsung 320GB
Internet Speed
1M
Antivirus
ZoneAlarm FW + AV Free
Browser
Chrome
Back
Top