Windows 10: A new win install on a HDD messed up my win install on my m.2 SSD

Win version: 1909

Complicated story. I had to send my laptop to service because a hinge broke. They informed me, that because GDPR reasons I need to erase my data from it before sending it in. The laptop originally only contained an hdd, which i used for storage, and I formated it before sending it in. My windows install was on an m.2 ssd which I installed later. I removed this ssd from the laptop before sending it to service, so when it comes back, I thought I would just put it back inside, and use it like nothing happened.

When the laptop came back, I put the SSD back inside, not knowing, that the service people changed the BIOS to legacy, and changed the boot order to prefer the hdd, and installed a new instance of windows 10 on the empty hdd. I started the laptop, and this new windows system on the hdd greeted me. I tried to change the boot order back to the ssd, and put it back to uefi, but by the time I restarted the laptop, the new install on the hdd messed up something on the ssd, so now the laptop cannot boot from it, even though every file is still present on it.

The only way I'm able to access my old system is disconnecting the hdd, and using a win10 boot usb stick to start windows, which results in my old system running in this "hybrid" way, booting from the usb stick, but using all my files from the ssd.

Is there a way I can restore the booting capability of my ssd without a fresh install?

I tried fixmbr fixboot rebuildbcd with no luck.

:)

 

A new win install on a HDD messed up my win install on my m.2 SSD




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Yes, I do think that is my problem, but I couldn't find a way to remedy it. Sorry for the screenshot being in Hungarian, if you need I can translate it. And don't mind the 500 MB partition, I tried to do a fix from a similar thread which suggested creating it, but later steps didn't prove successful.

 

Installing Windows on m.2 ssd keeping old hdd

Hi

I purchased a new m.2 ssd .I want to install windows 10 on it.But i also want to keep my old hdd for storage (which currently has win 10) .How can I format the old and install win 10 on new ssd?

Also link the necessary resources and links please.My dell laptop is almost new and i dont want to mess it up.

Thank you.

 

A new win install on a HDD messed up my win install on my m.2 SSD

If the M.2 drive was your OS drive and you removed before sending the laptop to service and now you can't boot from it, the issue is on the BIOS settings as nothing has changed on the M.2 drive.
As you installed win10 on the M.2 drive latter, it can be that the boot loader (efi partition) was on the HDD and now it has been cleaned.
Is the Disk Manager image on post #3 from the M.2 and a USB drive?
I would like to see an Disk Manager image of the M.2 and the HDD drives.