Windows 10: How to fix system and boot partitions on separate drives?

Hi, I was following a YouTube guide on moving everything to a new SSD everything being basically just windows and I ran into a problem. I was using MiniTool partition wizard, the tool restarted the PC but about 4 hours later I still had a black screen with white writing saying 0%. I looked up what to do and it was recommended to turn on and off the PC so I did. Now it seems that my files/partitions, not sure, are messed up. My system partition is on a different drive to my boot so I cannot actually attempt to repeat my original steps and I am afraid to try and copy then delete the partition

:)

 

Fix for boot partition and system partition on separate drives





Attempting to upgrade windows 10 to windows 11. When converting c drive(operating system/boot/system drive) from MBR to GPT I discovered that my boot partition and system partition are on separate drives, so I cannot convert. To fix this I am installing a new primary boot drive and reinstalling windows 10 on to it. To avoid issues I have been told to unmount all drives but the new drive while installing fresh copy of window 10. I would then want to remount all old drives and transfer all the program files from the old drive to the new one. I am afraid of creating conflicts or new issues when transferring over the content from the old drive. Will there be issues of duplicate/conflicting windows files? Is there risk of creating any new partition conflicts or issues? Any advice on software to use, or best advice for fixing this issue? I am open to other solutions. I just want to ultimately end up with a new GPT drive with both boot partition and system partition so I can upgrade, but also want to keep all the programs and data from the old drive so I don't have to reinstall everything. Thanks for any advice!

 

Fix for boot partition and system partition on separate drives

Not sure if I understand those questions fully. I am upgrading from a current purchased copy of windows 10. I have updated the BIOS on my mother board already so there are no issues with TPM or legacy BIOS. MBR and lack of secure boot are my issues, but I cannot fix them due to the above stated problem. I would try and merge the two drives, so that both boot partition and system partition are on one, but there is not much space on either one and it seems like a complicated process. I am happy to give more detail if needed.

 

Fix for boot partition and system partition on separate drives

Run: https://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-11#pchealthcheck

Windows 11 System Requirements - Microsoft Support

Post images or share links into this thread using one drive, drop box, or google drive.

If you're planning a supported Windows 10 to Windows 11 upgrade then an option is to make a backup image and restore only the primary or data partition after a clean install.

The clean install is performed after modifying the BIOS so that the new partition architecture is already GPT (BIOS: UEFI; Drive GPT). The backup image was made while Legacy / MBR. Restoring the image of only C: into the GPT partition is followed by a startup repair as needed.

Some third party software (Macrium) have features to make backup images and restore only one partition.

For example restore only C:.

Macrium use to be free.

Other backup imaging software may or may not have this feature: Acronis, EaseUS, Paragon, etc.

1) Backup the whole disk drive (all partitions) > save to another disk drive

2) Find a flash drive that you can format (> or = 8 GB).

3) Find a working Windows computer

4) Using the flash drive that you can format (> or = 8 GB) create a bootable Windows 11 Media Creation Tool (MCT) (Windows 11 iso):

Download Official Windows 11 ISO file from Microsoft Tutorial | Windows 11 Forum (elevenforum.com)

Download Windows 11 (microsoft.com)

5) Detach all drives except the drive for the new Windows installation

6) Boot to the BIOS > Modify settings: Legacy > UEFI native (without CSM)

7) Boot to the MCT

8) Delete all partitions making an unallocated disk drive

9) Clean install Windows 11

10) Restore only the C: partition

11) Perform a startup repair as needed