Windows 10: How to make an SSD the exclusive boot device?

I have a dell xps desktop. It came with a standard HDD with windows 10. I added an SSD when I bought it and have used that for the OS and applications, I was able to set it to boot to that drive, I formatted the HDD that came with the computer and used it as storage. This has been the case for around 3 months. Yesterday, the storage drive (the one that came with the OS and whatnot) was wiped with killdisk, not just re-formatted. Once the kill disk was completed I was still using the internet as usual with the SSD, since I had it as primary. I noticed I didn't see the storage drive listed under computer, so I rebooted. Now, It wouldn't boot to the ssd because I assume the original HDD has the boot manager on it, but the whole disk was zero'd. I installed 8.1 onto the HDD. I can now see my 224gb SSD in disk management. I just want to know how to make the ssd the
exclusive drive that runs the os, boot manager etc on this computer. Here is a pic of my disk managemt




:)

 

M.2 SSD fails to boot-How to repair the boot sector from the Command Prompt?

Hi,

I suggest you to refer the below steps to repair the boot sector:

Note: If you don’t have the bootable DVD or USB drive, please refer to the steps in the article given below to create one and then follow the steps given below.

Create installation media for Windows 10

Download Windows 10

1. After you boot your computer using Windows 10 DVD or System Repair Disc, a black screen appears with gray text

"Press any key to boot from CD or DVD". Press any key.

2. Select the correct time and Keyboard type.

3. Click Repair your computer in the lower left corner.

4. Select Troubleshoot from Choose an option screen.

5. Click Advanced options in Troubleshoot screen.

6. Click on command Prompt.

7. Type these following commands and hit enter after each line of command:

Bootrec /fixmbr

Bootrec /fixboot

Bootrec /scanos

Bootrec /rebuildbcd

8. Restart the computer.

Disclaimer: Modifying BIOS/ complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) settings incorrectly can cause serious problems that may prevent your computer from booting properly. Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the
configuring of BIOS/CMOS settings can be solved. Modifications of the settings are at your own risk.

Hope the above information is helpful. Revert to us with the status of the issue. We are happy to assist you further.

Thank you.

 

M.2 SSD fails to boot-How to repair the boot sector from the Command Prompt?

Bump. Does anybody know why the above command didn't work?

 

unplug the HDD
boot to your setup media
select repair this computer

 

I would also recommend you plug the SSD in to the first SATA port - apparently where the HDD is now. After you get the SSD booting by itself, plug the HDD into the second SATA port.

Once you get the SSD booting by itself, and the plug the HDD back in, you can delete the system reserved partition from the HDD and expand the data partition into the free space using MiniTool Partition Wizard.

 

If he is like me - Dell XPS8700
He installed a mSATA card into the onboard card slot - SATA Port 5

Thus SSD is Disk 1 because HDD is Disk 0

 

Had not thought of that

 

I tried to to the repair and it fails. AS I said, I have an OS on the HSS and I see the SSD, there is nothing wrong with the SSD I just want to know how get the MBR or bootmanager onto the SSD, as I will not use the HDD for anything other than storage once I can complete this

 

It will not boot to the SSD because, what I assume is, is that originally it was dependant on the HDD, as that had the bootmanager on it.

 

Use this tutorial but instead of C, change it to D. Then you have to change the boot sequence in the BIOS to the D disk (disk1).

Bootmgr - Move to C:\ with EasyBCD - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

Thanks man, change which one to "D"? The SSD is already listed as D. Are you saying make the HDD (the current C drive) the "D" Drive?

 

When you boot from the SSD, the letters will change automatically. You need not change letters.

 

You already have an unallocated 400MB System partition on Disk 1

from command prompt (admin)

Diskpart
select disk 1
create partition primary
format quick fs=ntfs label="SYSTEM"
assign letter="S"
active
exit

Bcdboot D:\Windows /s S: /f BIOS

And I assume D is the SSD OS you want to Boot, so you can delete the C OS you are now using from the HDD..

 

Okay, thanks. Do that then follow the instructions in the link provided to get the boot manager onto the SSD? I want the SSD to be exclusive, no dependance on the HDD. I think that is why I ran into this issue, because I believe the SSD was relying on the Bootmanager that was on the HDD that came with the PC

 

You are right. You did not have a bootmgr on the SSD. The instructions in the tutorial will fix that.