Windows 10: I’m planning on getting a small faster ssd as a boot drive for my pc, is there any way to...

I’ve already checked the method of cloning a drive that I already have, but my hdd has 4tb of stuff on it that won’t fit on my smaller ssd. Can I reuse the usb drive that I was given and put it on my ssd?

:)

 

My m.2 ssd is recognized in bios, but not as a boot device

Thank you very much for reaching out! As an Independent Advisor and fellow Microsoft user, I'm more than happy to assist you.

Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve this issue:

1. Check BIOS Settings

Ensure that your BIOS settings are correctly configured to recognize the M.2 SSD as a boot device:

• Enable CSM (Compatibility Support Module): Sometimes, enabling CSM can help the BIOS recognize the SSD as a boot device. You can find this option under the Boot tab in the BIOS settings.
  
• Set Boot Priority: Make sure the M.2 SSD is set as the first boot device in the boot priority list.
  

2. Update BIOS

Updating your motherboard's BIOS to the latest version can resolve compatibility issues with new hardware:

• Visit the ASUS official website to download the latest BIOS update for your ROG Strix B650 Wi-Fi motherboard.
  

3. Reinstall the SSD

Ensure that the M.2 SSD is properly installed:

• Remove the SSD and reinsert it firmly into the M.2 slot. Make sure it is securely fastened with the screw.
  

4. Initialize the SSD

If the SSD is new, it might need to be initialized:

• Boot into Windows using another drive, open Disk Management, and initialize the SSD as either MBR or GPT.
  

5. Check for Drive Mode Compatibility

Ensure that the M.2 slot you are using supports the type of SSD you have (SATA vs. NVMe):

• Some M.2 slots only support either SATA or NVMe, not both. Refer to your motherboard manual to confirm compatibility.
  

6. Repair Boot Configuration

If the SSD has Windows installed but is not recognized as a boot device, you might need to repair the boot configuration:

• Boot from a Windows installation USB, go to the command prompt, and use the following commands:
  
  
  This can help rebuild the boot configuration data.
  

7. Check for Hardware Issues

If none of the above steps work, there might be a hardware issue with the SSD or the motherboard:

• Test the SSD in another system to see if it is recognized as a boot device.
  
• If the SSD works in another system, the issue might be with the motherboard. Consider contacting ASUS support for further assistance.
  

Please feel free to reach out if you require any additional assistance. I'm here to help!

 

old (empty) M.2 drive is still the boot drive

I have an old m.2 drive that was my boot drive with windows installed on it. It's now empty and windows was installed on another drive (SSD). But somehow the original m.2 is considered the boot drive. I cannot select the SSD in the BIOS as the new boot drive. I want to physically remove the M.2 drive from my PC, but it breaks windows if I remove it. Is there a way to make the SSD the boot drive (without reformatting)?

Thank you

 

Unable to Boot to SSD drive, goes to M.2

I bought a new to me desktop PC. I replaced the HDD it had with my old computer's SSD, which has my expected windows 10 image.

The PC was wiped clean before I bought it and I guess is booting to a Windows 11 M.2. So it boots to Win11 via the M.2. I can see my SSD as D: drive.

I went to startup options and don't see my SSD as an option to boot to.

I don't need this M.2 to boot to, only want it to boot to my SSD.

Can this be accomplished and if so, how? Thank you!