Computer Boot Question

[Old_Geezer]

Ok. In order to test the SSD copy, which presently I'm convinced isn't the clone promised, I went into the CMOS menu and removed the disks that didn't look to be the SSD from the list of bootable options. (As Samsung wasn't shown I had to assume the USB Verbatim was the SSD.)

I then rebooted expecting the thing to fail to come in, but hoping it may boot on the SSD. It came up, into Windows, but I'm unconvinced. Looking at the drives using Disk Manager, the old C: drive has 'boot' written on it, the new copy hasn't. I suspect it still booted from C: despite that disk being removed from the list.

I don't wish to start pulling out drive cables if it can be avoided. Is there a way to see what it booted from without pulling cables, which I can try next time ?

[bhg481]

I can't remember EXACTLY how to do it and I don't want to try at the moment but :-

Restart and, as it is starting rattle the ESC key (might be F11 instead).

That can take you to an option for you to choose which disc to boot from.

[Old_Geezer]

Cheers. Esc will take me to the CMOS menu where I removed the other drives.

[Old_Geezer]

IIRC F8 was supposed to take me to a boot menu but just did nothing, Windows just came in anyway.

[bhg481]

Try the F8 one again and rattle the key. I've found that just hitting it once often results in it being ignored whereas rattling it as the machine comes up has more success.

[Old_Geezer]

Ok I'll give it a try when I get back. Thanks.

[Bertrum]

Type in the search bar “System Configuration” and select it from the list
Select the “Boot” tab
It will give you the drives that have copies of Windows installed; the one you are booted with will be named such as:
Windows 7 (F:\Windows)
Windows 7 (C:\Windows) : Current OS, Default OS

[Old_Geezer]

Sounds good. Been back a while, not looked at it again yet.

[Old_Geezer]

Ah. It only claims the C: drive as an option. So much for disabling boot from it.

Either I need to follow Togo's advice (earlier thread) and redo the disk clone from scratch, or maybe I'll just try to clone the C: drive partition and ignore the "system reserved" and "recovery" drives.

Never straightforward is it.

[Old_Geezer]

Just plugged this new SSD disk into my woman's laptop. Still not seen listed in the System Configuration boot list ! Disk Management and File Explorer see it just fine.

How does one force computers to see and admit the drive is a bootable one ? It was a direct clone of the original C: drive.

(And as an aside, as my other thread only has my posts on it, anyone know how to set the boot order in the PC's CMOS menu when the PC won't boot, I just hear things start up, then nothing, and the monitor screen remains black ? I'm still trying to find that fault/fix before I can progress.)