Really irritating problem

[EventHorizon27]

I've had this problem across a few builds recently. Just seeing an SSD can sometimes be alot more difficult then it should.

So the HTPC I'm building had 1x vertex 2 SSD and 2x 2TB WD AV green drives (Asus Maximus IV gene-z). Running W7 and everything's fine. I open it remove the 2 WD HDDs and put a new 2tb drive in. Do some cable management. All done... lovely.

Turn her on, check bios... everything as it should be. Select vertex 2 as primary boot device and... "reboot and select proper boot device..."

The bios can see the drive but I can't boot off it????

I've tried:

Different SATA cables (power/data)

Different SATA ports (black/red)

Boot override selecting vertex 2

Raid, AHCI, IDE mode.

Complete bios/cmos resets

Just having the SSD in without any other HDD

I seem to have no luck with SSDs. I've had a problem with the Force GT in my main rig where it'll only boot when plugged into the 2nd hot swap bay. If plugged into others it won't boot. Standard HDDs work in all 4.

Its obviously something I'm doing wrong as no one else seems to have this problem.

Any Ideas???

 

[dipzy]

try plugging the SSd into the first SATA port on your motherboard and see what happens if its not already connected to it and also try booting with one 2TB connected at a time.

I had the issue a while back where if i plugged my SSD into any other sata port other than the first one, my rig would not go past POST.

 

[EventHorizon27]

Sorry, I'll try and explain the situation a little better:

Old working config:

1x vertex 2 SSD (Boot) + 2x WD Green 2TB HDDs (Storage)

New not working config:

1x vertex 2 SSD (Boot) + 1x WD Black 2TB HDD (Storage)

All I've done is shift around storage drives to facilitate my current server build with the current HDD shortage.

Oh and I've tried just the ssd on its own in all 6 sata ports

This is extremely frustrating... I just wanna relax and watch some Nikita!!!

 

[Grizzly]

Had a similar sounding problem myself.

In your BIOS you might have 2 different options for boot order.

First where you select your boot priority from CD/HDD/USB etc.

And there might be a second option that lets you change the boot priority of your hard drives from HDD1/HDD2 etc.

If you choose HDD in the first option which HDD it will try to boot from is then taken from the second option.

Take a look and come back with your results.

 

[EventHorizon27]

Being an Asus board there is lots of hidden boot priority options. Currently, until I get a successful boot there is only the SSD plugged in. (no optical or other HDD)

EZ Boot priority - set to vertex 2

Boot priority - set to HDD

HDD boot priority - set to vertex 2

No joy!

Also there's a boot override option where you target a specific boot device and say boot from this now. It then instantly boots from that device. When selecting vertex 2 under boot override it still fails.

 

[Terrifictez85]

Have you tried pressing f8 and doing a quick boot from the ssd?

 

[fcb]

Could it be that the boot partition is damaged?

 

[EventHorizon27]

Could it be that the boot partition is damaged?

It is a possibility. Its also a possibility that the SSD is faulty, or even the mobo. I just find it difficult to believe that just swapping out storage devices can cause that kind of fault.

Next steps:

1) Bring out the W7 install disc - see what it sees

2) plug the SSD into my main rig, obviously it won't boot from it but if it tries... ect

 

[Terrifictez85]

It is a possibility. Its also a possibility that the SSD is faulty, or even the mobo. I just find it difficult to believe that just swapping out storage devices can cause that kind of fault.

Next steps:

1) Bring out the W7 install disc - see what it sees

2) plug the SSD into my main rig, obviously it won't boot from it but if it tries... ect

Were the storage disks set in a raid partition?

 

[EventHorizon27]

Have you tried pressing f8 and doing a quick boot from the ssd?

Yes

No gravy

 

[Terrifictez85]

Yes

Next thing to try would be to clear cmos and put the ssd in port 1 and the hdd in any other port then boot as normal if it persists then it looks windows 7 disc will need to come out.

 

[EventHorizon27]

W7 disc in

Repair...sees no OS hmm..

into command prompt

x:\> bootrec/scanos

one windows installation found: C:\Windows ... this is good!

C:\> bootrec/fixmbr.... completed successfully

C:\> bootrec/fixboot.... Element not found

C:\> bootrec/RebuildBcd.... 1 windows os found add to boot list (yes).. Element not found

Well its a start!

If computers didn't break and technology was perfect I wouldn't have a job but I really wish it wouldn't happen to me

Edit for clarity: still hasn't booted, no raid config, CMOS cleared, no luck

 

[Terrifictez85]

W7 disc in

Repair...sees no OS hmm..

into command prompt

x:\> bootrec/scanos

one windows installation found: C:\Windows ... this is good!

C:\> bootrec/fixmbr.... completed successfully

C:\> bootrec/fixboot.... Element not found

C:\> bootrec/RebuildBcd.... 1 windows os found add to boot list (yes).. Element not found

Well its a start!

If computers didn't break and technology was perfect I wouldn't have a job but I really wish it wouldn't happen to me

Edit for clarity: still hasn't booted, no raid config, CMOS cleared, no luck

Are you using sata 3 or sata 2 cable??

 

[EventHorizon27]

Are you using sata 3 or sata 2 cable??

Tried both

 

[Terrifictez85]

Tried both

Can see why it is irritating you, i am irritated for you lol

Right try using the sata 3 cable in each port then try the sata 2 cable. Even though sata 3 is backwards compatible.

 

[Grizzly]

W7 disc in

Repair...sees no OS hmm..

into command prompt

x:\> bootrec/scanos

one windows installation found: C:\Windows ... this is good!

C:\> bootrec/fixmbr.... completed successfully

C:\> bootrec/fixboot.... Element not found

C:\> bootrec/RebuildBcd.... 1 windows os found add to boot list (yes).. Element not found

Well its a start!

If computers didn't break and technology was perfect I wouldn't have a job but I really wish it wouldn't happen to me

Edit for clarity: still hasn't booted, no raid config, CMOS cleared, no luck

Sounds like your boot file could have ended up on your old drives (happened to me before), I'm not sure if rebuild would make a new boot file so it might be worth looking into creating a fresh one.

 

[EventHorizon27]

Can see why it is irritating you, i am irritated for you lol

Right try using the sata 3 cable in each port then try the sata 2 cable. Even though sata 3 is backwards compatible.

Glad I could share the pain

Sounds like your boot file could have ended up on your old drives (happened to me before), I'm not sure if rebuild would make a new boot file so it might be worth looking into creating a fresh one.

Hmm that gives me an idea...

 

[EventHorizon27]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Suck on those juicy apples!!!!!!!!!! Wohooo!

I mean... (cough, cough)... I did it

Here's how:

load w7 disc

Command prompt

x/sources/Diskpart

diskpart/list disk

diskpart/select disk 1 (SSD)

diskpart/list partition

diskpart/select partition 1 (the only partition on the SSD)

diskpart/active (partition 1 now active)

diskpart/exit

C:bootrec/rebuildbcd (found 1 os do you want to add to boot file...yes)

operation successful!!!!!!

Restart... FAILED!!!

load w7 disc

Finds my w7 installation this time

start-up repair

Restart... BOOT!!!

*starts backing up files*

...and time for bed!!!

!!!Thanks everyone for all your help!!!