F5F Stay Refreshed Hardware Notebooks Boot options unavailable in BIOS - - - so how to boot on newly purchased SSD ?

Boot options unavailable in BIOS - - - so how to boot on newly purchased SSD ?

Boot options unavailable in BIOS - - - so how to boot on newly purchased SSD ?

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V
Vesgo
Member
230
02-07-2026, 12:09 PM
#1
Hey, I just purchased a 2TB M2 SSD to revamp my old gaming laptop that still runs on its single HDD with a 5400rpm drive. I was getting frustrated because every action took a long time to load.

After installing the SSD, I used the Samsung app to copy data from the HDD onto it. I thought I was finished, but when I restarted and entered BIOS, I noticed I wasn’t given the chance to pick a boot drive.

I checked online and discovered that most systems now use a modern UEFI setup (though I’m not sure if I’m using the correct version). I decided to try updating my BIOS. I visited the Asus support site, located my laptop model, and downloaded the WinFlash tool as well as MyAsus to check the current BIOS version. I found it to be 203, and there’s a newer version (204) available for download, but I’m not sure if it’s more advanced than what I have.

I also read about converting from legacy BIOS to UEFI on a Microsoft guide. It seems updating the BIOS might not be enough, so I looked for further guidance.

Could anyone help me figure out the best way to resolve this issue?

Here are my details:
Laptop: Asus ROG G741JW (sticker says JM; MyAsus says it’s a G771JM)
OS: Windows 10 (x64) Family Ver 22H2
SSD: Samsung 990 Pro NVMe M2
Thanks!
V
Vesgo
02-07-2026, 12:09 PM #1

Hey, I just purchased a 2TB M2 SSD to revamp my old gaming laptop that still runs on its single HDD with a 5400rpm drive. I was getting frustrated because every action took a long time to load.

After installing the SSD, I used the Samsung app to copy data from the HDD onto it. I thought I was finished, but when I restarted and entered BIOS, I noticed I wasn’t given the chance to pick a boot drive.

I checked online and discovered that most systems now use a modern UEFI setup (though I’m not sure if I’m using the correct version). I decided to try updating my BIOS. I visited the Asus support site, located my laptop model, and downloaded the WinFlash tool as well as MyAsus to check the current BIOS version. I found it to be 203, and there’s a newer version (204) available for download, but I’m not sure if it’s more advanced than what I have.

I also read about converting from legacy BIOS to UEFI on a Microsoft guide. It seems updating the BIOS might not be enough, so I looked for further guidance.

Could anyone help me figure out the best way to resolve this issue?

Here are my details:
Laptop: Asus ROG G741JW (sticker says JM; MyAsus says it’s a G771JM)
OS: Windows 10 (x64) Family Ver 22H2
SSD: Samsung 990 Pro NVMe M2
Thanks!

Y
yalo29
Senior Member
641
02-07-2026, 12:09 PM
#2
You must wait until there is data available to boot from before proceeding.
A complete reinstall on the new drive or a clone from the existing one are the two options.
Y
yalo29
02-07-2026, 12:09 PM #2

You must wait until there is data available to boot from before proceeding.
A complete reinstall on the new drive or a clone from the existing one are the two options.

M
MavrosGR
Senior Member
579
02-07-2026, 12:09 PM
#3
If your laptop only has one M.2 port, then think about this...
Choose a single m.2 slot with an image
Ensure you have another drive (any kind) with enough free space to store the whole of your current m.2 drive:
1. Download and install Macrium Reflect
2. Launch it, generate a Rescue CD or USB (you'll use this later). "Other Tasks". Make this on a small USB flash drive or DVD.
3. In the Macrium client, make an Image to another drive. This could be an external HDD, perhaps. Select all partitions. It produces a file named xxxx.mrimage
4. After completion, turn off the device
5. Replace the two drives
6. Start from the Rescue USB you made earlier
7. Restore through the toolbar, specifying where the Image was created in step 3 and which drive to apply it to...the new m.2 slot
8. Proceed and wait for the process to finish.
9. Done! This should function properly.
M
MavrosGR
02-07-2026, 12:09 PM #3

If your laptop only has one M.2 port, then think about this...
Choose a single m.2 slot with an image
Ensure you have another drive (any kind) with enough free space to store the whole of your current m.2 drive:
1. Download and install Macrium Reflect
2. Launch it, generate a Rescue CD or USB (you'll use this later). "Other Tasks". Make this on a small USB flash drive or DVD.
3. In the Macrium client, make an Image to another drive. This could be an external HDD, perhaps. Select all partitions. It produces a file named xxxx.mrimage
4. After completion, turn off the device
5. Replace the two drives
6. Start from the Rescue USB you made earlier
7. Restore through the toolbar, specifying where the Image was created in step 3 and which drive to apply it to...the new m.2 slot
8. Proceed and wait for the process to finish.
9. Done! This should function properly.

B
benguy910
Member
108
02-07-2026, 12:09 PM
#4
Hey, thanks for the update. As mentioned in my earlier comment, I started by cloning my old HDD onto the new SSD with Samsung Magician. It seems to have worked well since the data appears identical. Isn't that sufficient for making the new SSD bootable?
B
benguy910
02-07-2026, 12:09 PM #4

Hey, thanks for the update. As mentioned in my earlier comment, I started by cloning my old HDD onto the new SSD with Samsung Magician. It seems to have worked well since the data appears identical. Isn't that sufficient for making the new SSD bootable?

E
eduardodd08
Posting Freak
852
02-07-2026, 12:09 PM
#5
Cloned in this way?
Detailed.
E
eduardodd08
02-07-2026, 12:09 PM #5

Cloned in this way?
Detailed.

N
noob86
Junior Member
3
02-07-2026, 12:09 PM
#6
As discussed, employing the SamsungMagician SW with its data migration feature. The SSD user guide suggested this approach. I created clones of both partitions from my HDD (containing OS and data) onto my new storage device.
N
noob86
02-07-2026, 12:09 PM #6

As discussed, employing the SamsungMagician SW with its data migration feature. The SSD user guide suggested this approach. I created clones of both partitions from my HDD (containing OS and data) onto my new storage device.

O
OmqDace
Posting Freak
798
02-07-2026, 12:09 PM
#7
At the conclusion of the clone procedure, you turned off the device, removed the existing storage unit, and allowed the system to attempt a boot using just the fresh drive?
O
OmqDace
02-07-2026, 12:09 PM #7

At the conclusion of the clone procedure, you turned off the device, removed the existing storage unit, and allowed the system to attempt a boot using just the fresh drive?

C
CelticGila
Senior Member
454
02-07-2026, 12:09 PM
#8
I turned it off and on once more, accessed the BIOS to adjust boot priorities, ensuring the new drive is the first it attempts to boot. This way, even if something failed during cloning, it would still start on the HDD I trust works. However, I don’t have a choice in selecting which drive to boot from.
C
CelticGila
02-07-2026, 12:09 PM #8

I turned it off and on once more, accessed the BIOS to adjust boot priorities, ensuring the new drive is the first it attempts to boot. This way, even if something failed during cloning, it would still start on the HDD I trust works. However, I don’t have a choice in selecting which drive to boot from.

V
Vincie_
Member
209
02-07-2026, 12:09 PM
#9
Begin by physically removing the old drive.
Observe the outcome.
If it doesn't start from the new drive, it indicates an issue during the cloning process.
V
Vincie_
02-07-2026, 12:09 PM #9

Begin by physically removing the old drive.
Observe the outcome.
If it doesn't start from the new drive, it indicates an issue during the cloning process.

D
Daanblazer
Member
125
02-07-2026, 12:09 PM
#10
I've attempted to remove the HDD and boot from the SSD, but that didn't work. Then I tried cloning the old drive onto the new one once more, and also cloned the partition during that process. After a few hours, Samsung Magician confirmed the operation was successful. I removed the HDD again, turned on the laptop, but still nothing happened.
D
Daanblazer
02-07-2026, 12:09 PM #10

I've attempted to remove the HDD and boot from the SSD, but that didn't work. Then I tried cloning the old drive onto the new one once more, and also cloned the partition during that process. After a few hours, Samsung Magician confirmed the operation was successful. I removed the HDD again, turned on the laptop, but still nothing happened.

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