InquiryHow can I securely eliminate Dual Boot from my computer configuration?
InquiryHow can I securely eliminate Dual Boot from my computer configuration?
Hello everyone
😊
My computer's motherboard includes 2 x M.2 slots. Slot M.2_1 has Windows 11 Pro installed (1TB drive). Slot M.2_2 also has Windows 11 Pro installed (500GB drive). They function flawlessly in a dual boot setup, allowing me to choose which drive to boot at startup.
Since I only occasionally utilize the second Windows installation (once a week), I intend to place the second M.2 drive in an external USB enclosure, while still being able to boot into that Windows installation when I connect it. I have replaced the drive in the M.2_2 slot with a 4TB drive for storage.
Here is the current configuration of the drives in Storage Manager in Windows (note that I have labeled on the right-hand side which drive is which).
This is what occurs when I boot the PC now:
When the external USB enclosure is CONNECTED, the dual boot selector appears correctly on my PC. I can boot into my default Windows 11 installation without any issues. However, when I attempt to boot into the Windows installed on the M.2 drive, I encounter a BSOD with the following stop code: INACCESSIBLE BOOT DEVICE (see photo below)
When the external USB enclosure is DISCONNECTED, I receive the message “Reboot and Select proper Boot device or Insert Boot Media in selected Boot device and press a key.” I am unable to boot the regular Windows installation at all when the NVME enclosure is disconnected from the USB. It appears that my standard Windows 11 installation depends on the other drive for booting.
I would like my PC to operate like this:
Completely remove the dual boot. While the USB enclosure is disconnected, I want my regular Windows installation on the 1TB drive to load seamlessly.
When I *do* want my secondary Windows to boot from the USB enclosure, I would like to connect it to the USB port and have that boot first instead of the regular Windows installation within the PC.
Can anyone provide guidance on how I can achieve this? I assume I need to reinstall Master Boot Records or something similar, but I am uncertain and do not want to cause any issues! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated 🙂
System Snapshot:
http://speccy.piriform.com/results/XhLG6...CcWjujZbmY
The optimal approach is to perform a fresh Windows installation on the M2_1.
I am perplexed as to why your computer has the same Windows installed on different drives.
Thank you for your response
👍
Wow, so this can only be resolved with a complete reinstall? Not simply a BCD Edit fix or anything?
When I was configuring my PC, I had a 'work' drive that I needed to keep entirely separate from my default drive. My children use my PC, and I did not want them installing unnecessary software on my work installation, potentially introducing malware, etc. Therefore, when I work, I utilized dual booting with my work drive.
Thank you
😊
There are several tutorials on YouTube detailing how to run Windows from external SSD or NVME drives, such as this one:
View: https://youtu.be/O-R7BUTYCfU
. However, that is intended for a fresh installation. If feasible, I simply wanted to repair the boot records on each drive so they can boot independently.
I also came across a YouTube video claiming that the moon landing is a hoax, a 13900k only consumes 25w of power, and another stating I can earn 1 billion dollars in just 2 weeks with this one simple trick!!!
Running Windows from an external drive is excruciatingly slow with a Windows to go installation. I cannot fathom a full installation somehow rigged onto an external drive. One method I have employed is creating a VM and executing that from an external source. It is still painfully slow, but at least it worked sufficiently. It was largely a proof of concept and not something I would ever pursue seriously.
Thank you for this. Alright, I believe I will need to reconsider my plan then!
Would it be feasible for me to partition the new 4TB NVME drive into two distinct partitions of 500GB and 3.5TB (each with a drive letter) and then clone my existing 500GB drive containing the secondary Windows installation onto the new 500GB partition? This way, the dual boot can continue to operate as it currently does, but I will have the additional 3.5TB for storage?
1. Booting into Windows from a USB connected drive is problematic (as previously mentioned). Reevaluate this.
2. Only the 500GB drive is bootable. It includes the bootloader (100MB EFI system partition).
The 1TB drive is not bootable.
To enable booting, you must create a bootloader on it.
Execute the following commands from an elevated command prompt. A regular command prompt will result in an error on the last step.
If you encounter any errors, cease immediately!
And provide a screenshot.
diskpart
list disk
select disk 1
(select the 1TB disk)
list partition
select partition x
(select the 636MB recovery partition, x=2 or x=3. We will delete it next, so proceed with caution.)
delete partition override
create partition efi
format fs=fat32 quick
assign letter=H
exit
bcdboot C:\windows /s H: /f:uefi
The final message should read
"Boot files created successfully".
Note - do not be concerned about the deletion of the recovery partition.
After the next major Windows update, it will be recreated.
Many thanks for that outstanding and comprehensive response,
@SkyNetRising
! 🤗
I have discovered a solution that worked, which arose from 'Windows To Go' being a non-starter... along with all the complications of reconfiguring boot records, etc.
Instead, I opted to partition the new 4TB drive into a 500GB partition and a 3.5TB(ish) partition. I then utilized MiniTool Partition Wizard to clone the secondary Windows installation from the external NVME drive to the new 500GB partition.
Now the dual boot functions perfectly once more, just as it did previously, and I have a 3.5TB storage partition as well. Additionally, I now possess the 500GB drive that I can format and use for external NVME storage.
Thank you once again for your contributions, everyone!