Issues with booting on preparation for Windows 11
Issues with booting on preparation for Windows 11
Hello there
I need assistance with starting up partitions and managing drives for Windows 11.
While trying to transition from MBR to GPT, I accidentally removed the boot partition on my NVMe SSD, which contains Windows 10. That drive didn’t start up properly.
It seems another Windows installation might be hidden on a different device, allowing it to boot.
I’ve successfully switched all my SSDs from MBR to GPT, updated the BIOS to UEFI and enabled secure boot, but still can’t get Windows to launch from the NVMe.
I used some tools to try restoring the deleted partition, though it didn’t work.
Then I followed certain steps using bcdboot, which got me back into the NVMe, but the experience wasn’t ideal.
When I tried BIOS settings, I couldn’t find the NVMe as a boot option.
The Windows Recovery Environment isn’t functioning correctly—some options are missing during startup.
I ran reagentc /enable to attempt updating the boot config, but it reported an error.
When I power on the PC, I’m presented with two boot choices, each for a different Windows version.
I’m unable to reach the WRE to open the command prompt and access the Boot Manager or repair options for the NVMe drive.
I ended up purchasing Tenorshare Partition manager in hopes of recovering the deleted partition, but I’m unsure if it will help with booting.
Thanks!
Rupert
What is your exact concern? Changing the MBR to GPT and turning on UEFI/secure boot alters the entire Windows boot process, which naturally affects how the system starts. Any boot utility will only list partitions that support UEFI booting. When setting up Windows 11, simply remove every other disk except the one you wish to install, then modify the BIOS to make that disk the first boot option. After that, you can use EasyBCD to add additional operating systems to the boot menu.
I observed several potential issues through Disk Management:
C: drive has only 11% free space
I: drive has only 2% free space
H: drive has only 10% free space.
[Double check to confirm I didn’t misinterpret the values or designations.]
In summary, my guideline is to keep at least 30-20% free space on any drive. That’s just me....
However:
Before proceeding, make sure to back up all important data (just in case) and then assess if you can remove unnecessary apps and files.
Perform a backup at least twice, storing it in locations separate from the system and the affected drives. Ensure the backups are recoverable and readable.
Use Windows Disk Clean to review what Windows indicates. There’s no need to act immediately.