SSD not the main drive?
SSD not the main drive?
It’s a mistake that places files on the wrong drives and causes issues. To confirm everything is set up right, disconnect all but one drive during installation.
Well, a handful of folks on this site have noticed, so it’s wise to steer clear of that chance by keeping just one power outlet connected during installation.
You might face an issue when installing Windows on a new drive. Windows attempts to use the existing bootloader rather than creating a fresh one. If it detects a bootable drive in your system, it will rely on that. When there are no drives available or no bootable partitions and you wish to install a new OS, it works regardless of other devices connected. Removing additional drivers is similar to having insurance—it usually takes only a short time and ensures you don’t need to verify everything.
The problem lies in how users connect their drives. People often change the order of plugging SATA drives, ignoring the intended primary drive on the first port. Motherboards with multiple SATA controllers become confusing when drives are connected to different controllers. With NVMe and SATA combinations, some boards treat NVMe as secondary while SATA stays first, and others reverse that. Beyond this main issue, there’s nothing users can change.
One approach to ensure smooth installation is checking for any "System Reserved" partitions. If absent, it suggests no bootloader will be needed. Windows won’t automatically add a bootloader on the first drive chosen, especially when multiple drives exist and the OS drive isn’t listed first. Existing partitions covering the entire drive prevent installation, as shrinking them isn’t permitted.