Unable to start Windows following partition removal from the secondary storage device.
Unable to start Windows following partition removal from the secondary storage device.
I used DiskPart in Command Prompt to remove partitions that couldn't be deleted (EFI system partition and recovery). I'm trying to delete them via Disk Management for the secondary M.2 drive, but it keeps looping into a recovery mode. I checked the main drive (500GB M.2) and still see the partitions, so I'm unsure why this is happening. Can you help fix this without reinstalling Windows?
Opening bios and choosing the drive that uses Windows results in a reboot prompt or a blue screen displaying those choices.
Windows placed several files on your secondary storage during installation. I experienced a similar issue with a 1TB 2.5 HDD on my child's machine—it wouldn't boot. You might need to boot into Safe Mode, and if necessary, reinstall Windows by keeping only the drive you wish to install active.
It could potentially help, though it may not fully resolve the issue. If it fails, I’d skip the rest and try a USB-based fix.
If you have access from another system, I can back up any important files before you erase the disk where you plan to install everything. Start fresh with just one drive in the system, then add additional disks later. The issue is that there isn’t enough space for the system drives right now. You might try shrinking and relocating the current partition to fit the bootloader, EFI, or UES files. A newer system generally doesn’t support dual boot without some adjustments, so it’s best to double-check your steps. Alternatively, you can search online for guidance. There’s no certainty it will work, but the quickest way is to wipe and reinstall everything, then copy your files back in.
All was okay until I removed those partitions from the secondary drive, including several restarts. I was really hoping I wouldn’t need to reinstall everything, so I’m checking the first two solutions here and praying they’ll resolve the issue.