Windows fails to detect the installation on an SSD intended for booting.
Windows fails to detect the installation on an SSD intended for booting.
Following the Windows update last night my computer won’t start. It displays both the SSD and HDD but fails to boot from the Windows install on the SSD. The prompt asks to reboot and choose a proper boot device or insert a boot media in the selected one. It doesn’t progress beyond this point and shows no signs of loading the OS. In the BIOS both drives appear and can be selected as boot devices, yet it still won’t start. With an installation USB I’m unable to run any automatic repair utilities. The SSD isn’t showing any Windows files. After restoring from the USB, the system scans both drives and recognizes all files, including my Windows install. Running "bootrec /scanos" identifies the SSD as a Windows installation, but "bootrec /buildbcd" lists it as a Windows copy without allowing BCD addition. The "bootrec /fixmbr or /fixboot" commands report success but leave the drive unchanged. The USB device doesn’t indicate any existing Windows presence and won’t remove updates or perform other actions. The system is an IBM Power unit that has operated normally for two years—no new hardware or drives have been added, nothing was downloaded or installed besides the Windows update. Everything was brand new. I’m not very tech-savvy and would definitely like to avoid losing any data, so I’m hoping someone here can offer guidance before proceeding with a fresh Windows installation to resolve this issue.
I attempted that and it indicates the upgrade choice isn't present on the installation media. I should start with Windows and then connect via USB. I plan to grab an external DVD-ROM and check whether using the re-installation disc provides alternative outcomes.
Using the startup repair disc, I tried various fixes and it seems to bring the PC back online but doesn<|pad|> to keep things the same. I can't proceed with a full upgrade, so I'm stuck between booting into Windows for the install or leaving the current setup. The drives show incorrect formats, which is a problem. Would it be possible to replace the SSD with a new one, install Windows there, and then swap back the old drives after the new system boots? Or are these options essentially out of reach?
Hello, I haven't found a solution yet. Could you share more details about the issue? I'm here to help you find a fix.
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