Windows loaded unexpectedly
Windows loaded unexpectedly
I’m trying to set up a new computer for a friend’s younger brother. I had an old SSD with a Windows 10 retail license, so I downloaded the activation key and wiped it before installing a fresh Windows version. I connected the SSD to my current PC using a USB drive and booted from it, assuming I could enter the product key from the retail copy. However, the system now only boots from the SSD and won’t start without it. When I try to access the boot menu, only my own PC drives appear. I’m confused and don’t know what to do next—I’d rather avoid wiping the drive but don’t have a clear solution either.
You’ve set up Windows on the new SSD, right? Or are you facing an issue where the product key is now on a different device?
Your PC's main drive is D, and the SSD you replaced is C. When you try to boot from D, it prompts for a Windows version selection, but if you remove the SSD, it fails to start and shows an error. It seems the product key might be stored on the SSD now.
I don't believe your product key can simply merge onto the SSD without any instructions (to the best of my understanding). Your C drive should contain the two Program Files folders, the Windows folder, and the Users folder. When you open Disk Management, you'll see only C and D drives. Check that your D drive has a single large blue box and your C drive has one big one along with the others. It should boot if you remove the USB stick for Windows. Please let me know if you meant something else.
The windows boot loader is typically on one hard drive, but you might need to connect the SSD for a successful boot. I've experienced this before. If both devices are connected and you press the boot selector at startup, does it offer an option to choose the 1TB drive?
Drive 1 (SSD used for Windows installation)
Drive 2 (primary storage for the computer)