Making NVME bootable without reinstaling?

[Tirith2708]

I've bought myself Samsung 980 PRO for my new OS drive. I had my old OS drive (SATA SSD) plugged when i installed (instalation from USB (Media creation tool/iso)) new OS on NVME (and i could switch between two OSs before boot) https://www.top-password.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/select-windows-os-at-boot.png After i configured everything and moved all data i decided it's time to remove my old OS drive but after that - I don't see any bootable device in BIOS (0 drives detected). I tried disabling CSM but that doesn't help. I have secure boot enabled for Win11.

After pluging back my old SATA OS drive - i can again switch between OS on SATA and NVME drives. Is there any way to use only NVME as boot drive without need to reinstal whole windows again? (all the configurations took me few days so i don't want to re-do it :( )

MOBO: Asus Crosshair VII Hero

I have 3 drives - 2 NVMe and 1 SATA that i want to get rid of.

[PDifolco]

Reset CMOS and check Boot section, set your NVme as 1st boot option then remove the old drive

[C2dan88]

16 minutes ago, Tirith2708 said:

Is there any way to use only NVME as boot drive without need to reinstal whole windows again

Yes. I have used this guide for adding a new efi boot partition.

https://www.tenforums.com/installation-upgrade/52837-moving-recreating-efi-partition.html#post698505

[DigitalGoat]

14 minutes ago, Tirith2708 said:

I've bought myself Samsung 980 PRO for my new OS drive. I had my old OS drive (SATA SSD) plugged when i installed (instalation from USB (Media creation tool/iso)) new OS on NVME (and i could switch between two OSs before boot) https://www.top-password.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/select-windows-os-at-boot.png After i configured everything and moved all data i decided it's time to remove my old OS drive but after that - I don't see any bootable device in BIOS (0 drives detected). I tried disabling CSM but that doesn't help. I have secure boot enabled for Win11.

After pluging back my old SATA OS drive - i can again switch between OS on SATA and NVME drives. Is there any way to use only NVME as boot drive without need to reinstal whole windows again? (all the configurations took me few days so i don't want to re-do it )

MOBO: Asus Crosshair VII Hero

I have 3 drives - 2 NVMe and 1 SATA that i want to get rid of.

The EFI partition used for booting (shows as Windows boot manager in BIOS) is on your old drive, there are commands you can use to create the EFI partition on the MVME and copy the boot files across but to be honest a simpler way is just to remove the old drive then use a Windows USB to install over your existing Windows install, this will place the EFI partition and boot files on the NVME.

Another method is to use Macrium Reflect Free or similar to image the EFI and NVME Windows partitions then restore both partitions to the NVME (you can drag them to where you want), then use the Macrium 'fix boot' option to make sure it all works together.

It is a good idea, for future reference, to unplug all drives other than the one you want Windows on before installing.

[Tirith2708]

20 minutes ago, DigitalGoat said:

The EFI partition used for booting (shows as Windows boot manager in BIOS) is on your old drive, there are commands you can use to create the EFI partition on the MVME and copy the boot files across but to be honest a simpler way is just to remove the old drive then use a Windows USB to install over your existing Windows install, this will place the EFI partition and boot files on the NVME.

Another method is to use Macrium Reflect Free or similar to image the EFI and NVME Windows partitions then restore both partitions to the NVME (you can drag them to where you want), then use the Macrium 'fix boot' option to make sure it all works together.

It is a good idea, for future reference, to unplug all drives other than the one you want Windows on before installing.

Ok, thanks. I guess i will just reinstall OS on NVME again with old OS drive removed. But what BIOS settings do i need to have enabled/disabled to be 100% sure that everything goes as planed? I've been hearing about Secure Boot - that it should be disabled, but it's grayed out for me and i cannot disable it. Should i enable or disable CSM before install?

[DigitalGoat]

9 hours ago, Tirith2708 said:

Ok, thanks. I guess i will just reinstall OS on NVME again with old OS drive removed. But what BIOS settings do i need to have enabled/disabled to be 100% sure that everything goes as planed? I've been hearing about Secure Boot - that it should be disabled, but it's grayed out for me and i cannot disable it. Should i enable or disable CSM before install?

Different manufacturers tend to have various options for secure boot and CSM, my current system can boot and update bios from a USB stick with secure boot on and CSM disabled, but an older system needed secure boot disabled to boot from a USB stick.

So the best bet is to look on the manufacturers website FAQs and/ or user forums for steps to acheive what you want.

Generaly speaking, for Windows 11 install you want secure boot on, as long as the NVME is detected in BIOS and by the Windows setup you should be good, the BIOS will look for the Windows boot manager entry to boot from, regardless of which physical device it is on, so there is no need to set a boot disk in the BIOS. Some systems have a one time boot option during POST, pressing F12 or F10 for example allows using this to boot a USB/ Windows install flash drive, the key you need might be different or not an option though.

For Windows 10 it can be on or off for install.

The Secure boot and CSM settings are more to do with which type of devices can boot the system.

Options can vary according to manufacturer and hardware so best to check the aforementioned sites for details on your devices.

[Tirith2708]

I think i have problem. I've unplugged old OS drive, plugged in USB and now if i go to Win11 install screen it shows me "this PC can't run Win11". If I enable CSM this is what shows up when i boot from USB stick:

[C2dan88]

1 hour ago, Tirith2708 said:

If I enable CSM

CSM should be disabled. 

 

 

[Tirith2708]

Then i get into Win11 instalation menu where it says "this PC can't run Win11". Im stuck

[PDifolco]

2 hours ago, Tirith2708 said:

Then i get into Win11 instalation menu where it says "this PC can't run Win11". Im stuck

Intall Win10...

[DigitalGoat]

5 hours ago, Tirith2708 said:

Then i get into Win11 instalation menu where it says "this PC can't run Win11". Im stuck

Win11 also requires a TPM to be active during install, have you set it in BIOS as well as secure boot?

[Tirith2708]

1 hour ago, DigitalGoat said:

Win11 also requires a TPM to be active during install, have you set it in BIOS as well as secure boot?

 

It looks like i do.

[Mark Kaine]

so besides all the tpm shenanigans,  i dont think you can just swap out installations like that...

 

the most bullet proof way I know: 

 

Clone your current OS drive to new drive over USB (external connection) 

 

then turn off pc and swap the drives, remove the old drive completely...

 

always worked for me 100%