Windows 10 won't boot on AHCI without switching to IDE then back

Please I need someone to save me because this is making me go insane. (I'm using Windows 10 Pro 21H1)

I'm no computer expert but recently a friend suggested I buy an SSD and install my SO in it to improve my PC's performance. He works in tech so he helped me set everything up by sending me the instructions.

I installed the SSD, installed Win10 Pro on it, kept my HDD as storage and everything was fine and dandy. I turned off my computer and the first time I went to turn it on after installing Win10, it wouldn't boot. As in my BIOS logo would appear, and then my monitor would say it had no input so it entered power saving mode.

After messing around in BIOS many times, this is what worked (and please stay with me through this mess):

First I have to turn on the PC and access the BIOS. I go to the Storage configuration and change the mode to IDE.

I then wait for my computer to rboot and let it go to a Windows error screen that says INNACCESIBLE BOOT DEVICE.

When it reboots again I ONCE AGAIN access my BIOS and switch the mode to AHCI again. Now my computer boots Win10 succesfully.

Let me also clarify a couple things:

This issue doesn't come up when rebooting the computer, only after turning it off and then on again.
When I first access the BIOS after turning it on, it's in AHCI mode, and my SSD is recognized as AHCI. But when I go back to BIOS to change from IDE back to AHCI again, my SSD is recognized as SATA.

I have updated my BIOS, every single driver in my computer (including Intel Sata chipset), and nothing seems to fix this.

Thank you in advance!

PS: I have tried doing the registry change thing from 3 to 0, and booting into safe mode then rebooting with AHCI enabled and nothing has worked.

Hello villannelle and welcome to TF ,

As a debug step, have you tried disconnecting all drives so only the boot SSD drive is connected? Does the same problem occur in this test case?

steve108 said:

Hello villannelle and welcome to TF ,

As a debug step, have you tried disconnecting all drives so only the boot SSD drive is connected? Does the same problem occur in this test case?

Thank you so much!

Yes, I forgot to add that to my original post... I've tried disconnecting my HDD (the only other drive I have besides my SSD) and the same thing happens. I've also tried changing the sata cable to a different port, switching them up, etc... and nothing

If your SSD is SATA (non-m.2) interface, do you have it plugged into the lowest number port? Not sure if that would make a difference or not, but I would do it if possible/applicable.

Macboatmaster said:

Also when you do this

Do you SAVE that change on the firmware
Normally F10 save and exit

and as my colleague said - if the HDD you kept as storage still has the win10 on it - that will be a problem

Hey there!

Yes, I do save on the firmware everytime. I formated my HDD before installing Win10 on my SSD, but even when I try to boot with my HDD disconnected the same issue arises

- - - Updated - - -

steve108 said:

If your SSD is SATA (non-m.2) interface, do you have it plugged into the lowest number port? Not sure if that would make a difference or not, but I would do it if possible/applicable.

Yep, I've already tried plugging it into the lowest number port and then in two different ones and also nothing... I'm going crazy!

villannelle said:

Hey there!

Yes, I do save on the firmware everytime. I formated my HDD before installing Win10 on my SSD, but even when I try to boot with my HDD disconnected the same issue arises

- - - Updated - - -



Yep, I've already tried plugging it into the lowest number port and then in two different ones and also nothing... I'm going crazy!

I can see why you'd be going crazy. This is pretty mind-boggling

steve108 said:

I can see why you'd be going crazy. This is pretty mind-boggling

This is my SSD if that's of any help?

Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect

I would make a Macrium Reflect Rescue USB if you don't have one, then boot from it and select the "Fix Windows boot problems" option:

Fixing Windows boot problems - KnowledgeBase v7 - Macrium Reflect Knowledgebase - KnowledgeBase v7 - Macrium Reflect Knowledgebase

I'm not sure what else to suggest at this point.

villannelle said:

This is my SSD if that's of any help?

Looks like a drained CMOS battery from what I read.