Cloned Disk will not boot !!

Skofab · 14 Aug 2017

Hi everyone
I have been given two brand new SATA 2TB disks. One I have used in a hard disk dock - and have used this for additional data back up etc. Works OK

The other I decided to use to replace my noisy C Drive. I cloned the disk to the new one, only to find that the new disk was non bootible - this was using Macrium reflect cloning tool. This has worked well for me in the past with no difficulties, not however on this occasion.

I then used AOMEI to clone with the same result.
I then used EaseUS with the same result.
Also used Acronis with the same result.

In each case the new disk has all the folders shown on the original C Drive - but in disk management is not qualified with the word boot (as is the original C Drive).

Is there a way in which I can make/force the new disk to become Bootible.

Disk management screenshot above.
I would mention that the existing drive is a 1Tb - whereas the new drive is 2 Tb - in case this has some bearing on the issue.
Looking at Google this is a known and frequent problem. My knowledge is limited, so in laymans terms can anyone help me to overcome this annoyance
Thanks in advance

NavyLCDR · 14 Aug 2017

What happens when you try to boot the computer with the original 1TB drive disconnected? The word System inside the parenthesis means the partition the computer actually booted from. The word Boot inside the parenthesis means the partition from which the OS got loaded. You won't see either of those inside the parenthesis unless the computer has actually booted from that partition and loaded the OS from that partition. In other words System and Boot are not flags indicating the partition is bootable in the future - they are flags that the computer booted from that partition and loaded the OS from that partition the last time it was started up.

Also, you may have to go into BIOS and set which drive it boots from.

Skofab · 14 Aug 2017

Thanks for your reply NavyLCDR
your talking beyond my immediate comprehension, but I will try to read it carefully.
Here is further information....
1 - I have cloned the new disk using a hard drive dock.
2 - I understand that you cannot boot from a usb drive.
3 - Before starting the PC - I disconnect the original C Drive and connect the new disk which as will be seen in the screenshot is designated as 'F')
It goes through the usual startup windows screen pattern then stops with the revolving clockwise.

On past occasions (when doing this disk swap) - the system has booted without any trouble, and the new disk is then changed automatically and now shown as 'C' drive.
I must get some shuteye now - but will do as I have before - but when I startup I will go into bios and see if I can identify the new disk and select it as the startup disk.
Meanwhile keep the ideas coming.
Sorry that my knowledge is limited in these matters - so please be patient with me as I struggle along.
Bye for now.

zbook · 14 Aug 2017

Is the problem computer the HP laptop posted in the my computer section?
If so HP computers typically come with UEFI diagnostics in the bios.
HP PC Hardware Diagnostics | HPÂ® Official Site
To boot to the bios UEFI diagnostics power on the computer and repetitively click the F2 or F10 key.
Then navigate to the UEFI diagnostics.
If the UEFI diagnostics is up to date it will be version 6.4
If you go to the HP website, then enter the computer's serial or product number and the operating system you will see the latest drivers.
HP Software and Driver Downloads for HP Printers, Laptops, Desktops and More | HPÂ® Customer Support

Compared to other computer manufactures HP computers allow you to test the hardware.
So check all the hardware on the computer using the UEFI diagnostics in extensive or loop until failure mode.
Start the testing in the late afternoon or evening so that the next morning you will have had at least 1 to 2 loops.
The testing time increases based on the amount of RAM and the size of the drives.
Since you have large size drive give yourself more time to perform the hardware testing.
The test is designed to abort if there is any component failure, even the battery.
If you view the computer in the morning and it is still running that is a good sign.
Then press the keyboard escape key and view the UEFI logs to confirm the pass.

For HP computers if you need to boot to a device you do not need to change the bios boot order.
You can boot to a flash drive or any drive connected to a USB port.
For HP computers you power on and repetitively click the F9 key.
This would allow you to boot to a windows 10 iso: Download Windows 10

So with the above results you will have ruled in or ruled out hardware problems.
Once you have ruled out problems you can then work on the software problems.

The diskpart commands may be useful to evaluate the disks, volumes, and partitions.

Skofab · 15 Aug 2017

Thank you for your comments Zbook, and for your comprehensive thoughts.

You are very observant to pick up that I have a HP Laptop mentioned in another thread - but this is another PC (desktop) that I use. This has a gigabyte m/board.

Will have another potter today to see if I (with everyone's help) can solve this.

Thanks for your time.

zbook · 15 Aug 2017

For the computer relative to this thread please fill in your system specs:
Please follow this tutorial and download the tool.

The tool will give you detailed information about your system specs, please fill in your system specs more completely including PSU, cooling and other used stuff like mouse, keyboard, monitor, case, etc.

The PSU, cooling and other stuff are NOT mentioned in the tool.

In the left corner below in your post you find 'My System Specs'.

After clicking it you can find a link a little below that says 'Update your System Spec', click on this link to get to the page where you can fill in your system specs.

System Info - See Your System Specs - Windows 7 Help Forums

System Specs - Fill in at Ten Forums Windows 10 General Tips Tutorials

Create a bootable windows 10 iso: Download Windows 10

Change the bios boot order so that you can boot to the USB flash drive (bootable windows 10 iso)
Navigate through repair your computer to the windows advanced troubleshooting menu and select command prompt so that it opens Administrator X: \Windows\system32\cmd.exe

Type these commands:
1) chkdsk
2) c:
3) dir
4) d:
5) dir
6) x:
7) bcdedit | find "osdevice"
8) diskpart
9) list disk
10) list volume
11) select volume 0
12) list partition
13) exit
Use a camera or a smart phone to take a picture and post into the thread.

If you need help with any of the above I'll be available later in the day.

fireberd · 15 Aug 2017

I tried cloning when I went from a mechanical hard drive to a (Samsung) SSD, for Win 8.1. I tried the cloning program that came with the Samsung SSD, the Macrium Reflect cloning program (I have a paid version of Macrium) and the AOMEI and it failed at different points with every one. I finally did a disc image of the hard drive, all partitions, and restored to the new SSD and it worked perfectly.

We had a discussion on the Win 7 forum about cloning and one of the forum software guru's did some testing with multiple cloning programs on both Windows and Linux. His conclusion was cloning was a hit or miss, may work for some and not others or may work one time and not another. One other thing to consider with a clone, it copies everything including bad blocks and bad data. A disc image does not copy those.

Skofab · 15 Aug 2017

Hello again
thanks to all for your input - much appreciated.
As you will appreciate, being a novice I am looking for the 'easy way out' of this issue

Fireberd said - "I finally did a disc image of the hard drive, all partitions, and restored to the new SSD and it worked perfectly"

This is of great interest to me because I take a daily Macrium full image.
At the moment the disk TO BE cloned is in a hard drive dock. Can I simply right click on the last image and 'send to' said disk. Perhaps I have misunderstood.
Look forward to hearing from you.

fireberd · 15 Aug 2017

Yes you can restore the disc image to a USB docked drive. I've done that several times.

Skofab · 15 Aug 2017

Thanks Fireberd

the question is HOW do I do that final bit? - the method itself. If I go to the restore page - yes the source is there, but there is no destination other than the C Drive itself.

I tried my method of right clicking 'send to' on a day backup (see picture) - but when completed the receiving disk had an identical text NOT the list of the various folders that I had expected.

I hope this makes sense - sorry to be thick!