Windows stuck in bootloader when caddy is installed

I have Crucial MX500 500GB installed inside my laptop and a 1TB HDD inside a caddy (optical drive). When I boot my SSD without caddy installed, it works fine. But when I install the caddy then boot my SSD, it is stuck in the bootloader forever. I can plug the HDD in another external HDD case and it shows the drives fine. What else could be the reason?

Things that I have done so far:

1. Wipe data/Wipe sector 0
2. Rebuild MBR
3. Deleted and created partitions

All of this is done in MiniTool Partition Wizard. What else could be the reason? My BIOS is set to Legacy Boot enabled with Secure boot disabled. OS boot manager is set first.

Boot the computer without the caddy installed.
Then attach the caddy.
Then run the BETA log collector and post a zip into this thread:
https://www.tenforums.com/attachment...-v2-beta10.zip
(extract > open)

Berton said:

Sounds like the BIOS is searching that caddy for boot files. If it were mine, and I've had a few similar, I'd check the BIOS/UEFI to assure it is not listed as a boot device and also use something like the free GPARTED LiveCD to delete all partition on that drive then create a single partition on it [all drives need at least one] and format it as NTFS. All this would be for using the drive for storage.

I used MiniTool Partition Wizard to create 2 drives, I formatted them as NTFS but still it doesn't show.

zbook said:

Boot the computer without the caddy installed.
Then attach the caddy.
Then run the BETA log collector and post a zip into this thread:
https://www.tenforums.com/attachment...-v2-beta10.zip
(extract > open)

I cannot attach the caddy after booting. The laptop goes blank/freeze. Cannot go to Task Manager either.

Did you rebuild the MBR without installing the caddy ? And also did you make sure your boot devices in bios has no references to boot from any DVD which you originally had ? Also make sure hard drive in caddy does not have partion set to Active.

1) Update the specs in the "My Computer" section:

System Specs - Fill in at Ten Forums
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

Include PSU. cooler, case, peripherals and anything attached to the computer by wired or wireless (mouse, keyboard, headset, printer, xbox, USB wireless network card, etc.)


2) If you can boot to windows with or without the caddy:
a) Open disk management > widen two columns: status and volume > make sure the characters in each row are in full view and that no letters are cut off > post an image into the thread:
Disk Management - How to Post a Screenshot of

b) Run the BETA log collector and post a zip into this thread:
https://www.tenforums.com/attachment...-v2-beta10.zip
(extract > open)
Use the txt and images in this thread in case there are any problems running the beta log collector: (post #5)
DM Log tool problem

3) If you cannot boot to windows can you boot to the windows advanced troubleshooting menu using the hardware method (repetitively power off)

slicendice said:

It would help if you listed your computer brand and model, caddy brand and model, Windows version/edition you're trying to boot.

Try to boot your computer with the caddy installed without the drive in it to test hardware incompatibility. Then wipe all partitions on the drive, and try to boot up the computer with the completely clean drive.

Your issue could be as simple as a bad caddy or bad partition table.

I installed the caddy on another laptop running Ubunut, it worked fine. Showed all the drives.

I can see the drive listed in BIOS, I have set it to Secure Boot, meaning my SSD is set to boot first. But now, there is a long, long wait at the bootloader screen (about 45-1hour). And then it shows my caddy drives as well. And also, it does not restart/shutdown. There is a long wait as well.

das10 said:

Did you rebuild the MBR without installing the caddy ? And also did you make sure your boot devices in bios has no references to boot from any DVD which you originally had ? Also make sure hard drive in caddy does not have partion set to Active.

Yes, I rebuilt the MBR of my SSD. I turned off my Legacy Boot. But now, there is a long, long wait at the bootloader screen (about 45-1hour). And then it shows my caddy drives as well. And also, it does not restart/shutdown. There is a long wait as well.