Now THIS is new: Cloned SSD does not boot – a new twist

TechnoMage said:

"Use the forum favourite Macrium Reflect (freeware version) "

Maybe your favorite, but, certainly NOT mine.

I tried M.R. years ago, and found it seriously wanting. In fact, that's not the only backup/restore program that I've tried, as a working Computer Tech.
After each time trying a new program, I've always had to go back to my original Backup program, "Ghost", which I've been using now since 1997, when I first got a Sample of it from its original writers, in New Zealand.
I used it then, (1997) in a little shop in which I did literally Hundreds of Clones. Many people were running out of disk space, trying to run Windows xx on a disk meant for DOS. So cloning their old disk to a much larger disk was a popular fix.

The ONLY time that Ghost failed to perform a CLONE, is when there were ERRORS on the HD. It won't back up errors!
The Ghost program is still available on the internet, from "Broadcom". They set it up to boot into a Windows 10 shell, , , same old program, new look. Runs GREAT! Did I forget to mention....It's FREE!

The internet is awash with complaints about problems with Macrium Reflect.

Cheers mates,

I put Macrium on my shop PCs because their disc image works when the Microsoft disc image fails.

I am using Marcium reflect ( I have tried a per-installed Windows PE version and a post Seven version )

When you partition a drive you need the new drive to be plugged in no different then your primary drive.
If your using an M2, M1 drive it must be viewable from the BIOS in order for it to boot. Meaning your M1/2 slot
needs to be built in ( like your wireless adapter ). It can not be a PCI, or Express slot device because those boots
after the OS loads. In order for this to work and not be seen by the BIOS ( whatever ) you need another boot-loader
that will identity the slot with the drive and OS.

You could have a M2 to SATA ( or IDE ) plugged in so it reads like any SATA drive but again it must be recognized
in the BIOS ( whatever ) before you load. You must see the drive in the boot options. Depending on the support
of your BIOS or 3rd-party BIOS ( do not like saying to use those because a change of problems ) only then your
PCI device will be seen pre-boot environment.

Now if your looking to convert to a USB drive and have the OS load from USB that is doable, as such device could be
made bootable no different then any installation disk, and while we could use a SATA ( M2 ) to USB a chance the device
is not going to be seen as a usable USB device, only drives attached to USB would count and load. However a USB device
can load from the BIOS ( again sorry for using BIOS but I forget the name UEFI ).

M -> SATA = load
M -> USB ( seen as a drive ) = load
M -> M slot ( where wireless modem would be ) = load???? I have not tried but because it is on board should work.
M -> PCI / Express = No load. Why? Device is not loaded in pre-boot BIOS/UEFI environment and is not even seen as a
booting.

...........................

Maybe I am wrong, maybe you should try a dedicated PCI-E drive ( literally a SSD that is loading on the PCI E slot )
because a good chance the PCI-E M slot is not working the way you intended. In fact what is the brand name
and origin of the card ???