Moving mbr fron one hdd to another

Askic · 31 Dec 2023

Hello,
I came across to a very strange problem. Someone else tried to migrate/clone HDD to SSD drive in a PC (both drives are SATA).
But instead of using some of the very well known software for this purpose, it seems that contents of the partition is copied to new ssd drive and this new ssd drive is made to be system volume. However, when I unplug HDD system cannot boot because MBR stayed on the HDD. If I try to migrate with mini part wizard I got a message that MBR is not on the same drive as system volume.

I am not sure what changed in the meantime on the pc, what documents are changed etc, so I don’t want to format SSD and go with the recommended way. I'm wonder if there is a quick fix, Can I just copy mbr to ssd drive. 8 have also noticed that this hidden partition of HDD is not created on the SSD. It is windows 10 Pro OS

What would you recommend?

P.S. I wish healthy and successful New Year to all forum’s community.

Volume Z · 31 Dec 2023

This is actually fairly easy solved. Post an image of disk management for more clarity.

Askic · 31 Dec 2023

I’m currently not near this PC. I will have chance to work on it in a couple of days. I asked the question here to prepare. Right now the boot is possible only when both drives are connected. I wonder if simple fixmbr command would solve the issue.

Volume Z · 31 Dec 2023

Basically you could mark the disk in question as active, if it isn't already, and run automatic repair with the other disk detached.

Megahertz · 31 Dec 2023

Why do you think the drive is Legacy-MBR and not UEFI-GPT?
Normally I see what you described on a UEFI-GPT and not on a Legacy-MBR.

Please edit your profile with ALL your hardware specs. It will help us to help you
System Specs - Fill in at Ten Forums

As already asked, please post a whole window Disk Manager image of ALL your drives. Don't forget to expand the columns so we can read them. How to Post a Screenshot of Disk Management
If you have a MiniTool or AOMEI Partition use it instead or Windows disk manager.

Askic · 03 Jan 2024

OK guys, here is the situation bit better described. Original HDD is actually 500 GB, but splitted into two partitions. The data partition is not important. I can see that system partition is copied/migrated as well as reserved partition.
When HDD is removed, OS cannot start (BIOS cannot find bootable drive).
Properties of drives show MBR and not GPT. It seems that all relevant partitions are copied to destination SSD drive

Moving mbr fron one hdd to another-mbr-problem.png

Moving mbr fron one hdd to another-partfree.png

zbook · 03 Jan 2024

Please run diskpar info > post a share link

https://www.tenforums.com/attachment...iskparinfo.bat

Batch files for use in BSOD debugging

Post a new image or share link: disk management

How to Post a Screenshot of Disk Management

Widen each row and column so that no characters are cutoff.

Volume Z · 03 Jan 2024

Disk 1 has an inappropriate partition marked as active.

Mark System Reserved as active. Assign System Reserved drive letter S. Run

bcdboot G:\Windows /s S:

in command line.

Askic · 04 Jan 2024

Volume Z said:

Disk 1 has an inappropriate partition marked as active.

Mark System Reserved as active. Assign System Reserved drive letter S. Run

bcdboot G:\Windows /s S:

in command line.

Thank you very much!
This solved the problem!

- - - Updated - - -

Hi guys, I just want to thank you all for your assistance. I have a question regarding the theory. From this problem I have learned that boot sector is placed on this system reserved partition that should be active. But in the device management disk tool, I also see that partition with Windows installation folder should be marked as boot. Can you explain that? Why is for example C marked as boot partition ewhen boot sector is actually on the hidden system reserved partition?

Megahertz · 04 Jan 2024

On a Legacy-MBR, BIOS transfer the boot sequence to a drive MBR that will transfer to a master boot manager on an Active partition. This master boot manager will transfer the boot sequence to a partition like Windows. This partition is the one that has the OS and effectively boot from (Boot). On a Legacy- MBR it's a serial chain.

On a Windows Legacy-MBR you can set Windows partition as Active and BIOS will transfer the boot sequence to the MBR that will transfer directly to Windows partition.
The main reason to have a System partition is that on most OEM computers you have some tools (hardware test, Factory recover).
In this case BIOS transfer the boot sequence to the MBR that will transfer to a master boot manager on the System Active partition. From there you can transfer the boot sequence to Windows (default), to a hardware test or to Factory recover.

Moving mbr fron one hdd to another

Moving mbr from one hdd to another