Need help! Boot problem!

Need help! Slow boot after HDD crapped out.

My HDD recently crapped out (the CoD) so I need to buy a new one, but I am already having an issue.

I have my OS on an SSD, but ever since the HDD crapped out it is taking longer to boot. It used to take just seconds, but now it is taking 15 seconds or so, which while not very long, is still too long compared to what it used to be.

Once I hit the screen with the blue Windows logo, the circle goes around a few times, where as before it would go a full turn and then maybe a half turn.

I have Windows 8.1. Before the HDD crapped out, it wasn't a problem. The HDD still functions, but it is way too slow to be useable and will probably fully crap out soon. If I leave it plugged in, it takes longer than this to boot (the situation I am describing is with the HDD completely removed (unplugged)).

When I installed the OS, I think I had both drives plugged in, but I cannot remember for sure. I installed the OS just a month ago though.

I need help fixing this or to know why it is suddenly happening after the HDD crapped out.

Thanks.

I think I fixed it.

I initially tried easyBCD, but that didn't work and I ended up deleting my Boot Menu. I created a new one and selected "Skip the boot menu" (is that OK?) because it kept giving me an option to select Windows 8 at startup.

I fixed the slow boot times by using my installation USB media and running a command prompt and then running bootrec.exe /fixmbr and it boots normally now, as fast as it used to from what I can tell.