Solved Putting ssd from laptop into desktop computer no boot??

[brooksndun]

Hey guys I took out the ssd from my laptop and put in into my old desktop computer.. Turned it on and it just hangs not even loading onto windows.. Went through the bios and not much too change..


It's the only hard drive connected


What am I forgetting to do to make this ssd boot windows ?

Thanks..

 

[LMiller7]

What you are attempting wouldn't normally be expected to work. During installation of the OS on the laptop drivers wee installed that were appropriate for the laptop hardware, not the desktop. The result is as you see.

 

[brooksndun]

Yes true I didn't really expect it to just work ha..

but would you kindly tell directly in the direction that will allow me to just transfer my ssd drive to the desktop if possible..

I just wanted to use my current ssd drive with all my windows installed programs etc on my desktop which is a completely different motherboard..

I've read I may have to repair the windows install but that breaks the programs I've got installed etc...

 

[Mooly]

What you are attempting isn't recommended. Even assuming you could get it to boot by doing a start up repair (by using a Windows Disc) , you would be left with a complete OS tailor made for the PC it was originally on. Don't even go there......

Best option is to use a Windows Disc to take the SSD down to unallocated space and then do a full and clean install.


All that said, you might find this interesting as it shows the problems that occur and how to overcome them,
https://kb.acronis.com/content/47165

 

[Cliff S]

If you have a system image from Macrium Reflect of your desktops original disk, just reimage onto the SSD or use Macriums clone option if needed.

 

[brooksndun]

Yeah I'm gonna try that.. [DEL]It sounds like windows doesn't allow itself to be put onto new hardware.. which is lame.. of course I would just have to reinstall drivers and such.. but it should still boot.. [/DEL]

anyway thanks.

Edit ***

ok wait, so I can image my current windows, then format my SSD (that originally had windows on it that I just imaged) and then put that blank formatted ssd in the new system and then re-image that back on to it??

or am i totally confused now.

thanks..

 

[Cliff S]

Yeah I'm gonna try that.. [DEL]It sounds like windows doesn't allow itself to be put onto new hardware.. which is lame.. of course I would just have to reinstall drivers and such.. but it should still boot.. [/DEL]

anyway thanks.

Edit ***

ok wait, so I can image my current windows, then format my SSD (that originally had windows on it that I just imaged) and then put that blank formatted ssd in the new system and then re-image that back on to it??

or am i totally confused now.

thanks..

You don't have to format before hand(it'll be written over anyhow), but yup, you got it

 

[alphanumeric]

Was the original install on your laptop an OEM install? If yes the license is non transferable. Even if you get it to boot your more than likely going to have activation issues. You may even get it messed up so it won't boot in the laptop anymore.

 

[brooksndun]

Ok yah, thanks guys.. It sounds like it's not a good idea..

It was a Lenovo Laptop that came preinstalled with Windows 8.1.. and yes the key is embedded in the bios.. so maybe it won't work..

In anycase, I bought a new SSD (samsung 850 Evo 500gb)


Perhaps I wont do anything with transfering the laptop windows to a new desktop.. But ... in other news...

- 1. If I have an old Desktop computer that is IDE mode installed windows 7, and I image (macrium reflect) that windows 7 install to the new SSD.. Is it very difficult to change an IDE install of windows 7 to AHCI for the new SSD in the new Desktop? I read that it's only a registry change.. that seems too easy..

in that case It would be the same destop motherboard just changing a windows 7 IDE install to a new SSD in that same Old Desktop motherboard but needing to change it to AHCI.. that shouldn't be such a problem right? and then I will have a Speedy old Desktop I hope.

thanks.

 

[mjrParanoid]

What you are doing is absolutely fine , and I think you already found the root issue. It's not a driver issue, it's a disk controller mode most likely. If the laptop was ahci, then you need to have an ahci controller in the desktop.
When it boots be prepared for a long and tedious driver update.

 

[brooksndun]

Ok fine, how do I know if the Windows 7 was installed AHCI or IDE beforehand?? Because I can't remember...

In my registry, both start values in MSAHCI and PCIIDE are 0.

**Does this mean that I did install windows 7 with AHCI setting? It is possible I just didn't switch it in the bios and that's why I am currently in IDE mode.. but how to check what it was on when I installed windows 7 - which I installed years ago..

Right now I have a spinning disk hard drive in IDE mode in the bios.. but I will be cloning this to the new SSD.. Which needs to be in AHCI mode..

Based on what I see in the registry am I all set and simply need to switch the setting to AHCI in the bios when I get my new SSD..

the motherboard of the computer the SSD is going into is Asus M4A77TD

 

[brooksndun]

*update


Windows 7 in now in ahci mode with a new Samsung 850 Evo

Everything works correct

the program AsSSD shows my drive in ahci mode..

 

[brooksndun]

Everything is all set.. had some hiccups but now is all good..

I"m running in AHCI mode according to AsSSD program