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Subject: "Computer won't boot with second HDD attached" Previous topic | Next topic
TootsTue Jul-06-21 09:05 PM
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"Computer won't boot with second HDD attached"


          

My Dell XPS 8500 died. Replaced it with refurbished Dell Optiplex 9020. So far, I like it but I am heart broken at the loss of my Software, music and personnel stuff.

I am trying to use Aomei Backupper to clone the C: partition so I can boot the old HDD and get some of my stuff. So far it has not worked. I attach the old HDD as the second
HDD but with the second drive attached, the computer will not boot. It very briefly flashes the logo and then goes black and stays that way.

I suspected the problem was probably caused by the BIOS. But I simply do not see anything wrong in the BIOS. It shows the second drive. Instructions say the original HDD
should boot first and this is the sequence shown.

I have run out of things to try. I am hoping some of you can help.

Thank you for all your good work.

Toots

  

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Replies to this topic
Subject Author Message Date ID
RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached
Jul 06th 2021
1
RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached
Jul 07th 2021
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      RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached
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           RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached
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                RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached
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                          RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached
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                          RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached
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                               RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached
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                                    RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached
Jul 08th 2021
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                                         RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached
Jul 12th 2021
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                                              RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached
Oct 16th 2021
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                                                   RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached
Oct 18th 2021
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                                                        RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached
Oct 19th 2021
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                          RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached
Jul 07th 2021
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RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached
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RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached
Jul 08th 2021
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      RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached
Mar 07th 2022
18

KJTTue Jul-06-21 10:37 PM
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#1. "RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached"
In response to Toots (Reply # 0)


  

          

Try pressing F8 at bootup to see if the "Advanced Boot Options screen" will open, If so, select the correct drive - the new one in your new computer.

If your Optiplex bootup screen is a Dell graphic, you will have to go into the BIOS/UEFI and change the boot up setting to information and not the graphic.

I hope it's this simple. Good luck.


OR, maybe, try connecting the old drive after you already have the Optiplex up and running.

Jim.

  

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TootsWed Jul-07-21 01:42 PM
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#2. "RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached"
In response to KJT (Reply # 1)


          

Thanks Jim, will let you know.

Toots

  

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TootsWed Jul-07-21 03:32 PM
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#3. "RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached"
In response to Toots (Reply # 2)


          

It has been awhile since I have worked on BIOS problems and frankly I chickened out. Nothing I tried did any good. The Boot sequence is set for Legacy not UEFI. It showed the second HDD as first boot. I tried and tried and was not capable of changing the order.

Don't know what to do now. Very sad.

Thanks Jim for trying.

  

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KJTWed Jul-07-21 04:04 PM
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#4. "RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached"
In response to Toots (Reply # 3)


  

          

Try my second suggestion above - Remove the old drive. Boot up the new computer and then try connecting the old drive, If it's recognized, you should be able to transfer what you want transferred.

Jim.

  

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TootsWed Jul-07-21 05:56 PM
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#5. "RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached"
In response to KJT (Reply # 4)


          

Will try.Thanks

Toots

  

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TootsWed Jul-07-21 06:04 PM
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#6. "RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached"
In response to Toots (Reply # 5)


          

Booted than atched old drive and nothing has happened. I am on your site. Should I have gone to the BIOS and done this?

Toots

  

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TootsWed Jul-07-21 06:08 PM
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#7. "RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached"
In response to Toots (Reply # 6)


          

The old HDD atch seems to be running. How can I open or see it?

Thanks

Toots

  

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TootsWed Jul-07-21 06:18 PM
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#8. "RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached"
In response to Toots (Reply # 7)


          

Computer Management nor Device Manager see the old HDD.

Toots

  

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KJTWed Jul-07-21 09:47 PM
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#10. "RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached"
In response to Toots (Reply # 8)


  

          

Maybe try disconnecting the new drive and plugging in the old drive in its place. If it should boot, you can copy the things you want to keep onto a thumb drive, or other media.

Once saved, shut down and disconnect the old hard drive, reconnect the new drive, and reboot and then copy the thumb drive.

Jim.

  

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TootsThu Jul-08-21 02:26 PM
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#13. "RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached"
In response to KJT (Reply # 10)


          

That is scary but I will try it. Hope it does no harm.

Thanks Jim

Toots

  

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TootsMon Jul-12-21 02:48 PM
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#14. "RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached"
In response to Toots (Reply # 13)


          

Sorry about the delay in replying. Have to postpone trying second HD. While this was going on, my Free Windscribe (VPN) was cutting off. Reported it to Windscribe and they were trying to fix it. Anyhow, dont' know what they did but my Internet stopped working, Called Mediacom and they started trying to fix it. In the interim, Microsoft insisted on updating my OS. They insisted in order to shut down my PC. All of this action has taken a toll on my OS and now many things won't work. Like the printer. The pity is I backed up my system on 7-1-2021 with Aomei Backupper and I cannot get Aomei to restore the backup. Will submit this problem as new later.

Toots

  

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ChickenmanSat Oct-16-21 04:27 AM
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#15. "RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached"
In response to Toots (Reply # 14)


          

Quote:
QUOTE:
Sorry about the delay in replying. Have to postpone trying second HD. While this was going on, my Free Windscribe (VPN) was cutting off. Reported it to Windscribe and they were trying to fix it. Anyhow, dont' know what they did but my Internet stopped working, Called Mediacom and they started trying to fix it. In the interim, Microsoft insisted on updating my OS. They insisted in order to shut down my PC. All of this action has taken a toll on my OS and now many things won't work. Like the printer. The pity is I backed up my system on 7-1-2021 with Aomei Backupper and I cannot get Aomei to restore the backup. Will submit this problem as new later.

Toots


What do you mean " Microsoft " insisted on updating your OS? Are you saying " Windows Update activated " and did its normal annoying Update at the worst possible time? ( That can be delayed or set to a specific time )

Or did you get a " FAKE " get a phone call from Microsoft saying that you must update your OS. Those are an outright scam and involve allowing an outside source to hack your PC via Remote Networking it.

Microsoft NEVER calls people by phone. Never EVER!!

Do you run a Malware Scanner such as Malwarebytes. If not... do so. Choose Custom Install and DO NOT install the " Free Trial Pro Version ". Deselect that box and only install the normal " Free Version ". The Trial Pro Version has a time limit. Generally a month. The " Free " Normal " version has no expiry date . You just have to scan manually.

  

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therubeMon Oct-18-21 05:09 PM
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#16. "RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached"
In response to Chickenman (Reply # 15)
Mon Oct-18-21 05:10 PM by therube

  

          

I'll guess that the computer had Win7 on it.
And that it was MS's incessant "prompting" to "upgrade" to Win10, & that's where things went awry.

(Thankfully I've never seen such prompts on my Win7 systems.)


As far as the original problem - assuming we're not talking about old IDE drives where cabling needs to be correct; master/slave kind of thing (& that if SATA something simply isn't fubar'd), that the drive simply went bad.

And if that is the case, then you might be able to slave it, or you might be able to hook it up via external USB type connection & maybe you'll get something off of it - or not.


Anyhow, I don't believe there is even an issue here, at this point in time .

--------------------------------------
BANK OF AMERICA.COM ONLINE BANKING SUCKS IN THE HUGEST WAY IMAGINABLE

Newegg.com's new image gallery layout sucks in the hugest way imaginable too !
And now they're using JavaScript to "turn" pages to boot ! SUCKS

  

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TootsTue Oct-19-21 06:19 PM
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#17. "RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached"
In response to therube (Reply # 16)


          

Sorry about the delay but things have not gone my way lately. Been quite busy.

Purchased a USB to SATA and have downloaded most of my data from the failed computer.

Never did get the nerve to try the old HDD in this computer.

Thanks for all the help you people have given me.

Toots

  

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KJTWed Jul-07-21 09:36 PM
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#9. "RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached"
In response to Toots (Reply # 6)


  

          

No, for now forget about the BIOS.

Pressing F8 (the Function 8 key), maybe repeatedly, at bootup with the old drive connected might open the "Advanced Boot Options screen". If it does, then you can up or down arrow to the new hard drive to select it and it should boot.

It's possible that a key other than f8 could be used by Dell to access the "Advanced Boot Options screen". Maybe Google it, if F8 doesn't work.

If this should work, you will most likely have to continue doing an F8 boot for as long as you have the old drive attached after shutdown, or reboot, say for updates requiring a reboot.

Jim.

  

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TtechWed Jul-07-21 11:38 PM
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#11. "RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached"
In response to Toots (Reply # 0)


  

          

Lots of good suggestions from KJT. The key for Boot Options on a Dell is F12.

Toots,
You didn't tell us what failed on the old computer. Was it the hard drive, the power supply, motherboard or something else? Did you have it looked at by someone familiar with computer repair?

I really think you are in over your head. I recommend that you find a local computer repair shop or independent technician to help you. Ask friends and relatives for referrals. Take the "new" computer and the hard drive from the old one and let someone with experience do the work for you.

Behind every good computer... is a jumble of wires 'n stuff.

  

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TootsThu Jul-08-21 02:22 PM
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#12. "RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached"
In response to Ttech (Reply # 11)


          

Think my power supply or mother board failed. Anyhow, decided to abandon it and move on. The cost of help would probably be more than purchasing a refurbished PC.

You are correct, fooling with the BIOS is over my head. But I have already done a number on it. It still boots OK but will no longer show the second drive when installed.

Thanks

Toots

  

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Marie DiazMon Mar-07-22 08:15 PM
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#18. "RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached"
In response to Toots (Reply # 12)
Tue Mar-08-22 03:09 AM by Ttech

          

Do not post advertisements or solicitations for business. Any posts of commercial nature will be removed.

  

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