"Windows 10 Fails to Boot with Second Hard Drive - 8 Solutions"

Updated by

Sherly 

Updated on April 22, 2024

There are numerous instances where users might wish to add a second hard drive, such as when they require additional storage space, intend to install a dual-boot operating system, or plan to upgrade to an SSD. However, numerous reports have lately surfaced on forums where users mention that their computers fail to start after installing the second hard drive. Consequently, the question arises: why doesn't Windows 10 boot with the second hard drive?

The primary reason is that the second hard drive might interfere with your previous startup configurations, thereby preventing the computer from booting. If the boot drive is not set as the first priority in the boot order, the second hard drive will not boot on Windows 10.

Other factors, such as a loose connection between the computer and the drive, outdated chipsets or drivers, hard drive failure, and improper installation, can also prevent a computer from booting with a second hard drive. However, in this article, the website offers eight solutions to fix the issue of Windows 10 not booting after installing a second hard drive.

Automatically Fix Windows 10 Not Booting with Second Hard Drive

If you're new to computers and lack extensive operating experience, it's safest and most efficient to seek assistance from third-party software. The tools Partition Master Professional tool comes equipped with a Boot Repair function. This feature allows you to fix all issues that might lead to boot errors with just one click, including incorrect boot order, outdated motherboard firmware, wrong disk driver, and various miscellaneous errors.

Install the Partition Master tool on your computer and proceed with the following steps to resolve the issue of Windows 10 not booting after installing another hard drive.

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant after connecting the external drive/USB to your computer. Go to "Bootable Media" and click "Create Bootable Media."

Step 2. Choose an available USB drive or CD/DVD and click "Create." You can also burn the Windows ISO file to the storage medium.

Step 3. Connect the created bootable drive to the new computer and restart it by pressing and holding F2/Del to enter the BIOS. Once in BIOS, set the WinPE bootable drive as the primary boot device and press F10 to exit.

Step 4. Restart the computer and enter the WinPE interface. Then, open the Partition Master tool and click on "Boot Repair" under the "Toolkit" option.

Step 5: Choose the system you wish to repair and click "Repair."

Step 6. Wait a moment, and you will receive a notification that the system has been successfully repaired. Click "OK" to finish the boot repair process.

Click OK to complete the repair.

Don't overlook this powerful tool. It can not only assist in fixing startup errors but also effortlessly create a password-protected boot disk, check disk health, test disk speed, and more.

This approach is the simplest and very beginner-friendly. You can directly fix potential issues without needing to understand the reasoning behind them.

Windows 10 Won't Boot With Second Hard Drive - 7 Manual Fixes Windows 10 不会随着第二个硬盘驱动器启动 - 7 个手动修复方法

If your computer fails to boot after installing a second hard drive on Windows 10/11, apart from the automatic solutions mentioned earlier, we have compiled seven practical manual methods to address this issue. Let's attempt them sequentially until the problem is resolved.

Fix 1: Ensure the Boot Drive Order is Correct in the BIOS

First, ensure that your startup disk is set at the top of your computer's boot order in the BIOS. Here's how to modify the boot drive order in the BIOS.

Step 1. Turn on the computer and press and hold F2, DEL, or another designated key before the computer boots up. This will access the BIOS.

Step 2. Proceed to the "Boot" tab, select the startup disk, and utilize the arrow keys and "+" key to move it to the top of the boot order.

Step 3. Press the F10 and Enter keys to save your changes and exit the BIOS Setup Utility.

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Fix 2: Check the Connection Between the Computer and the Hard Drive

A loose connection between the computer and the hard drive can also trigger this error. Hence, ensure that there are no loose SATA or power cables. Please adhere to the guidelines carefully below:

Step 1. Turn off the computer's power and remove the battery.

Step 2. Use a screwdriver to open the computer case and carefully remove the second hard drive.

Step 3. Check if the SATA cable and power cable for this hard drive are loose or damaged.

Step 4. Reconnect the hard drive to the computer and make sure all connections are secure.

注意: 解决方法 3/4/5/6 需要你先进入安全模式。你可以点击这个链接来学习如何进入安全模式。

Fix 3. Update Your Motherboard and Disk Drivers

The "second hard drive won't boot" issue can be resolved by updating the chipset driver or disk driver. Outdated drivers can indeed lead to startup failures, so let's proceed with updating the driver as per the instructions below.

Step 1. Press the Windows + X keys to open the context menu and choose "Device Manager."

Step 2. Expand the Disk Drives category, locate the unbootable SATA internal hard drive, right-click it, and select Update Driver.

Step 3. In the new pop-up window, choose the "Automatically search for drivers" option and follow the on-screen instructions to install the most recent driver.

Does this method work for you? Share this article to let more users be aware of it.

Fix 4: Perform Startup Repair

If some crucial system files or startup files get corrupted, your computer may fail to start after installing a second hard drive. In such a scenario, you can utilize the Windows installation media (bootable USB or installation disc) to carry out an automatic/bootalbe repair.

Step 1. Insert the Windows installation disc into the PC and restart the computer from the disc. Press any key to boot from the installation CD when prompted.

Step 2. Choose your preferred language and proceed until the Install Now screen appears. Next, click on 'Repair your computer' to access the Advanced Settings menu.

Step 3. Select Troubleshooting to access Advanced Options > Click Startup Repair. Translation: Step 3. Choose "Troubleshooting" to access Advanced Options, then click "Startup Repair."

Step 4. The tool will then automatically diagnose and repair your Windows system. After it's finished, try restarting your computer.

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Fix 5: Check the Hard Drive for Problems

If the current hard drive is damaged or corrupted, your computer won't boot after adding it. In such a scenario, it's advisable to inspect if there's an issue with the hard drive.

Step 1. Type "cmd" in the Windows 10 search box. Right-click on Command Prompt and select "Run as administrator" from the context menu.

Step 2. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter: chkdsk g: /f /r /x. (In this instance, replace 'g:' with the drive letter of the volume you wish to check.)

Step 3. Type Y and restart your computer. This will allow the hard drive to be checked and repaired the next time the system starts up.

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Fix 6. Format the Hard Drive

Many people have reported that they resolved this issue by formatting the hard drive. So, it's worth giving it a try. Here are the steps:

Step 1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box, type "diskpart" in it, and press Enter. Then click "Yes" in the subsequent window to confirm the operation.

Step 2. Enter the following command:

1. list disk
2. select disk n (replace n with the number of the second hard disk)
3. list volume
4. select volume m (replace m with the partition number on the hard disk)
5. format fs=ntfs quick​ (If you want to format to FAT32, you can also run format fs=fat32 quick.)

Fix 7. Replace Another Hard Drive

Lastly, if the issue of "the computer not booting from the second hard drive" continues, it might signify damage to the hard drive. In this scenario, you should replace the hard drive with a new one or seek assistance from an authorized manufacturer or repair service.

Install a New Hard Drive or SSD on Windows 10/8/7

This tutorial provides comprehensive guidance on how to install a new hard drive or SSD on your Windows PC or laptop. Follow along with this article to get the new disk functioning in Windows 10/8/7.

Conclusion

According to our survey, the primary reason is that the second hard drive might disrupt your previous BIOS boot configurations, thereby preventing the computer from starting up. If the boot drive is not configured as the first boot priority, the second hard drive will not boot on a Windows 10/11 computer.

How do you resolve the issue of Windows 10 not booting after adding a second hard drive? This article presents eight effective troubleshooting solutions. Hopefully, they all assist you in fixing your problem. If you found these fixes helpful, please share them with others.

"Windows 10/11 Won't Boot After Installing Another Hard Drive" FAQs

Why doesn't Windows 10 boot after installing the second hard drive, and how can this issue be resolved? Read on to learn more about this error and its solutions.

< strong > 1. Why won't my computer boot after installing a second SSD?

There are numerous reasons that can result in boot failures. The most common ones include:

The new SSD is installed incorrectly or has loose connections. Incorrect boot sequence in BIOS.

This is why your PC is unable to boot from the second SSD you installed.

2. How do I boot Windows 10 from a second hard drive?

Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog box, type "msconfig" and press Enter to open the System Configuration window.

切换到顶部的“启动”选项卡，然后选择您想设置为默认的操作系统。点击“设为默认”选项，并在右侧的“超时”下更改等待时间。然后点击“确定”。

3. Can a hard drive cause a PC not to boot?

Yes, a malfunctioning HDD can not only impact the boot time but also prevent the operating system from booting, even if it's installed on a different drive. BIOS settings can be affected, and if the drive is failing or corrupted, the BIOS inquiry of the problematic drive can hinder or halt the boot process.