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Hi Everyone:
I have a particular issue that I need assistance with. So, I was trying to migrate my OS drive (local C:) to an SSD. I have two more HDDs that are 1tb and 2tb. I had both my C drive and 1tb hdd for a long time. The 2tb HDD is relatively new. So, I bought an SSD to replace the old OS drive. I was in the middle of switching out my 1tb HDD for the SSD in order to migrate the OS drive over (I wanted to plug my SSD at the time as my other drives, but my SATA cable didn't work so I had to leave it out). That's how I found out that my 1tb HDD was connected to my OS drive, somehow. I unplugged the 1tb and was confronted by the message "Insert Boot Media." I was very confused. My C: drive was supposed to be the only OS drive. Therefore, why is my 1tb hdd acting as a part of the OS drive. Mind you, my C: drive was also still connected at this time. I tried the same thing with C: drive (disconnected it) and kept the 1tb hdd in and got the same message. I plugged them both in and it goes to the OS.
So, my question is, how do I separate my boot loader from the 1tb hdd and simply place it on the C drive? I have no idea how this happened. The only thing I can imagine is a Windows Update attached my 1tb HDD to the OS drive, for some unknown reason.
Thank you very much.
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Looks like you'll need to move the system active partition. You can follow along here.
https://www.diskpart.com/articles/move-system-reserved-partition-4348.html
--please don't forget to Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--
Just to be clear, though, there is no specific system reserved partition. It is just all one. Which makes this a little bit harder for me to decipher how to cut it out from the 1tb hdd. I do see what you're talking about, though. It does make sense. I just need a bit more help in understanding how to slice it without the system reserved partition actually being in place. Especially since I have yet to clone the OS drive to the SSD.
There is no free space on disk 0 so the basics are you'll need to make some free space (100mB will do) then basically need a new primary partition on disk 0 marked active with the contents that are currently on E:.
Great. So, everything is in place, but I have one last issue that needs a resolution. After everything is done. I am now faced with the simple problem of changing my drive letter from E: to C:.
Currently, the OS is on the C: drive, but I obviously want to swap it with the SSD on E:. How would I go about doing this?
Thank you very much for your assistance.
I don't think anything needs to be done. More info here.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-server/backup-and-storage/restore-system-boot-drive-letter
Please post a screenshot of Disk Management
