Boot order doesn't work

newbyusr

Hi,

I recently purchased my first Acer laptop, the R7 572.

 

I have a question regarding Windows boot order for Acer R7 572 with Msata Disk and the original 1TB HD running at the same time.

 

I have successfully used the Recovery USB Drive method to install windows 8.1 to a Samsung Evo 250GB Msata disk (with 1TB WD HD removed).

 

I have re-inserted the 1TB HD, and could now use the boot menu (via <F12>) to boot from either the 250GB Msata disk,
or the original 1TB HD, and could see both drives from Windows 8.1.

 

The problem I have is that by default (without using boot menu), the laptop always boots from the original
1TB HD. 

 

Is there a way to setup the laptop so it will always boot from the MSata disk, with Windows 8.1 still installed 

on the original 1TB HD?

 

I was reading various posts, and it seems that in order to always boot from the msata disk, I will have to
format the original 1TB hard disk. Can someone please confirm this, and also please advise if there are any
things to watch out when reformatting the 1TB HD.

I prefer to keep Windows 8.1 on the 1TB HD, but would be willing to format it if this is the only
way to have the msata disk as the primary boot disk.

Thanks

newbyusr

Just a note that I have resolved the issue for the benefits of others.

I used <F12> boot menu to boot off Msata disk and formatted Drive D (this is actually one of the partitions on the 1TB disk). When I booted the laptop, it went into Disk Recovery. 

I rebooted using <F12> Boot menu to Msata disk. After some research, I used the diskpart utility to delete all the 4 partitions on the 1TB hd: (Disk0 is 1TB hard disk, Disk1 is MSata)
diskpart

select disk 0

select partition x (x=partition no, for each of the listed partitions)
delete partition override

After deleting all the partitions, Computer Management shows a contiguous 1TB hard disk. I formatted this disk, and then rebooted the laptop. Now, my laptop boots off the Msata disk automatically, and I have a 1TB HD as storage.

vojvoda

You need to dissable UEFI BOOT in your BIOS. Without that, your computer will always boot win8

newbyusr

Could you please elaborate what I need to do as I am new to this. 

My <F2> options show UEFI.

 

Do I need to change it to Legacy? Is there anything else I need to do to make the msata disk the primary boot disk?

Thanks

vojvoda

Try just to switch to Legacy and see if it will work (it should)

newbyusr

When I changed from UEFI to Legacy, and saw this boot list:
1. Windows Boot Manager

2. HDD0: WDC WD10JPVX-22JC310

3. USB HDD:

4. AAPI CDROM:

...

I got this error message during boot up:
No bootable device -- inser boot disk and press any key

I changed it back to UEFI, and could boot up to the 1TB HD again.

Is there something else I need? 

Thanks.

vojvoda

In this part, when you changed to legacy, you should have an option (under four options you've typed) where you can choose the MS disk. Also, you may try using arrow kays to navigate to first boot device, press ENTER and then you may get a list of possible boot devices; scroll down to MS DISK and press ENTER. Hit F10, Enter. Should solve the problem. But you MUST be out of UEFI.

newbyusr

Hi,
I changed the Boot Mode to Legacy, and could only see HDD0 (1TB HD) on the list, no HDD1.

I rebooted the laptop, and hit <F2> again. The boot list shows this:
1. HDD0 : WDC WD10JPVX-22JC310
2. HDD1 :
3. HDD1 :
4. HDD1 :

5. HDD1 :
6. HDD1 :
7. HDD1 :

I hit enter on Option 1, but it does not give me an option to Select MSata. If I boot using Option 1, I received this error message:
"No Bootable device -- insert boot disk and press any key"

If I reboot and press <F12>, there's only 1 option shown, "1. HDD0: WDC WD10JPVX-22JC310". If this option is selected, the laptop won't boot up, and displayed the above "No bootable device ..." message.

When I changed the Boot mode back to "UEFI", I saw these options:

1. Windows Boot Manager

2. HDD0: WDC WD10JPVX-22JC310

3. USB HDD:

4. AAPI CDROM

5. USB FD0:

6. Network Boot-IPV4

7. USB CDROM:
8. Network Boot-IPv6

9. Unknown Device:

There's no option to select MSata.

Any other suggestion? 

Thanks.

newbyusr

Can someone please advise if the laptop will successfully boot off the MSata drive if I format the original 1TB Hard Drive? 

Will the Bios/UEFI successfully detect the Msata drive (I think HDD1), or will I have boot error?

Thanks.

newbyusr

Just a note that I have resolved the issue for the benefits of others.

I used <F12> boot menu to boot off Msata disk and formatted Drive D (this is actually one of the partitions on the 1TB disk). When I booted the laptop, it went into Disk Recovery. 

I rebooted using <F12> Boot menu to Msata disk. After some research, I used the diskpart utility to delete all the 4 partitions on the 1TB hd: (Disk0 is 1TB hard disk, Disk1 is MSata)
diskpart

select disk 0

select partition x (x=partition no, for each of the listed partitions)
delete partition override

After deleting all the partitions, Computer Management shows a contiguous 1TB hard disk. I formatted this disk, and then rebooted the laptop. Now, my laptop boots off the Msata disk automatically, and I have a 1TB HD as storage.