Is it posible that Acer so heavily crippled BIOS on V3-571G?

I have above mentioned notebook and I was very satisfied with it and with Acer as brand, till yesterday, when I replaced dvd with hdd caddy.

There is no way to make notebook to boot from ssd when hdd is present! No, the F12 boot option is not a solution, or even better, is it posible that is the ONLY solution?! REALLY?! To always select boot device manualy?!

Is it some kind advanced feature in BIOS to let me choose boot device?

Let me explain the situation. It's a latest legacy BIOS v1.13

Option 1.

ssd is in hdd bay instead of originali shipped hdd, it's a samsung 120gb evo, and the hdd is in the caddy.

ssd is recognized in BIOS on info page, BUT it's not listed on boot options page, only hdd!

I can make it to boot from ssd with F12 and everything works fine.

Option 2.

hdd is in hdd bay and the ssd is in caddy.

BIOS doesn't recognize ssd, only hdd, BUT, I can boot from ssd and in windows there is ssd, and it's usable normaly.

In both combination, BIOS recognize hdd as HDD0, and ALWAYS forcing notebook to boot from it, no matter how I set boot options. If I remove hdd, ssd is recognized as HDD0 and it's show up in boot options.

In first I thought it's a caddy related problem, but after all the tests and combinations, everything works fine except boot options, so at the end I see it as Acer BIOS shortcoming, and what's worse, I don't see reading this forum that Acer trying to provide additional support only useless generic answers in most cases.

I regret now that I didn't choose Asus over Acer...

Accepted answers

All comments

philetus

Have you tried removing the HDD,and then install to SSD. That would then make SSD drive 0. Then after it's done and booting goog, reinstall the HDD.

flatline

as I wrote, ssd boots normally without hdd, but when I reinstall hdd, ssd is somehow overridden and notebook boot from hdd, ALWAYS, no matter where I install disks.

hdd always have priority over ssd and I can't change that, only manually thru F12.

philetus

If you have Windows booting good from the SSD, connect the HDD via USB and delete the windows install on it. Then reinstall it as a data drive.

flatline

i don't have problem to make my hdd to be storage disk. Smiley Happy

my problem is how to use this setup as multiboot/dual boot whatever you call it.

the scenario is next:

1.ssd is used for everyday work surfing, lightroom and other stuff

2.hdd is used for DJ-ing with clean windows installation only with traktor DJ software

so, the answer is not reinstall that, reinstall this, install that software, etc.

the answer is, or should be from Acer:

"we updated and fixed BIOS to recognize xxxx and allowed to use/select it as boot device"

explanation: I will select hdd thru F12 when I need it for DJ-ing, that's ok. BUT, I don't want do that everyday for everyday use with ssd, because it should be automated...or maybe I'm too ignorant and asking for some super-high-advanced technology?

philetus

After you installed Windows to the SSD and have it booting, I think you will have to wipe/clean the HDD before you install it and then install Windows to it. You can't just put the HDD with the original install back in and expect the bios to recognize it as a dual boot.

flatline

philetus wrote:

You can't just put the HDD with the original install back in and expect the bios to recognize it as a dual boot.

Oh, really? Would you care to explain me why should I do that?

Why are you insist that this is a windows installation problem?

What had change in original notebook configuration to cause such an action?

Which piece of hardware was changed?

Do you need to reinstall system when you move drive from one SATA port to another?

Well, let me save you some of your time and answer myself. Smiley Happy

No, you don't!

Windows doesn't care on which port is a DRIVE with bootloader, he just looking for PARTITION with bootloader, which doesn't change if you move drive across SATA ports, and as far as I know, dual boot is not a BIOS feature, it's a windows feature.

You don't edit BIOS thru msconfig, EasyBCD, etc, you edit a file on your hdd.

In this case only thing what changed for windows is> no more dvd, ok, wait, here is sata bridge let's install it, ok, well here is ssd, let's install it, ok > here are your two new letters/partition in my computer.

Example, again Smiley Happy : It did boot normally in windows without reinstallation when I put my wd blue in caddy, with ssd in hdd bay.

Guess what? I put my wd black in caddy and boot normally in windows with my other installation, again without reinstall.

So, to summarize:

in the moment when I put MECHANICAL DISK/HDD in notebook, no matter where hdd bay or caddy, it has PRIORITY over ssd! the ssd is bypassed and it's boot from HDD, and the only way to boot from ssd is to force it thru F12.

Which leads me to conclusion - BIOS is ****!

Let me explain my self, again.

As I wrote before, my first thought was that there is some incompatibility with a caddy...

But, on POST screen there are both drives, hdd and ssd (one on SATA 0, other on SATA 2).

Changing their positions leads only to that, that BIOS doesn't see ssd, but ssd is fully functionally. I can boot from it (F12) and it's visible in windows if I boot from hdd.

I can boot from caddy no matter which drive is inside.

So, it not a caddy problem...or at least I don't see how could it be.

Shouldn't be hardware (motherboard specifically) issue, beacause I can select dvd (when I install it) as boot device in BIOS.

It's look like BIOS is preconfigured/locked for hdd+optical device combination.

In BIOS on info page ATAPI device is blank, regardless which drive is in caddy (hdd or ssd), so that leaves me some VERY LITTLE space to doubt in caddy, but even in that case hdd is still in boot options...or to clarify, HDD IS ALWAYS in boot options, whatever combination I use.

ssd is visible in boot options ONLY if it's a single drive or with a dvd-rom, adding hdd removes ssd from boot options.

So, I'm again back on my conlcusion - BIOS = ****!

Note: I'm not an IT noob. Smiley Wink

I don't mind to exchange messages here with you and hang out, but it will be more fun and useful if we continue this topic about our girls/wifes/dogs/cats/etc Smiley Happy

I wouldn't mind if someone show up and say "you are stupid and have no clue! do that and that, and - voila! it's working"

...or someone from Acer saying "we are working on solution...", but somehow, I doubt.

philetus

QUOTE

philetus wrote:

You can't just put the HDD with the original install back in and expect the bios to recognize it as a dual boot.

Oh, really? Would you care to explain me why should I do that? UNQUOTE

It's really very simple. You installed Windows on the SSD. That's 1 bootloader.

You have Windows already installed on the HDD. That's another bootloader with no connection between them.

A dual boot has both operating systems on the same bootloader and it asks you which one you want to boot.

flatline

Obviously you miss the point and my problem, so I will simplify it much as I can, maybe I wasn't clear enough.

> I can't make my notebook to boot from SSD when I put ANY HDD in it thru BIOS! <

Both drives have windows installation on them, separated, no connection between them and that's ok, I want it like that.

My problem is not bootloader configuration, dual/multi boot. I know how it's work.
I want them to be separated to be able to format, reinstall any of them without affecting on other drive.

My problem is that I CAN'T select SSD AS DEFAULT/FIRST BOOT DEVICE in BIOS, which have nothing to do with windows installation, bootloader or whatever. It's a BIOS related problem.
I don't have that option if I have additional mechanical drive/HDD.

*If the ssd is ONLY drive (or with dvd-rw drive) in notebook:

BIOS
Boot order:

1. usb dvd
2. usb hdd
3. network
4. HDD0 samsung ssd evo
5. etc...

*if I add hdd beside ssd

BIOS
Boot order

1. HDD0 WD blue
2. no samsung ssd
3. no samsung ssd
4. no samsung ssd
5. no samsung ssd
6. no samsung ssd
7. no samsung ssd
8. no samsung ssd
.
.
.
but I can force it to boot from ssd with F12!

And I don't want that, I want to boot FIRST/ALWAYS from ssd and I want to force with F12 to boot from HDD when I need it.

nuclearmeltdown

Hi flatline,

I too recently changed (upgraded) my hard drive to ssd . I was getting the same type of results as you. My SSD wouldn't show Boot priority first in the bios. I was frazzeled the say the least. I am running Windows 7 BTW. Win 8 (.1) doesn't work for me, I hate it.

SOLUTION for me was I changed BOOT MODE from UEF I(I think it was) to Legacy saved the settings and all was well. Now I know supposably this only should allow Win 7 to install/boot but some how it saw my SSD and set it up to. Pic below

Samsung SSD.jpg

This alowed my SSD (upgraded in the laptop) to be Primary and if I wanted to dual boot I stuck in my HDD Dride Caddy in the DVD Slot (while off of course, LOL) Boot and hit F12.

Now I don't know if this will fix your problem but it might be worth a shot...

,,.........................peace Brian

Samsung SSD.jpg

flatline

I doub't that we can find a soultion for this problem. Only Acer can.

1) SSD is detected in BIOS, but HDD is not showing up.

2) BOOT option page. No SSD, but the HDD is here.

3) BOOT Manager with F12. They are both here, and I can choose from which I want to boot.

As I said before, MAYBE it's something and somehow related to caddy, but I doubt.

It's not related to windows installation, this is BIOS problem or HW limitation which is not specified anywhere!

boot.jpg

bootmgr.jpg

info.jpg

Progressive815

Hi, have you managed to find the solution?

I am looking at your attached screenshots I am having exactly the same problem. I have just recently bough Samsung SSD 850 EVO and am stuck with the the same problem and cannot find a solution anywhere.

Have you tried contacting ACER support?

flatline

No, I did not...BUT...the problem magicaly solved by it's self.
I had some problem with one hdd.I was pooling out my ssd, caddy, replacing positions and after these "actions", when I restored everything in previous state, notebook booted from ssd...how, I don't know...
So, now working as I wanted.
First booting from ssd and if I want to boot from hdd then I go thru F12 option.
Will see if something change if I again pool out my ssd or caddy.

Progressive815

That's extremely unusual it would have solved itself. Can you just clarify a few points:

1) Is your bootable SSD in the caddy or connected internally through SATA?

2) Have you made any changes to your HDD after OS started booting from SSD, e.g deleted the bootable partition from HDD?

I am still unsure whether the MBR sector of bootable HDD could cause this. I am reluctant to delete my HDD's bootable partition and MBR sector as I not sure whether this would solve anything.

After all, the SSD is not being recognized in the BIOS, but maybe if I delete HDD's bootable partition, it would automatically start booting from SSD as there would be no alternative?

If HDD's Boot sector would be damaged after I format OS partition, and if SSD would fail to load OS, I really do not want to go through OS reinstallation as neither HDD nor SSD would be booting Windows after I make these changes...

flatline

1) both disks are bootable, but have separate win installations on them, no multiboot.

SSD is in hdd bay, not in caddy.

2) I didn't made any changes to disks. I just installed problematic HDD in notebook to run diagnostic tools. After that, as I said, I just put back SSD.

As I said before, I'm 99,99% sure that, this is a BIOS related problem.

You can boot from SSD with F12.

Progressive815

Hi,

F12 option is available but it is just too ridiculously frustrating to boot SSD from F12 boot manager every time I restart the computer.

After it 'fixed' itself, has the SSD started to show up in the Boot menu and you were able to select it as bootable disk?

If not, is it still not being displayed in the boot menu and regardless that HDD is shown as the first in boot sequence, the OS in SSD is being loaded?

If these points could be cleared out, I will try to point them out to Acer support team, as I cannot think of any other solution, thanks.

flatline

I just noticed one thing in my BIOS.
SSD is now shown in boot order! But now not showing HDD.
That's why now booting from SSD. I wasn't pay attention to that, because I was give up on this problem, and when it's started to boot from SSD, I was surprised and didn't noticed that detail.

As I said, it's a kind of magic for me...

I can say that I'm advanced computer user, but it's unclear for me what happened and why.

I just simply removed SSD from notebook, tested problematic HDD, removed HDD, installed back SSD and now it's booting first from SSD (and show up in boot order).

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