ACER Spin 351-15. New SSD installation resulted in NO BOOTABLE DEVICE after restart of Windows 10

HDD replaced with an SSD on Acer Spin, but after clean installation of Windows 10, it recycles back to the installation Windows Setup screen on USB. I keep reinstalling it again and again, but it's the same result.

I changed the BIOS boot priority order:
1. HDD1: SPCC Solid State Disk
2. USB HDD: Windows 10

If I remove the USB after Win10 install restart, it says NO BOOTABLE DEVICE. What am I doing wrong here? If I press F12 (Boot Manager) after Win10 install restart, I only see USB HDD not the SPCC SSD, hence the Windows Setup screen again. Hidden "owner" codes inside the computers? Bad SSD? Corrupted Windows 10 ISO?

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brummyfan2

Hi,
Give the solution in this link a try:http://www.tomsguide.com/answers/id-3195757/acer-laptop-bootable-device-fix.html

TemuJin_69

Tried that in all 4 partitions. Cmd replies with "The selected disk is not a fixed MBR disk.
The active command can only be used on fixed MBR disk."

Partition1 Recovery
Partition2 System
Partition3 Reserved
Partition4 Primary

How do I turn the SSD into a "fixed MBR disk"? And which partition exactly should become "active"?

brummyfan2

Hi,
Windows installation should be in GPT type drive, I would suggest you to perform a clean install following the instructions here:https://www.tomshardware.co.uk/how-to-do-clean-installation-windows-10,news-57579.html

TemuJin_69

I redownloaded an English International ISO, named "CCCOMA_X64FRE_EN-US_DV9." A bit creepy since I just watched yesterday Kate Perry's song "WIDE AWAKE!" 😄 I hope the ISO is not a COMAtose version of the real thing.

In any case, I'm using Rufus to create a bootable "GPT partition scheme for UEFI" Windows 10 and will try to reinstall it again. Can DISKPART make a GPT partition into "active" and which of the four above partitions should be active exactly?

brummyfan2

Try downloading the iso from Microsoft to be on the safe side, Windows installation will take care of making the drive "Active", so you don't need to use Diskpart to make it active.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10

TemuJin_69

Precisely, the same address... except mine has ISO after the end.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10ISO

Same problem as before. I see a dark CMD screen pop up for a millisecond on installation restart, as if it's inserting a command then it recycles back to Windows setup screen again from the USB.

My SSD shows up in BIOS priority, but when I press F12 for boot manager, I don't see it after the restart installation, only the USB HDD. I wonder if that flashing CMD screen is preventing me from seeing the HDD1: SPCC Solid State Disk?

TemuJin_69

Do you think I'm being redirected to another mirror site and downloading a corrupted version of Windows 10 or is that normal?

brummyfan2

Hi,
No, it's the official site, could you please check in BIOS in Boot tab, whether it's in Legacy mode or UEFI mode.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyyy-vCfUS0

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/6c/tmtt6wfcp95r.jpg

TemuJin_69

I downloaded and burned the ISO through Rufus' "GPT partition scheme for UEFI," so I set the BIOS in UEFI accordingly and set the Security Boot on "Disabled." Still the same, the F12 boot manager don't notice the SSD at all after install restart, only the USB HDD hence it recycles back to the Windows Setup screen over again.

TemuJin_69

One thing I don't see anymore after replacing the HDD with an SSD is that "Windows Boot Manager" in BIOS. I don't see it after Windows 10 reinstall either. Well, I suppose it's the SSD then that's the culprit.

But my question is--How can the BIOS recognize it and Wnidows 10 install on it but not make it "active" as a boot device?

TemuJin_69

Another bummer is that I accidentally cleaned the old HDD in DISKPART while trying to fix the SSD. I was planning on doing it anyway once I get the SSD working hence I bought a USB external case for it.

Initially, I put the SSD in the external case to see if it works as a drive. Windows 10 immediately recognized and installed the driver automatically. Then I swapped the HDD for the SSD in the laptop.

Now, I'll try to swap it again and see if that works to rule out the SSD for sure. I bought it from Amazon so I have no problem returning it.

BUT if you have any more info in fixing this, let me know because now I'm searching for the manufacturer's original driver if they have any.

TemuJin_69

Well, it looks it is the SSD--Silicon Power A55 256gb. It is not a good BOOT DEVICE primary SSD but a workable data storage disk. It's either a firmware issue or something else.

I reinstalled the original HDD and it worked just fine. Thanks for the help. 😄

brummyfan2

Yes, Amazon has a very good returns policy, so it's better to return and get a Samsung SSD, I have no experience with SPCC drives, so I am unable to figure out why the OS couldn't recognise it.

Huggotivi

TemuJin_69 do you know some tutorial for replacing original HDD with SSD in Acer Spin3?? I'd love to buy it, but I don't know if it's possible to change HHD to SSD. Original it's 1TB 5400 S-Ata.

Thanks!!

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