Aspire 5 laptop to replace existing 128GB one, Boot Manager empty

Uncle_Monty

Bought a new 1TB SSD and installed on an Aspire 5 laptop to replace existing 128GB one.

Created a bootable Win11 USB on MS website.

Went into bios to enable F12 boot menu but no options are listed when I hit F12.

USB is inserted and SSD is recognised in bios.

Read through a stack of articles on here and tried disabling secure boot but still get the same result.

Pics attached and any help appreciated.

[Edited the thread to add issue detail]

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StevenGen

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/685631/boot-manager-empty

If the new M.2 SSD drive is the Samsung 1TB 980 SSD then its the wrong M.2 drive for your A515-43 laptop, as this laptop will never ever utilize the PCIe4x4 read/write speeds of the 980 M.2 drive, the A515-43 has an interface of PCIe3x2 and a more suitable 1TB M.2 SSD drive for this laptop is the WD SN530 NVMe range of M.2 drives.

Also, you don't need to disable "Secure Boot" or anything like that. Whenever you upgrade an M.2 SSD boot drive to another and a larger M.2 SSD boot drive (and your laptop only has a 1x M.2 SSD like your A515-43 laptop has) the best option is to Clone the old boot drive to the new 1TB SSD with buying a new external SSD M.2 to USB-C case and use that to clone the existing OS onto the new M.2 SSD drive with and as youhave the Samsung 980 M.2, use the Samsung Data Migration software to clone the new 1TB Samsung drive, as its a very easy task to do and works perfectly.

Use this type of adaptor its only US $17.50.

StevenGen

The PCIe 3x4 WD M.2 Blue SN570 is a good drive as is the Acer M.2 drive, either of these two M.2 drives will be more suitable than a PCIe4x4. .

Puraw

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/685631/boot-manager-empty

Put back the old 128GB SSD and see if BIOS is OK. Either the PCIe socket you are using is not NVMe M.2 compatible for the Samsung EVO 970 SSD (I don't know your laptop model) or you did not initialize the Samsung 970 as GPT, Simple Volume with a drive letter (C:\) with Windows11 Disk Manager.

StevenGen

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/685631/boot-manager-empty

If the new M.2 SSD drive is the Samsung 1TB 980 SSD then its the wrong M.2 drive for your A515-43 laptop, as this laptop will never ever utilize the PCIe4x4 read/write speeds of the 980 M.2 drive, the A515-43 has an interface of PCIe3x2 and a more suitable 1TB M.2 SSD drive for this laptop is the WD SN530 NVMe range of M.2 drives.

Also, you don't need to disable "Secure Boot" or anything like that. Whenever you upgrade an M.2 SSD boot drive to another and a larger M.2 SSD boot drive (and your laptop only has a 1x M.2 SSD like your A515-43 laptop has) the best option is to Clone the old boot drive to the new 1TB SSD with buying a new external SSD M.2 to USB-C case and use that to clone the existing OS onto the new M.2 SSD drive with and as youhave the Samsung 980 M.2, use the Samsung Data Migration software to clone the new 1TB Samsung drive, as its a very easy task to do and works perfectly.

Use this type of adaptor its only US $17.50.

Uncle_Monty

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1203806#Comment_1203806

this is very clear and helpful - thanks a lot. It looks like the WD SN530 is quite pricey compared to the Samsung, so would one of these work instead?

Does 'Gen3' equate to the 'PCIe3' you mention in your post?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09HKDQ1RN/ref%3Dox_sc_act_title_2?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Acer-FA100-Interface-Internal-Technology/dp/B08Z33H1C3/ref%3Dasc_df_B08Z33H1C3/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=546914260534&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15744523989630110855&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9009658&hvtargid=pla-1429149132438&th=1

I found this case too - let me know if it would work:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0892BK5L6/ref%3Dox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A41S1C1L96T2O&psc=1

Uncle_Monty

thanks for the reply - i do not think it's a bios issue based on the other reply below - looks like SSD is wrong type so I will replace it.

StevenGen

The PCIe 3x4 WD M.2 Blue SN570 is a good drive as is the Acer M.2 drive, either of these two M.2 drives will be more suitable than a PCIe4x4. .

Uncle_Monty

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1204016#Comment_1204016

great. Much appreciated!

Uncle_Monty

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1204016#Comment_1204016

I have the new SSD in the caddy. I downloaded Clonezilla and extracted the files to the SSD (which I first had to initialise and format in exFAT before my laptop would see it). I then followed the instructions to boot Clonezilla from the external SSD here (it said you could boot from SSD by following same process as booting from USB): https://clonezilla.org/liveusb.php

Now I go to BIOS to try and boot from the SSD but it doesn't seem to be working. I hit F12 and the only option I see is Windows Boot Manager, but when i select it it just takes me to regular Windows.

Any idea what's going on?

Uncle_Monty

Please ignore - issue solved - found a different application and managed to clone it fine. Thanks for all the help!