topic Re: windows will not boot with new external hard drive VGC-3S in PCs & Accessories

windows will not boot with new external hard drive VGC-3S

chissers — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 16:43:01 GMT

I cannot get Windows to boot up with my external hard drive connected.
I have looked at BIOS but there is not the option to disable this in BIOS.

Any thoughts?

Re: windows will not boot with new external hard drive VGC-3S

Blencogo — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:29:28 GMT

Hi chissers and welcome.

I'm not quite sure what you mean.

Is the Windows operating system on the external drive? Are you trying to boot from the external drive?
Or are you trying to boot normally from the internal HDD but it will not boot when the USB cable is connected?

Re: windows will not boot with new external hard drive VGC-3S

chissers — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:42:06 GMT

Thanks.
I am trying to boot normally from the internal HDD but it will not boot when the USB cable from the external harddrive is connected.Instead I have to unplug the external hard drive each time I boot up(if I remember).
Chisser

Re: windows will not boot with new external hard drive VGC-3S

Blencogo — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:09:45 GMT

That is odd - I can only guess that it is recognising it as a bootable drive.

What boot order is shown in the BIOS?

Re: windows will not boot with new external hard drive VGC-3S

chissers — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:23:52 GMT

without the hard drive attached it says WDC WD 2550BB first which I guess is the PC's hard drive then second is the DVD/CD drive

with the external hard drive attached a different screen appears but with the same order

Thanks

Re: windows will not boot with new external hard drive VGC-3S

Blencogo — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:46:26 GMT

The boot order in the BIOS would normally be: -

1. USB Floppy Drive
2. DVD/CD-ROM
3. HDD - the Vaio's hard drive

I presume the BIOS is thinking there is a USB Floppy connected - this is probably your external hard drive.

Try changing the boot order in the BIOS to: -

1. DVD/CD-ROM
2. HDD
3. USB

This should fix your problem and you should be able to boot with the USB connected. You will not be able to boot from a floppy disc - but I doubt if you would ever want to!!