Delete EFI partition on external drive.

Anonymous
2024-06-18T13:31:49+00:00

I've been having problems regarding SSD cloning. Macrium have been very helpful. It appears that I'm booting from the 2 installed internal hard drives (!?!).

It was working OK for ages but obviously something subsequently has happened.

It was recommended I clone to an external drive.

Fortunately I had a another SDD that I could use. I reformatted this and connected externally . Checked with file folder that it could be read and was empty. All good.

Used Macrium to clone but was concerned that if supposedly booting form 2 internal drives, what am I copying, and would it work?

It didn't!

Both drives had 3 partitions; An EFI System partition (100MB), Windows 11 Home partition (465 GB) and a Recovery Partition ((610MB)

To cut long story short, the external drive now consists of 2 partitions, The EFI partition and an unallocated partition.

The external SDD is no accessible !!. I get the message "You currently don't have permission to access this folder" and continuing, "You have been denied access to this folder" " to gain access to this folder you will have to use the security tab"

Don't understand what to do next.

Using Disk Management and right clicking on greyed out EFI partition gives a greyed out window

Can anyone help in getting this 'external' drive accessible again ?

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Recovery and backup

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-07-07T09:50:36+00:00

    Hi Remesh,

    Restored MSI M390 (original disk 1) to Desktop. Having reviewed cloning software looks like I have to make a decision on which to purchase. All are free to download, install and setup but soon as you want to clone, diverted to payment page. At one time you could trial (like Macrium). Do you know of any trial versions available ? or what would you recommend to purchase?

    Also on boot, no longer get option in boot manager to boot from (freshly) installed MSI (even if it would fail). System configuration just shows Samsung (disk 0). So remains booting from Samsung.

    Image

    Can I get system config/boot manager to 'see' MSI ??

    *** EDIT *** Success !. Managed to run Macrium Free. Have cloned Disc 0 (Samsung) to Disc 1 (MSI M390) successfully. However, when I remove Disc 0. System fails to boot with "Inaccessible Boot Device". Thus still booting from Samsung.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-07-04T15:57:55+00:00

    I’ve tried macrium I’m but it hung up looking for activation code (?). Must of tried pre troubles since registered blocked from (another) trial. I’ll check out others. Thanks

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  3. Ramesh 181.2K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2024-07-04T14:52:41+00:00

    Macrium Reflect 30-day Trial edition might do it. Or, please check the suggestions here.

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-07-04T14:06:15+00:00

    Big problem ! Macrium Reflect, which I used the free edition discontinued beginning 2024. Used once in a blue moon so don't want to purchase if I can help it. Pricing is not cheap either monthly or lifetime. Are you aware of any cloning that is FREE to use? They all seem to say yes but are free to download but when come to physically start cloning your sent to a purchase page. Reviewed options of different packages with mixed feedback. Don't want to make expenditure on ****

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  5. Ramesh 181.2K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2024-07-04T09:56:42+00:00

    The reason for zero response from me in last few days is days is because not been feeling well. A lot better now.

    I've taken your advice and removed Drive 1 (MS) M390) and, lo and behold, the system has booted Drive 0 (Samsung EVO).

    If it did, you recommended to clone Disk 0 to Disk 1 and then detach Disk 0. That will be my next task.

    Hi majestic,

    Glad to hear that.

    Having detached the Samsung you recommend that this is used as an external cloned device rather than internal ?

    I think it would be better to disconnect it and use it as an external device.

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