11/23/20 – Strange USB Boot problem that I’m thinking is Windows oriented

Anonymous
2020-11-23T22:22:39+00:00

Something I’ve always done over the years is run weekly 100% mirror image bootable backup clones of the C-drive in my ThinkPad laptops…using spare USB cable connected SSD hard drives.  [ connect the drive, run ‘Acronis True Image’ cloning software that I use, done ]

From time to time I’d boot the laptop from a USB backup drive, always worked perfectly…but mostly I’d just make the weekly backups for peace of mind in case the C-drive should ever fail.

But discovered a pesky little problem as I’ve been setting up a new ThinkPad P52 to replace my older P51.  After I finished setting up the new P52 C-drive, I cloned it to a USB attached hard drive like I’ve done on the P51 a couple hundred times…and then just to be sure it worked, tried to boot the P52 back from the cloned USB attached drive.

Failed…blue screen error message: “Inaccessible Boot Device”.

TROUBLE SHOOTING SUMMARY SO FAR:

The P52 ThinkPad boots up normally / works perfectly from its internal C-drive.

All USB flash drives and/or USB cabled hard drives that I plug in all operate normally.

The P52 laptop sees them all, adds them to the list of other drives in the laptop (c, d, e, f, etc.).

I can read/ write to them business as usual, click open / look at content inside normally.

My cloning software works like always because I’ve taken cloned copies and physically installed them inside the laptop as the internal C-drive and the laptop comes right up normally / works perfectly, etc.  I simply cannot BOOT FROM a USB connected clone any longer.

I’ve spent hours over a few days Internet searching, trying this, trying that, no help.

I’ve tried different SSD hard drives, different cables, different USB ports, no help.

Ran a few check-disk kinds of scans and the SSD’s are rock solid as always.

Ensured all Lenovo ThinkPad updates are downloaded and installed.

Ensured all Windows updates are downloaded and installed.

Then started trying the approach of uninstalling Windows updates one at a time but it’s very time consuming and several of the "security related Win updates" wouldn’t let me uninstall them.

So I decided to go back and ensure everything sill worked OK on the original P51, and to my surprise it fails the same way.  Been quite a while since I actually did a USB Boot on the original P51 so I assume something must have changed during the past several months and I’m thinking the Win 10 Pro software is the common denominator.

Thought I’d check here with the Brain Trust and see if anyone might know of a specific Win 10 related finding / fix for this situation…thanks a lot in advance.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Devices and drivers

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-11-29T21:58:58+00:00

    Hi,

    The free version of WinToUSB has some glitches in the way it clones.. Most of the problem is that the features that might resolve the problem do not work in the free edition.. It has a major saving grace though, which is the Convert\Unconvert to "Windows  To Go"..

    This tool may be what actually works best for you.. If you do not like the way it clones, you can still clone with Acronis and then use the conversion tool to make the Acronis clone bootable on the USB SSD.. If you want to then move the USB SSD to a internal drive you can simply switch it as is, or convert it back to it's original state..

    I am currently typing on a OS that was converted to Windows To Go on the USB SSD drive, then moved to internal. It booted right up.. Both internal and external..

    One thing I would suggest though, is that you create an actual image with Acronis and store it on a different drive.. The images are considerably smaller than the used space on the drive.. They can be copied\pasted like any other file.. Just so you have a fall back should something go haywire long the line..

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-11-29T16:13:16+00:00

    Good gracious, don't even think about worrying about a delay, LOL...you are a mountain of knowledge and it is very much appreciated.

    When I got myself set up to start full cloning to SSD's a few years ago, I bought drives and a pair of USB>SSD cables to ensure I'd have a backup cable...used them interchangeably.

    I didn't bite on the AOMEI as it was $50, I never really got an absolute sense it would do the job, and the FAQ's seem riddled with requirements to go into the Registry and make changes, which I won't risk doing for something like this.

    I was able to cancel Acronis 2021, no problem / no money outlay there.

    So if I'm understanding correctly, the 'WinToUSB' product is the answer?

    If it'll make a full cloned copy of my C-drive to a USB connected SSD...(like I can currently do with Acronis)...AND then also boot my laptop from same USB connection, its a no brainer and I'll buy it in a heartbeat...just looking for your confirmation that my understanding is correct?

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-11-29T15:44:14+00:00

    Hi,

    Sorry for the delay... Things came up.. The WinToUSB will only clone Win 10 Home with the free version..

    I had images of the Home version, but suddenly it decided to upgrade to the new 19042 October 2020 build.. About a 3 hour delay..

    Anyway... The WinToUSB cloned and booted perfectly to the USB SSD... It does not appear to be a "Windows To Go" type of thing either... The only drawback I can see is that it requires you Clone the entire drive.. It may be the paid version has more options.. I think it is $30 for 2 PCs..

    I do not know if the Aomei will do what you need for sure or not.. It repeatedly mentions bootable clones, but I found nothing specifically about bootable external drives... It is currently on special for 60% off though. Unfortunately the license is for only 1 PC.. I'm not sure what you would do about that..

    The EaseUs Todo Backup will do what you need, bit is $30 for a one year subscription and $60 for a lifetime license for 1 PC.. They are currently offering 20% off..

    I know that the EaseUS will breate a bootable CD or flash drive so you could use it on multiple machines that way.. I would think the Aomei would have something like as well, but I don't know for sure..

    One advantage of the WinToUsb is that it will convert another Clone to bootable, but I don't know if that would be better that simply cloning with the WinToUSB or not..

    I wish I could figure out how you managed to end up with a bootable USB SSD using True Image 2016.. Everything I have found suggests that is not possible.. The only thing I can think is that something somehow caused the USB SSD to appear as a internal or acceptable portable drive..

    Have you always used the same connector cable to the USB SSD ? Just grabbing at straws here..

    EDIT... The WinToUSB does in fact state that the clones are created as a "Windows To Go Workspace", but I don't think that really matters.. There is a included tool the switches back and forth is desired..

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-11-29T00:31:25+00:00

    Hi,

    I was checking into that last night and found as you did.. You need to purchase it to find out if it does what you want.. They make it sound good, but do not specifically anything about booting a USB HDD\SSD.. Just ending up with a "Bootable Drive".. I think they mentioned a 90 day money back guarantee, but I checked out several and may have them mixed up..

    I have found nothing in the way of a Windows Command to set the USB SSD as bootable..

    I am currently checking out something called WinToUSB Free Version..

    It can convert most any external drive to the equivalent of the "Windows To Go", which is a Windows feature for portable drives.. It is currently only available through the Enterprise versions of Windows.. It did convert a unbootable Acronis image on the USB SSD to being bootable.. I did get a "Windows To Go' popup warning not to unplug the drive, but only the first time.. I was able to connect the drive internally and it booted normally..

    This program is supposed to make clones as well, but I haven't checked that out yet.. I'm about to give it a try..

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-11-28T23:54:14+00:00

    Ran across this…”sounds like” its claiming to do what we’ve been discussing.

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………..

    How to Create Windows 10 Bootable Clone for Free?

    < snip >

    ”…This article is written for users who are bothered Windows 10 clone not bootable and want to create bootable clone in Windows 10 effortlessly. Learn more below…”

    https://www.ubackup.com/clone/bootable-clone-windows-10.html

    [ The Product is AOMEI ]

    I downloaded the Free download of the “Backupper Standard”…but turns out the free version doesn’t do the ‘Clone’ operation…have to upgrade to the Pro version for $50.

    On its face, it seemed fairly impressive, but I’d hate to spend $50 and find out it doesn’t do what we’re discussing.

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