Windows 7 Trouble booting windows 7 when extra new SSD connected

[SWKaizer]

Have just today wiped my RAID 0 array and secure erased both my OCZ agilty 3 SSD's, decided to not run in RAID again (kinda unstablke at times) so have reinstalled Windows 7 64-bit on a single SSD (only had one hooked up during install to prevent windows 7 install partitions getting split between drives), everything worked great, i loaded windows, added my 1TB HDD and also using disk manager added my second OCZ drive (initialized and quick formatted it), this shows up fine in 'Computer' menu with a drive letter assigned. I have followed the recommended SSD tuning steps in this link i found (so i was up to date haha)...
12 Things You Must Do When Running a Solid State Drive in Windows 7

I actually have left the page file active on my C: SSD since i have a ton of free space so don't feel the need for deleting it, anybody who knows have an opinion on that??? Should i not have it running?

The problem i have now is when i restart windows the windows boot fails (get error msg 'ctrl+alt+del to reboot' ) but as soon as i disconnect the second SSD drive (which is currently empty) it boots absolutely fine. Have been into the bios a bunch and couldn't find anything to specify what particular drive to boot off first, it just lists the 2 different hard drives i have (ssd and hdd) as well as removal disk and CD rom obv. I don't want to keep my computer case open and have to disconnect / reconnect the extra SSD every time obv, any tips on what could be causing this would greatly appreciated, so thx in advance

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you've taken some proactive steps in optimizing your system with the SSD tuning guide and are experiencing an issue related to your boot process when both SSDs are connected. Let's address the problems you are facing:

Issue 1: Windows Boot Failure with Second SSD Connected​

The fact that your system boots successfully when the second SSD is disconnected suggests that the problem lies with the boot configuration or drive priorities set in your system. The additional SSD might be causing conflicts during the boot process. Here's what you can do to troubleshoot this:

1. Check Boot Order in BIOS:
   • Enter your BIOS settings during startup (usually by pressing a key like F2, F10, or DEL).
   • Look for the boot order or boot priority settings.
   • Ensure that your primary SSD (the one with the Windows installation) is set as the first boot device.
   • Save the changes and restart to see if this resolves the issue.
   []Disconnect the Secondary SSD:
   • If you haven't already, disconnect the second SSD, then boot into Windows.
   • Once in Windows, reconnect the second SSD and check Disk Management to ensure it's detected.
   []Check for Windows Boot Manager:
   • In some cases, Windows Boot Manager might be attempting to load from the secondary SSD.
   • Use the Command Prompt in Windows to check and correct the boot configuration if needed.

Let's proceed step by step to resolve the boot issue.

Issue 2: Page File on SSD​

Regarding the page file on your SSD, having it on the SSD doesn't necessarily harm the drive, especially if you have ample free space. It can even improve system performance. However, it does contribute to write cycles on the SSD, which could affect its lifespan slightly over time. If you have enough RAM (8GB or more), you may consider reducing the page file size or moving it to your HDD to reduce wear on the SSD. After addressing the boot issue, we can focus on optimizing the page file setup if needed. Let's start with checking the BIOS settings and boot order to ensure the correct drive is selected for booting. If you encounter any challenges during this process, feel free to provide more details for further assistance.