Cloned SSD Won't Boot? Make Cloned SSD Bootable [6 Ways]

Don't worry if the cloned SSD won't boot on Windows 11/10/8/7. On this page, you'll learn the symptoms and reasons of a cloned SSD that won't boot, how to make SSD bootable in 6 powerful ways, and some tips to ensure a successful SSD clone without boot issues.

Don't worry if you tried all means to upgrade and clone old HDD to SSD, but it turned out the cloned SSD won't boot on your computer. Here we've collected several effective ways that will make SSD bootable again in Windows 11/10/8/7.

Causes - Why SSD Won't Boot After Cloning

Understanding the various causes will help you identify your specific issue faster. Here we list common reasons; refer to them before troubleshooting, then take the corresponding measures to fix them.

Category	Specific Reason	Explaination
Boot Configuration Issues	BIOS/UEFI Settings Not Updated	The system still prioritizes the old hard drive as the primary boot device.
	Boot Mode Mismatch	Incompatibility between the source/target disk partition style (MBR/GPT) and the BIOS boot mode (Legacy/UEFI).
Cloning Process Problems	Cloning Software Limitations	Your cloning tool may not correctly handle system reserved partitions or EFI system partitions.
	Incomplete Clone Operation	Critical boot files are missing due to bad sectors, interrupted cloning, or software that skipped system partitions.
	4K Alignment Missing	The cloned SSD partitions lack proper 4K alignment, causing performance issues and potential boot failures.
System & Hardware Compatibility	Corrupted Boot Files	The MBR or GPT configuration data may have been damaged during cloning.
	Missing Drivers	Especially after switching to NVMe M.2 SSDs, the system might lack necessary storage controller drivers.
	Hardware Recognition Failure	The new SSD isn't properly detected by the motherboard, or there are connection interface issues.
Advanced Technical Causes	System Reserved Partition Not Cloned	Many cloning tools' default settings might exclude critical system reserved partitions.

🔥Further Reading: No Operating System Found After Cloning| Samsung SSD Clone Not Booting

Solutions - How to Fix Cloned SSD Won't Boot, Make SSD Bootable

The following methods are bound to resolve SSD not working after cloning for particular reasons. Follow the step-by-step guides to make the cloned SSD boot normally.

Method 1. Correctly Install the Cloned SSD with a SATA Cable

🎯Applicable Scenario: The new SSD isn't properly detected by the motherboard, or there are connection interface issues.

The disk clone software does not guarantee that the external disk can boot smoothly when using a USB cable. It is best to connect devices to a computer via SATA.

Step 1. Use a SATA cable instead of a USB connection cable.

Step 2. Install the SSD to the computer correctly via the SATA cable.

Step 3. Close the computer case and restart the computer.

If the SSD boots up, congratulations. Your problem gets resolved. If not, continue with Method 2. 

📌Extend reading: Clone SATA TO NVMe Won't Boot

Method 2. Change Boot Order in BIOS, Make SSD Bootable as the Boot Disk

🎯Applicable Scenario: The system still prioritizes the old hard drive as the primary boot device.

If the cloned SSD is not set to be the first boot option in BIOS, your computer won't boot from it. Therefore, you need to access BIOS and change the boot order to set SSD as the boot disk. Here are the steps:

Step 1. Restart the PC. When the startup screen appears, constantly press F2/F12/DEL to enter BIOS.

Step 2. Next, use the arrow key to choose the Boot tap and select the cloned SSD as the first boot option. 

Step 3. Press F10 to save and exit BIOS. And restart your computer. 

Wait patiently, and if your computer boots up, congratulations. The problem gets resolved. 

Note that, if your original boot disk is MBR, you'll need to set the partition active to make the SSD bootable after clone. And you can fix this issue in the next Method.

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Method 3.  Fix Boot Mode Conflict

🎯Applicable Scenario: MBR/GPT partition style doesn't match BIOS Legacy/UEFI mode

Diagnostic Steps:

• Press "Windows + R", type diskmgmt.msc
• Right-click disk > Properties > Volumes
• Check Partition Style: MBR (for Legacy) or GPT (for UEFI)
• Enter BIOS to verify the current boot mode

Conversion Methods:

• GPT to MBR: Use MBR2GPT.exe in Windows PE environment
• MBR to GPT: Backup data and use Disk Management conversion tool

Method 4. Repair Boot Files

🎯Applicable Scenario: Corrupted MBR or BCD configuration

Command Line Repair:

• Boot from Windows installation USB
• Press Shift + F10 to open Command Prompt
• Execute these commands sequentially:

bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /scanos
bootrec /rebuildbcd

Method 5. Re-Clone HDD to SSD

🎯Applicable Scenario: Critical boot files are missing due to bad sectors, interrupted cloning, or software that skipped system partitions. The cloning tool was correctly handle system reserved partitions or EFI system partitions. The cloned SSD partitions lack proper 4K alignment.

An incomplete clone or clone failure will cause the cloned SSD to not boot. Besides, if you haven't cloned the boot partition, the cloned hard drive will not be able to boot either.

Reliable disk cloning software - EaseUS Disk Copy can re-execute the disk cloning process, guaranteeing you the cloned hard disk bootable after the HDD to SSD clone.

Key Features of EaseUS Disk Copy

• Support smart and automatic disk layout.
• Support clone USB, external hard drive, HDD, and SSD.
• Compatible with almost all types and brands of HDDs and SSDs.
• Create a Portable USB to take your Windows anywhere.
• Automatically resize partitions while cloning.
• Cloning hard drive with bad sectors.
• Supports sector-by-sector cloning.

Prior Notice:

• The "Sector by sector copy" asks the size of your destination disk to be at least equal to or larger than that of the source disk. Leave this feature unchecked if you wish to clone a larger hard disk to a smaller hard disk.
• All data on the destination disk will be completely erased, so take care.

Step 1. To start copying/cloning an entire disk to another, choose this disk as the source disk under "Disk Mode" and click "Next".

Step 2. Choose the other disk as the destination disk.

Step 3. Check the disk layout of the two disks. You can manage the disk layout of the destination disk by selecting "Autofit the disk", "Copy as the source" or "Edit disk layout". 

• "Autofit the disk" makes some changes by default on the destination disk layout so that it can work at its best status.
• "Copy as the source"does not change anything on destination disk and the layout is the same as source disk.
• "Edit disk layout" allows you to manually resize/move partition layout on this destination disk.

Tick the "Check the option if the target is SSD" option to put your SSD in its best performance.

A message now appears, warning you that data will be lost. Please confirm this message by clicking "OK" and then click "Next".

Step 4. Click "Proceed" to officially execute the task.

After this, you may:

• Repeat Method 1 and Method 2 to install the cloned SSD correctly into your computer and set it as the boot drive.
• Then, reboot the PC, and the SSD will boot up successfully.

Method 6. Use Windows Installation Media

🎯Applicable Scenario: Coning tools' default settings might exclude critical system reserved partitions.

Create Boot Repair Disk

• Download Windows Media Creation Tool
• Prepare 8GB+ USB drive
• Create bootable installation media
• Use for startup repair and command-line operations

Reboot PC > Press F2/F8/Del to enter BIOS > Set PC to boot from EaseUS bootable Disk > Reboot PC. Then set cloned SSD as the boot drive, and set PC bbot from the cloned SSD.

After this, your computer should be able to boot up from the cloned SSD and you can make use of all cloned files on the new disk again.

Method 7. Boot Into Safe Mode

If you have tried all the ways above, and none of them works, another way you can try is to boot into Safe Mode, which is very effective according to many users with the same issues. Now, let's see how to do it with steps:

Step 1. If you have both the source disk and cloned SSD connected to your computer, disconnect the source disk.

Step 2. Boot into the Safe Mode. (Specific Step: Restart your computer multiple times until the Automatic Repair shows up, then select Advanced Option to enter winPE. Then click Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart > Enable Safe Mode.)

Step 3. Once it boots in Safe Mode, just restart again to boot in Normal Mode. Now the problem should be fixed now.

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Stay Calm If Cloned SSD Won't Boot, Follow Fixes to Make SSD Bootable

On this page, we collected 6 reliable methods that work to help you fix the cloned SSD won't boot error. To make the cloned SSD bootable again, which method is the best?

📖Here is Editor's Pick:

1. Follow Method 1 and Method 2 to correctly install SSD and set it as a boot drive.
2. If the OS disk was MBR, follow Method 3 to set the SSD OS drive as active.
3. After this, your computer should be able to boot up from the new SSD now.
4. If it's still not working, re-do the clone with EaseUS Disk Copy.

FAQ on Cloned SSD Won't Boot

1. Will a cloned disk be bootable?

If you have made an image backup of your entire hard drive, you can clone the drive to another one, and it will be bootable. Remember that you need to ensure the destination disk is the same size or larger than the source disk. If you only clone a drive partition containing your operating system, it probably won't be bootable unless you use special software or perform additional steps.

2. How do I make my SSD bootable after cloning?

You need to do a few things to make your SSD bootable after cloning. Restart your PC, and press the key that opens the boot-device selection menu for your computer. Select the drive you want to boot from, which in this case is probably your SSD. If your BIOS does not have such a menu, check its documentation to see which key to press. Once you've selected the drive, it should boot from your SSD.