My Dell XPS 8500 died. Replaced it with refurbished Dell Optiplex 9020. So far, I like it but I am heart broken at the loss of my Software, music and personnel stuff.
I am trying to use Aomei Backupper to clone the C: partition so I can boot the old HDD and get some of my stuff. So far it has not worked. I attach the old HDD as the second HDD but with the second drive attached, the computer will not boot. It very briefly flashes the logo and then goes black and stays that way.
I suspected the problem was probably caused by the BIOS. But I simply do not see anything wrong in the BIOS. It shows the second drive. Instructions say the original HDD should boot first and this is the sequence shown.
I have run out of things to try. I am hoping some of you can help.
#1. "RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached" In response to Toots (Reply # 0)
Try pressing F8 at bootup to see if the "Advanced Boot Options screen" will open, If so, select the correct drive - the new one in your new computer.
If your Optiplex bootup screen is a Dell graphic, you will have to go into the BIOS/UEFI and change the boot up setting to information and not the graphic.
I hope it's this simple. Good luck.
OR, maybe, try connecting the old drive after you already have the Optiplex up and running.
#3. "RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached" In response to Toots (Reply # 2)
It has been awhile since I have worked on BIOS problems and frankly I chickened out. Nothing I tried did any good. The Boot sequence is set for Legacy not UEFI. It showed the second HDD as first boot. I tried and tried and was not capable of changing the order.
#4. "RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached" In response to Toots (Reply # 3)
Try my second suggestion above - Remove the old drive. Boot up the new computer and then try connecting the old drive, If it's recognized, you should be able to transfer what you want transferred.
#9. "RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached" In response to Toots (Reply # 6)
No, for now forget about the BIOS.
Pressing F8 (the Function 8 key), maybe repeatedly, at bootup with the old drive connected might open the "Advanced Boot Options screen". If it does, then you can up or down arrow to the new hard drive to select it and it should boot.
It's possible that a key other than f8 could be used by Dell to access the "Advanced Boot Options screen". Maybe Google it, if F8 doesn't work.
If this should work, you will most likely have to continue doing an F8 boot for as long as you have the old drive attached after shutdown, or reboot, say for updates requiring a reboot.
#10. "RE: Computer won't boot with second HDD attached" In response to Toots (Reply # 8)
Maybe try disconnecting the new drive and plugging in the old drive in its place. If it should boot, you can copy the things you want to keep onto a thumb drive, or other media.
Once saved, shut down and disconnect the old hard drive, reconnect the new drive, and reboot and then copy the thumb drive.
