Precision 3630 lists no drives!

Question

I'm about to go crazy. I've reloaded my Precision 3630 with a fresh Windows 10 install but after it reloads, it will not boot! I've tried UEFI and Legacy and installed them in different ways about 10 times. I've played with all the settings I could find and from recommendations I found in this forum. Turning on settings like Secure Boot, AGHI, RAID, etc... No luck!

In the BOIS, I can see my drive listed in SATA section, but it is not listed in the boot order and I cannot add it. I only have options to boot from NIC, USB or Diskette Drive. I even tried using an NVMe drive. That loaded right up...but no way to boot to it and it's also not listed in the boot order options.

I can also completely install Windows 10 off a USB but when it's done it comes up saying it cannot find a boot drive. I can get it to boot up windows IF I leave the USB in the drive. What is going on?? Why isn't my drive seen in the BIOS boot order? I've never seen this before.

I've also updated to the latest BIOS version. Maybe that messed up it up?

Mary G · Accepted Answer

You did not install windows to the actual internal boot drive. You skipped the step of using the Media Creation file to make the bootable usb drive. See directions for installing windows on another computer--

Download Windows 10 (microsoft.com)

Tesla1856 · Answer

For now, connect only the drive you wish to use as your C-Drive. A known-good SSD is a good candidate. It should be completely blank, with no existing OEM partitions.

The computer should be able to pass ePSA Diagnostics (outside of Windows). Connected it to a good UPS-battery (like APC with AVR).

Set BIOS to UEFI and AHCI (Say NO to RAID) . Since you will load with authentic Microsoft OS, it should be OK to also enable SecureBoot now.

Create your flash-drive with Media Creation Tool for Windows 10 Pro 64-bit from Microsoft.com . Do First-Time-Setup. Just Microsoft drivers (from local Windows-cache or Windows-Update). No Intel-RST loaded ever. No SupportAssist. No Dell software or extra Processes and Services. No heavy Dell driver-suites (keep it lean).

After it's working, drop by nvidia.com and get a WHQL (DCH) Studio driver ... or similar from AMD.com .

Only takes about 60 minutes total. If you do it properly, it will setup "Windows Boot Manager" and automatically use it to boot the computer from the C-Drive.

mijohhnst · Answer

Thank you both for the responses.  I'll give your suggestions a shot and get back to you on what I found.

mijohhnst · Answer

Mary G was right.  I was using a Windows 10 image that I saved a long time ago and had installed another machine with.  I used the tool she recommended, made a bootable USB and it started right up with UEFI enabled.  Thank you all for the support!

Sherif Ghost · Answer

I have downloaded new windows 10 from Microsoft  After restart I have massage that no drive boot Can you send me the method of that  By picture

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Precision 3630 lists no drives!

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