Secure Erase broke my Windows installation, please help

[Basman]

I am using a Maximus Hero VI. I have two SSD's on my computer, a Samsung 840 EVO, and a Samsung 830 128GB. The 840 holds my Windows install, the 830 is for storage.

I wanted to clear the 830 with Secure Erase (SE). After searching through Asus' support pages, I found a list of compatible SSD's. The 830 128GB is on that list. I started the software from the BIOS, and selected the 830 from the list of available SSD's (they were clearly labeled 830 and 840 EVO in the Secure Erase menu, no way I selected the wrong one). The status of the SSD was frozen, and SE needed to restart the computer. After a restart, both SSD's showed up as Ready in SE. I selected the 830 again, and started the erase procedure. At the bottom of the screen, a progress bar appeared. After filling up not even 5% of the bar, the program claimed to be done.

I restarted the computer, and the computer refused to start Windows, going straight to the BIOS. I checked the boot order, and the 840 was set as the first choice. I put in the Windows 7 DVD, and went into repair mode to do some research.
At the moment, the 840 is still alive, detected, and my Windows install is on it. My 830 is seen by the Windows Install DVD as unallocated space. I have disabled all boot options in the BIOS except for the 840. But the computer still refuses to boot into Windows 7. And no, the 840 contents have not been erased. I can still browse through the files on it.

What the heck do I do now? How do I boot back into Windows?

[Myk_SilentShado]

You should be able to load the recovery console that *should* repair your missing bootloader. if that fails, go into repir console again, you'll need the command prompt one and type recboot /fixmbr

[Arne_Saknussemm]

Did you have both disks connected when installing windows? Sounds like the boot partition was placed on the 830.

Can't you do a repair install with the win 7 disk...something like that.... http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixtheproblem/ht/new-partition-boot-sector-windows.htm

EDIT:^ yeah there you go....what Myk said

When you install Windows you should only have the target drive connected...no others.

[HiVizMan]

Arne is correct, sadly Windows is not very discriminate where it places the boot sector when doing an OS install. It is for that reason that I strongly recommend that folks do their OS install with only the drive they wish the OS to be installed to fitted.

OP you did nothing wrong mate. It is the dum way that Microsoft OS installs itself.

[Henkenator68NL]

Simple solution:
Use the program Acronis True Image 2013 (you can buy it online)
Create a rescue / boot DVD
Remove all other HDD's etc
Connect 1 SDD
Boot, select dvd player as boot device
Then let Acronis bootloader start
In the options you can find the secure erase tool
Secure erase the SSD
After that reboot, the SSD is operational again!
If you have more SDD's repeat these steps

Certain is works - as a friend of mine had the exact same problem with the Samsung SSD yesterday, and its fixed with acronis !

[Basman]

Thanks for the help guys. What I did:

- use Ubuntu Live USB to rescue files from previous install on the 840
- disconnect all drives other than the 840
- reinstall

Sorry Asus for blaming you, it was Microsoft's fault. Next time, I hope MS gives me a little courtesy lick after ****ing me over. 😄