Dual Boot Problem - Sometimes

I've had several issues with my USB connected NVME Win 11. I'm now convinced previous posted problems really relate to this intermittent boot problem.
I have a dual boot with the internal OEM NVME SSD and the external drive - both Win 11 Pro. The problem has been around when I first tried using the external SSD last year. The external SSD had been installed in another dual boot computer and never had a boot problem.

In this computer, a Dell Inspiron 16 5630 laptop, when I try to boot from the external occasionally it will boot on the first attempt but most times it fails with notice that it needs repaired (see attached screenshot) and takes multiple attempts before it boots. Once it does boot everything works. I've cleared and created the BCD Boot multiple times, by command line, EasyBCD and the fix Boot problems in Macrium Reflect all with the same boot problem. When it boots and, for example it requires a reboot because of a Windows update its back to the boot problem. The PC has USB 3.2 and USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports and the problem is on both.

My thought its a BIOS problem. Its had 4 BIOS updates (just had a new BIOS update today) with no change. I've tried all the available BIOS boot options but none change the boot problem. I have an internal Dell contact but want to confirm it appears to be a Dell problem first.

please boot in to the BIOS and in the boot menu just change the boot order.
you should have two boot entries listed in the boot menu.

ie. what is first on the boot list make second
and what is now second on the boot list make first
save the boot list then save and exit the BIOS.

restart and see if they same error appears.
best of luck, Steve ..

XxXxX said:

please boot in to the BIOS and in the boot menu just change the boot order.
you should have two boot entries listed in the boot menu.

ie. what is first on the boot list make second
and what is now second on the boot list make first
save the boot list then save and exit the BIOS.

restart and see if they same error appears.
best of luck, Steve ..

Click to expand...

The listed boot in the BIOS is (1) Windows boot manager and (2) the internal drive. The external drive is never listed that I've seen. The Windows boot manager is needed. The Dell BIOS seems more limited than say the BIOS in a MSI or ASUS motherboard that lists all devices and more options.

I've cleared the Boot menu (deleted entries) restarted and the BIOS just relists (detects?) the same two.

I do some support on the Dell community help forums (I'm one of the "rockstars") and when there are boot problems the Windows boot manager not being listed or not first is the problem on many.

have you reset the TPM to factory defaults via the BIOS as this can affect boot.
also when i had a problem with the boot menu on a duel boot system i had to clear the MOK and reset that to system defaults.

but i hasten to add i stopped duel booting because of boot errors and moved everything over to VM.
there worth a shot to see if the problem is rectifiable.
best of luck, Steve ..

Thanks Steve. I have reset the BIOS and set it back to factory defaults - no help. The external SSD was the OS disc from my closed recording studio and contains apps that are no longer available to install, so a complete reinstall is not an option. But that is not what I'm looking for.

I'm really looking comments on whether or not I'm correct on assuming it's a Dell BIOS issue.

lastly have you checked the drive manufactures site for any firmware updates as there was a problem with them using Windows 11 24H2 due to firmware issues on NVMe M2 type SSD's.

best of luck, Steve ..

XxXxX said:

lastly have you checked the drive manufactures site for any firmware updates as there was a problem with them using Windows 11 24H2 due to firmware issues on NVMe M2 type SSD's.

best of luck, Steve ..

Click to expand...

I have spent untold hours with this, including the many suggestions from knowledgeable people on this forum. The problem existed before 24H2. There was no dual boot problem on the previous PC only with this 2024 era Dell, which leads me to believe the BIOS is the issue.

Anyone agree or disagree with me?