How to Fix “No Boot Device Found” Error on Windows PC (Step-by-Step Guide)

🖥️ How to Solve the “No Boot Device Found” Error When Booting a Windows PC

Few things are more frustrating than powering on your Windows PC only to be greeted with the ominous message: “No Boot Device Found” or “No Bootable Device – Insert Boot Disk and Press Any Key.” Don’t panic — this doesn’t necessarily mean your PC is dead. This issue is often fixable with a few troubleshooting steps. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the most common causes and how to solve them.

🔍 What Does “No Boot Device Found” Mean?

When your PC starts up, the BIOS/UEFI looks for a bootable device (usually your hard drive or SSD) that contains the Windows operating system. If it can’t find one, it throws this error.

🛠️ Common Causes

  1. 🔌 Loose or Disconnected Drive Cables

  2. ⚙️ Incorrect Boot Order in BIOS

  3. 💽 Corrupted Boot Sector or Partition Table

  4. ❌ Damaged or Failing Drive

  5. 🧼 Recent OS/BIOS Update or Drive Swap

✅ How to Fix “No Boot Device Found” on a Windows PC

1. Check Your Cables and Connections

Open your PC case or check your laptop’s drive bay:

  • Ensure the SATA/Power cables are properly connected to the hard drive or SSD.

  • Try disconnecting and reconnecting the cables.

  • For laptops, check if the drive is seated properly.

Tip: If you recently dropped your laptop or moved your desktop, cables may have come loose.

2. Enter BIOS/UEFI Settings

To do this:

  • Restart your PC and press the BIOS key (usually F2, DEL, ESC, or F10) during startup.

  • Once in BIOS, look for the Boot Order / Boot Priority settings.

Make sure:

  • Your primary hard drive or SSD is listed and set as the first boot device.

  • Legacy/UEFI mode matches your OS installation type.

3. Use Windows Recovery Tools

If BIOS recognizes the drive but Windows still won’t boot:

Steps:

  • Insert a Windows Installation USB or DVD.

  • Boot from it.

  • Click Repair your computer > Troubleshoot > Advanced Options.

Now try these tools:

  • 🧱 Startup Repair – Automatically fixes boot issues.

  • 🔧 Command Prompt – Use boot commands:

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

4. Run Disk and Partition Checks

In Command Prompt from recovery media, type:

diskpart
list disk
select disk 0 (or your OS drive)
list partition

Ensure:

  • The OS partition is marked as active.

  • The disk is not RAW (which indicates corruption).

You can also run:

chkdsk C: /f /r

5. Check Drive Health

If none of the above works:

  • Remove the drive and plug it into another PC using a USB adapter or SATA cable.

  • See if the drive is recognized.

  • If not, you may be dealing with a failing drive — time to consider data recovery or a replacement.

🧯 Bonus Tips

  • Reset BIOS to Defaults if unsure about settings.

  • If recently cloned or upgraded your drive, check if the new drive is properly formatted and has a bootable OS.

  • Consider updating your BIOS/UEFI firmware.
🧠 Final Thoughts

The “No Boot Device Found” error can seem intimidating, but in most cases, it boils down to a few simple fixes — checking connections, adjusting BIOS settings, or repairing boot files. If your drive is healthy, you’re likely just a few steps away from getting back into Windows.

If your drive has failed, it might be time to explore recovery services or reinstall Windows on a new drive.

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