"Boot Device Not Found Error" - What does this mean, what causes it, and how to fix it?

What does the message "No Bootable Device" mean?

Some users get an error when trying to boot their Acer, Dell, or HP computers, saying “PXE-MOF: Exiting PXE ROM. No bootable device found – insert boot disk and press any key.”

"Boot Device Not Found" Error

The "No Bootable Device" error indicates that the Windows operating system is unable to locate a storage device containing the necessary boot files and drive to start up the system. This storage hardware can be an HDD, SSD, DVD, CD-ROM drive, or a USB flash drive.

When the "No Bootable Device" error appears on your screen, it can be scary and confusing for the average user. Not only are you unable to turn on your computer, but you also risk losing data if the problem isn't fixed properly. Don't worry, though – you can check out this tutorial to fix the “No Bootable Device” issue without losing your data.

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How to Fix the "No Bootable Device Found" Error in Windows 10

"A No Bootable Device Found" error occurs when a computer is unable to locate the device or file it needs to boot up. Possible causes for this issue include:

• No bootable hard drive or partition is detected. • The boot order is incorrect, and the computer is set to boot from a non-bootable device. • The Master Boot Record (MBR) is corrupted. • The hard drive is damaged. • Operating system files are corrupted.

First, attempt to recover data from an unbootable laptop or desktop

Since the reasons for being unable to boot a device can vary, you might need to try different solutions to fix the issue. However, if a hard drive or system problem prevents your computer from starting, things can get tricky. To avoid the risk of losing data while troubleshooting, we highly recommend exporting a backup of your data first.

How can you recover data from an unbootable computer? You can use the renowned data recovery tool – Data Recovery Wizard. This utility helps you create a bootable USB drive for data recovery in a WinPE environment.

This advanced data recovery software can restore permanently deleted files from HDD, SSD, USB flash drives, SD cards, or pen drives on Windows 10 and Mac computers.

Step 1: Create a Bootable Disk

Launch tools Data Recovery Wizard, select "Crashed Computer Recovery" and click "Start".

Select an empty USB drive to create the bootable drive, then click “Create.”

Warning: The Data Recovery Wizard deletes all data on the USB drive when creating a bootable disk. Back up important data beforehand.

Step 2: Boot your computer from the USB drive

Connect the bootable disk to the non-bootable computer, and change your computer's boot order in the BIOS. For most users, this will involve restarting their computer and pressing F2 to enter the BIOS.

Set the boot order to boot from “Removable Device” (the bootable USB drive) instead of the hard drive. Press “F10” to save and exit.

Step 3: Recover data from a crashed system/computer

Launch the tool - Data Recovery Wizard, from the bootable disk. Select the drive you wish to scan for all lost files. Preview and recover the files you need to a secure location.

With your important files backed up, you can proceed with the following methods to fix the “No Bootable Device” error.

Fix 1: Check Hard Drive Connections to Fix No Boot Device Found Issue

First, make sure the bootable hard drive is correctly connected to your computer. If the system disk has a loose connection with your PC, the computer might not detect the bootable hard drive, leading to the "No Bootable Device" issue.

Note: It is much easier to check hardware connections on a desktop computer. Disassembling a laptop can be very complicated, and we recommend that you seek the help of a professional.

Step one: Turn off your laptop or PC completely.

Step 2: Unplug the computer and open the case.

Step 3: Check or replace the SATA cable to make sure that it's properly seated between the motherboard and your HDD or SSD.

Step 4: Put your computer back together and try booting it up to see if it posts.

Fix 2: Set the bootable hard drive as the boot device

If your computer is set to boot from a non-bootable disk or device, then the "No Bootable Device" error will certainly show up. You can fix this by changing the boot order in BIOS.

Read also: UEFI vs BIOS: What's the Difference and Which Is Better?

Step 1: Restart your computer and press F10 repeatedly to enter the BIOS setup menu. You may also be able to press ESC, F1, F2, or F8 instead, depending on your screen's prompts.

Step 2: Press the right arrow key on your keyboard until you see the “Boot” tab.

Step 3: Use the + or – keys to move the hard drive to the top of the boot order list.

Step 4: Press F10 to save and exit, then restart your computer.

Solution 3: Fix boot device errors with Windows Repair Tools

Utilizing professional Windows Data Recovery services can effectively address Windows 10 boot issues. Their technical team can assist in resolving various system startup errors, such as system failures, blue screens, unbootable devices, and more.

Windows Recovery Services Tool

Contact our experts for a free evaluation.

Consult with our data recovery specialists for one-on-one manual recovery services. After a free diagnosis, we can offer the following:

• Fix Windows boot issues, including blue screen errors
• Repair Windows errors and configure the Windows environment
• Recover your system when it fails to start
• Optimize your Windows computer for faster performance

Solution 4: Repair the corrupted MBR to fix the No Bootable Device Error

The Master Boot Record (MBR) is the first sector that a computer must read when it starts up, in order to access your hard drive. If the MBR becomes damaged due to a virus, power failure, or bad sectors, you may receive an “Operating System Not Found” error.

You can easily fix the corrupted MBR with an advanced disk management tool - Partition Master. It can comprehensively manage your hard drive, such as resizing/moving partitions to solve low disk space issues, merging partitions, creating/deleting/formating partitions, cloning a hard drive, erasing data, and converting disk/partition, etc.

Download this Windows 10 disk partition tool, and follow the step-by-step guide to fix the corrupted MBR.

Step 1: Create a bootable WinPE disk

1. Launch Partition Master, and click the "Boot Media Builder" button on the toolbar. Select "Create Bootable Disk". 2. Click "Next" to complete the process.

Create a Bootable Disk

Step 2. Boot the tool: Partition Master Bootable USB

Connect the bootable USB or CD/DVD to your computer. Restart your computer and press F2 or Del to enter BIOS. Set it to boot from “Removable Device” or “CD-ROM Drive.” The Partition Master tool will then launch automatically.

Step 3: Rebuild the MBR

Click “Tools” and then select “Rebuild MBR”.

Rebuild MBR

Select the disk and MBR type, then click “Rebuild”.

Then you'll see “MBR on Disk X successfully rebuilt.”

Fix 5: Repair system files with installation media

A "No Boot Device Found" error can occur when the system files on your hard drive become corrupted. Try repairing these files to see if that resolves the issue.

Step 1. Insert the Windows installation media drive or CD into your computer and boot from it as described in Method 2.

Step 2: Choose your language and location, and then click on Repair your computer.

Step 3. If you're using Windows 10, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.

If you're using Windows 7, choose System Recovery Options from the Startup Repair screen, and then choose Command Prompt from the list of recovery tools that can help fix problems starting Windows.

Step 4. Type each of the SFC commands in Command Prompt, and press Enter after each one. The sfc /scannow command will scan all protected operating system files for corruption and replace incorrect, damaged, modified, or corrupted versions with the correct ones, if possible.

This is a command in the Windows operating system used to scan and repair system files. In Chinese, it translates to: Use the System File Checker to scan and fix system files, where the operating system is located in C:\ and the Windows system directory is D:\Windows. This command is typically used during startup or when issues with the system occur to check and repair critical system files.

C is the system drive. You can change the drive letter as needed.

Repairing the File System on a Bootable Disk

If the file system of the boot disk is corrupted, the hard drive fails to boot and displays a 'No Boot Device Found' error. You can try to fix the corrupted file system with the CHKDSK command.

If you're not familiar with CMD or don't feel confident using it, you can use an alternative simple CHKDSK tool – Partition Manager, to check and fix hard drive errors with just a few clicks.

Step 1. Boot the computer from the Windows installation media using the method described above.

Step 2. Open the Command Prompt. Type the following command and press Enter:

chkdsk E: /f /r /x (replace "E" with the letter of the drive that needs repair).

Step 3: Wait for the process to complete.

Last Words

The "No Boot Device Available" error on Acer, HP, Dell, and other computers can be quite frustrating. This article covers five of the most effective solutions to help you fix this issue.

First, check the connected hard drive to ensure that it's detectable by your computer. Then, set the boot order in BIOS and use a Windows installation disc to repair the corrupted MBR, system files, and bad sectors.

Important Note: If your computer won't turn on, you should attempt to salvage any lost data immediately before trying to fix the problem. Use data recovery software to effectively restore your files.