10 Ways to Fix "Non-System Disk" or "Disk Error" on Laptop/Desktop

If the "Non-system disk or disk error" message appears due to corrupted or missing boot files on your hard drive, removing all non-bootable storage devices, checking the HDD's IDE or SATA cable, or setting the correct boot priority in BIOS/UEFI should resolve the issue.

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No need to panic if you encounter the “Non-System Disk or Disk Error” on your laptop or computer, whether it's from HP, Dell, Compaq, Acer, Lenovo, or any other brand. In this article, you'll find 10 solutions for troubleshooting this issue, ranging from general to advanced methods. Choose the one that suits you best to eliminate the error and get your PC back on track.

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Regarding non-system disk or disk error

What does it mean when your computer displays "Non-system disk or disk error"? This is an HP Compaq 6000 that has an issue during startup, where it displays a message stating "Non-system disk or disk error. Replace and strike any key when ready."

Please note that a "No System Disk or Disk Error" message may appear when the computer BIOS cannot find a bootable operating system on any storage device in its boot sequence, or when it fails to locate the boot disk. Similar error messages include Boot Device Not Found, Operating System Not Found, or Missing Operating System...

#1: General troubleshooting for non-system disks or disk errors

According to HP's support page, they have a very detailed guide for HP laptops to fix the “Non-System Disk Error” and “Disk Error” on black screens in Windows 10, 7, and Vista. In fact, these suggestions apply to other desktops and laptops as well, such as Dell, Compaq, Acer, Lenovo, and so on.

In summary, try these four basic methods first; they often help fix setup or boot problems and stop errors.

Fix 1: Remove all non-bootable storage devices

What storage drives is your computer currently connected to? Please check and remove any non-bootable storage devices, such as floppy disks or CD/DVDs, which might prevent the computer from starting up correctly. Safely eject the devices and then try to shut down and restart your computer to see if the error persists.

Solution 2: Check the HDD IDE or SATA cable

Please check the IDE or SATA cable of your HDD to make sure that it is securely connected to the motherboard, then restart your computer.

Fix 3: Set the correct boot order in BIOS/UEFI

Enter your computer's BIOS/UEFI settings and make sure the hard drive you want to boot from is in the correct boot order, at the top of the list. To change the boot order, do the following:

• When your computer restarts, press the key to enter the BIOS or UEFI setup screen (usually Esc, F2, F8, or F10).
• In the BIOS, use the arrow keys on your keyboard to select the "Boot" tab and set your system drive as the first boot priority, at the top of the list.
• In UEFI, you can use the mouse pointer to specify the boot order.
• Save and exit the BIOS/UEFI setup utility. Your computer will restart with the changed settings.

Fix 4: Remove and reinstall the hard drive

Issues with the connection between the hard drive and the computer can also cause startup problems, often because the hard drive has been dropped or otherwise physically shocked. To resolve connectivity issues, you must proceed with a standard procedure, as outlined here, in a safe manner.

• Power down the device.
• Remove the battery (laptops only).
• Remove the system drive (HDD or SSD).
• Reinstall the system drive.
• Reinstall the battery (laptops only).
• Power on the device.

Fix 5: Use the Windows Repair Tool

These solutions might not be simple for an average user. If you want to fix the issue securely, you can opt for professional Windows Data Recovery Services. Technicians can help you resolve any system boot errors, including system crashes, blue screens, black screens, and more.

Windows Recovery Service Tool

Contact our experts for a free assessment.

Get personalized, one-on-one manual recovery service consultation with our Data Recovery Experts. After a free diagnosis, we can offer the following services:

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

Advanced troubleshooting for non-system disks or disk errors

Apart from external factors that may lead to unbootable disk or disk error, you have to face the fact that the boot files on your hard drive are corrupted or damaged. Usually, fixing the boot sector, Master Boot Record (MBR), and Boot Configuration Data (BCD) of the hard drive should do the trick.

More importantly, you should take the right steps to resolve this issue wisely to protect your data from an unbootable computer.

First of all, download the Data Recovery Wizard tool to access and recover hard drive data without an operating system.

Then download a bootable partition manager to rebuild MBR.

Fix 6: Access the hard drive and recover data from it without an operating system

Step 1: Create a Bootable Disk

Launch the Data Recovery Wizard utility, select the “Crashed PC Recovery” option, and click Start Recovery.

Select a blank USB drive to create the bootable drive, then click “Create.”

Warning: The Data Recovery Wizard will delete all data from the USB drive when creating the bootable disk. Back up your important data in advance.

Step 2: Boot your computer from the bootable USB drive

Attach the bootable disk to the unbootable computer, and change the computer's boot order in BIOS. For most users, this will involve restarting their computer and pressing F2 as it boots up to enter BIOS.

Set the boot order to “Removable Devices” (the bootable USB disk) and override the hard drive. Press “F10” to save and exit.

Step 3: Recover data from a crashed system/computer

After booting from the Data Recovery Wizard Bootable Media, select the drive you wish to scan for all your lost files. Preview and recover the required files to a secure location.

Fix 7. Repair non-system disk or disk error by rebuilding MBR

Download and install AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional on another working computer.

Step 1: Create a bootable WinPE disk

1. Launch Partition Master and click the "Bootable Media Creator" button on the toolbar. Then choose "Create Bootable Media". 2. Click "Next" to complete the process.

Create a Bootable Disk

Step 2. Boot into the Partition Master Live USB

1. Plug in the bootable USB or CD/DVD to your computer. 2. Restart your computer and press F2 or Del to enter the BIOS screen. Set it to boot from "Removable Device" or "CD-ROM Drive." The partition tool will then run automatically.

Step 3: Rebuild the MBR

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

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

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

If the error persists after a computer restart, you can try other viable solutions to fix the error, which include rebuilding the corrupted or virus-infected MBR of the system disk, running hard drive diagnostics, checking and repairing bad sectors, and replacing the hard drive and reinstalling Windows.

All of these complementary solutions rely on the same basic tool: the Partition Master. Detailed tutorials on how to use these features can be found on their respective pages.

• Solution 8: How to perform a surface test on a hard drive
• Solution 9: How to check and repair bad sectors on a hard drive
• Solution 10: How to replace a hard drive with disk cloning