"No bootable device - insert boot disk and press any key."This frustrating error appears when you try to boot your Windows 11 or Windows 10 computer. The reason behind it is that the computer can’t find the device containing the operating system. This error can occur with any brand of laptop or computer, such as Lenovo, HP, Dell, Asus, and Acer. In this article, we will cover why this error happens, how to fix it, and how to prevent it in the future.
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Cause of “No bootable device – insert boot disk and press any key.” Error?
The above error occurs during the system boot, leaving the computer stuck with no other option but to press any key on the keyboard. It initiates an endless restart loop that will continue until a boot disk is inserted or a correct path to a bootable device is provided. Even though you know that there is an operating system installed on your hard drive, you keep encountering the same error. This frustrating situation can be caused by several reasons, which are listed below.
- Corrupted Boot Configuration Data
- Corrupted Master Boot Record
- Incorrect Boot Device selected in BIOS/UEFI
- HDD/SSD malfunctioning
- Failing Storage device
- Windows 11/10 is corrupted, etc.
How to Fix “No bootable device — insert boot disk and press any key.” Error on Windows 10 or Windows 11?
Although the “No bootable device” error is considered a critical system error, there is a way to fix it using the proper troubleshooting method provided below.
Solution 1: Repair corrupted BCD and MBR
The Boot Configuration Data (BCD) and Master Boot Record (MBR) files are essential Windows components containing crucial boot-related data and configuration used by the BIOS to locate the Operating System on your hard drive. If the BCD/MBR files become corrupted or damaged, the BIOS will be unable to find the boot device, resulting in the error message “No bootable device – insert boot disk and press any key.”
You can repair the BCD and MBR files using the command line in the WinPE environment. To perform this step, you will need a Windows 10 or Windows 11 bootable USB drive. If you do not have a bootable device, you can create one using the following steps:
Manually Repair MBR file - Step by Step
bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /RebuildBcdRepair BCD and MBR using EaseUS Partition Master
If the manual process fails and you are still unable to boot your computer, it’s time to consider seeking help from professional tools like EaseUS Partition Master. This powerful tool offers various features, such as creating a WinPE bootable flash drive, repairing the MBR, fixing disk errors, managing partitions, and even cloning hard drives. With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive capabilities, EaseUS Partition Master can be a valuable asset in resolving boot-related issues and managing your storage efficiently.
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Repair MBR using EaseUS
After successfully repairing the BCD and MBR files, restart your computer. If you still encounter the same problem, proceed to the next solution.
Solution 2: Check Primary boot device or Boot order in BIOS.
If the wrong boot device is selected in BIOS, you may surely get the “no bootable device” error. However, fixing this problem is quite easy and anyone can just select the right bootable device in BIOS. Here are the complete steps to select the right bootable drive in BIOS.
Select Boot device in BIOS/UEFI
Solution 3: Restore BIOS to Default
Resetting the BIOS to its default settings is a crucial step in the troubleshooting process. Misconfigurations in the BIOS settings can prevent the system from locating the correct boot device. By resetting the BIOS to its default state, all values will be restored to factory settings, allowing the BIOS to reload all the disk information correctly. This can help resolve any issues related to incorrect boot device detection and improve the chances of successful booting.
Reset BIOS/UEFI to Default
Solution 4: Reconnect the internal hardware.
Verifying hardware connections on your computer is essential. For desktop users, open the cabinet and carefully re-insert all internal connecting cables to ensure secure connections.
Laptop users, including those with Lenovo, HP, Dell, Asus, or Acer laptops, should open the back panel and re-insert the hard drive and RAM modules with caution.
This simple yet important step can often resolve issues caused by loose connections and enhance the overall stability and performance of your computer.
Solution 5: Repair Crashed Operating System
When encountering boot errors or problems with the installed Windows 11 or 10 operating system, the system might fail to load properly. To resolve this issue, you can repair Windows using the following steps:
Startup Repair - Step by Step
Solution 6: Run the System file checker, check disk, and DISM utility to repair several parts of your operating system and hard disk.
These three sets of tools are incredibly effective in repairing system files, checking disk errors, and fixing Windows image issues. To run these tools, follow the simple steps below:
SFC/Chkdsk/Dism - Step by Step
sfc /scannow
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
chkdsk /f c:
It will show you message:
Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)
Press Y and Press Enter. The disk checking will start on next pc start.
Solution 7: Replace the faulty HDD/SSD
When your HDD/SSD reaches the end of its life and starts malfunctioning, it is advisable to replace the faulty HDD/SSD with a new one.
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Summary
Getting the “No bootable device – insert boot disk and press any key” error on Windows 10 or Windows 11 is a very frustrating situation. No matter which brand of laptop you are using such as Lenovo, HP, Dell, Acer, and ASUS; the above problem can happen with any computer. Thankfully, there are some reliable ways to fix this error and recover all the data from the crashed OS. Just apply the above methods step by step and remove this boot-related error easily.