Fix Non-system disk or disk error. Replace and strike any key when ready.

The error message “Non-system disk or disk error. Replace and strike any key when ready” is another type of boot error that can occur on Windows 11, 10, and 8. If you are experiencing this error, continue reading this article for some effective methods to permanently resolve it.

Encountering boot errors can be frustrating, as they prevent your computer’s operating system from starting up properly. The “Non-system disk or disk error” message is a common issue that many Windows users face. In this article, we will explore various methods to fix this error and provide you with a permanent solution.

What is Non-system disk error and why it appears?

The “Non-system disk or disk error” message typically appears when your computer is attempting to boot from a disk that is not a valid system disk. This error suggests that you replace the current disk and strike any key to continue the boot process. However, the error may persist even after following these instructions.

How to Fix “Non-system disk or disk error. Replace and strike any key when ready” error on Windows 11, 10 and 8

You can apply the following methods to repair your computer against the Non-system disk error.

Fix using the PC Repair Tool

These are just some common reasons behind the Non-system disk or disk error error, and there can be other factors that can trigger this type of error. That’s why it is recommended to keep optimized your PC using the PC Repair Tool.

Windows is made with huge number of dll files, exe files, sys files, various types of services, databases, etc so, it is not possible to keep monitoring all the files always. A brilliant PC Optimizer tool repairs damages, fix errors, update windows and drivers, and eliminate various types of errors silently.

Outbyte PC Repair Tool does all the above task easily and provides you an errorfree and smooth Windows environment to work so that you can focus on your business only.

3 Steps to Fix this Error
Step 1. Download Outbyte PC Repair Tool [File Size: 16.4 MB]
Step 2. SCAN your Windows PC
Step 3. Click Fix button to Repair Error

Solution 1: Remove all the external storage media except the primary hard drive.

When the Windows boot loader malfunctions and multiple storage media are connected to your computer, it can become confused in locating the correct boot file, resulting in the “Non-system disk” error.

Remove all external storage media from your computer, including USB flash drives, network drives, memory cards, portable hard drives, or extended hard drives.

After removing the external storage media, reboot your computer and check if the error persists.

Solution 2: Repair Boot Sequence.

If your primary boot device is set to a non-bootable device such as a USB flash drive, CD/DVD drive, or network drive, you may encounter the “Non-system disk” error. To resolve this, you can check and change the boot order in the BIOS using the following steps:

Step 1: Open BIOS Settings. To access the BIOS settings, restart your PC and continuously press the F2/F8/Del/Esc button when you see the manufacturer’s logo during startup. Keep in mind that different manufacturers may have different methods to access the BIOS settings. It is recommended to refer to the manufacturer’s guidelines to determine the specific key or key combination to enter the BIOS.

1_bios_settings

Step 2: Locate the Boot option settings. The menu style in the BIOS may vary depending on the manufacturer, so look for the Boot option menu and modify the boot order to prioritize your primary hard drive where Windows is installed. Ensure that the primary hard drive is listed as the first boot device.

2_bios_boot_option

Solution 3: Repair Master Boot Record file.

The most suitable way to fix this error code is, to repair/restore the Boot Configuration Data.

Boot configuration data is like a database that stores information on boot-related settings. If the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) gets corrupted, damaged, or inaccessible, the windows can’t read the boot settings and display the message Bootmgr is missing.

There is a way to rebuild or restore Boot configuration data. Just follow the steps mentioned below and restore BCD.

Step 1: Boot your PC using the Windows Installation media. It will open Windows Installation Wizard. Click Next.

windows os installation

Step 2: Select Repair your computer.

repair your computer option windows 10 & 11

Step 3: It will open the Advanced Startup Option or Windows Recovery Environment. Click on the Troubleshoot.

Troubleshoot in Advanced Startup Menu Windows 10 & 11

Step 4: Select Command Prompt.

open_command_prompt in advanced startup option

Step 5: Type the following command and press Enter to execute it.
bootrec /FixMbr
bootrec /FixBoot
bootrec /ScanOs
bootrec /rebuildbcd
Step 6: Now restart your computer, and you will not see the boot time error message Non-system disk or disk error.

Solution 4: Replace faulty hard drive/SSD

Most commonly, this error occurs due the faulty hard drive or SSD drive. In such cases, it is important to replace the faulty hard drive with new one and install fresh version of Windows OS.

Solution 5: Perform startup repair.

This is a kind of startup problem so you can fix it by doing startup repair. Startup repair is an advanced and automated mechanism that removes startup bugs and lets you log in to your Windows account. You can perform Startup repair as follows:

Step 1: Boot your PC using the Windows Installation media. It will open Windows Installation Wizard. Click Next.

windows os installation

Step 2: Select Repair your computer.

repair your computer option windows 10 & 11

Step 3: It will open the Advanced option or Windows Recovery Environment.
Step 4: Go to Troubleshoot.

Troubleshoot in Advanced Startup Menu Windows 10 & 11

Step 5: Choose Advanced options.

advanced option windows 10 & 11

Step 6: Select Startup Repair.

Startup Repair Windows 10 & 11

Step 7: Select OS.

Startup Repair - Select OS

Step 8: It will start Diagnosing your PC. Please wait until the process is finished.

diagnosing windows 10 & 11

Solution 6: Run CHKDSK, SFC, and DISM command to Repair bad sectors in hard drive, file system and whole Windows.

SFC (System File Checker), DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management), and CHKDSK (Check Disk) are all built-in Windows utilities that can help repair issues related to the file system. Each tool serves a specific purpose in diagnosing and fixing file system problems.

Step 2: Go to Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Command Prompt.
Step 3: Now run the following commands one by one.
i. System File Checker tool

sfc /scannow

ii. Run Dism command

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

iii. Run Disk checking utility.

chkdsk C: / f / x / r

Summary

Getting Non-system disk or disk error. Replace and strike any key when ready is frustrating but you can fix it by removing external storage device, performing startup repair, repairing MBR file, etc.