How do I fix my laptop when it says boot device not found?

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How do I fix my laptop when it says boot device not found

What does the “boot device not found” error mean?

The “boot device not found” error indicates that your laptop cannot find a bootable device when trying to start up. This is usually caused by one of the following issues:

  • The boot order is incorrect in the BIOS settings
  • The hard drive with the operating system installed has failed or become corrupted
  • A boot sector virus has infected the hard drive
  • The cables connecting the hard drive are loose or damaged

Essentially, this error means that your laptop cannot find a drive with a valid operating system to boot from when powered on. The good news is that this issue can usually be fixed by changing BIOS settings, replacing cables, or repairing the hard drive.

How to fix the “boot device not found” error

Here are some steps to try when troubleshooting the “boot device not found” problem:

Check BIOS settings

The most common cause of this error is having the wrong boot order configured in the BIOS. Follow these steps to check the boot order:

  1. Restart your laptop and press the key to enter BIOS setup, usually Delete, F1, F2, F10 or F12 depending on your computer.
  2. Navigate to the “Boot” tab in BIOS using the arrow keys.
  3. Verify that the hard drive or SSD with your operating system installed is listed as the first boot device.
  4. If not, use the arrow keys to move it to the top of the boot order.
  5. Save changes and exit BIOS.

This will configure your laptop to check the correct hard drive for an operating system first when booting up.

Replace or reseat SATA cable

If you recently installed a new hard drive or made other hardware changes, a loose SATA cable could be causing the “boot device not found” error. Follow these steps:

  1. Power off your laptop and unplug AC power.
  2. Remove any replaceable batteries.
  3. Remove the cover to access internal components.
  4. Locate the hard drive and SATA cable connected to the motherboard.
  5. Remove and reinsert the SATA cable at both ends to get a solid connection.
  6. Replace the cable if damaged or worn.
  7. Reassemble components and boot laptop.

Reseating the SATA cable can help fix loose connections that may prevent booting. If the cable is damaged, replace it with a new SATA cable for laptop hard drives.

Test the hard drive

If the BIOS settings and connections are correct, the hard drive itself may be failing. Follow these steps to test the drive:

  1. Remove the hard drive and connect it to another computer as a secondary drive using a SATA to USB adapter or enclosure.
  2. See if the other computer detects the drive and can access files on it.
  3. If the hard drive is not detected, cannot be accessed, or makes abnormal clicking or beeping sounds, the drive itself has likely failed.
  4. Replace a failed boot drive with a new SSD or hard drive for your laptop.
  5. Reinstall your operating system, device drivers and applications on the new drive.

If the hard drive passes testing on another computer, corroded contacts or a drive failure limited to key boot sectors could still cause boot issues.

Try system restore or startup repair

If your laptop can boot to the Windows Recovery Environment, you may be able to use system restore or startup repair to fix software-related causes:

  1. Access recovery options by repeatedly tapping F8 or Shift+F10 during bootup.
  2. Select “Repair your computer” or “Troubleshoot”.
  3. Choose “System Restore” to roll back to an earlier restore point.
  4. Or select “Startup Repair” to automatically diagnose and fix boot problems.
  5. If successful, your laptop should be able to boot normally again.

System restore can reverse recent driver or software changes that may prevent booting. Startup repair can fix boot sector issues or rebuild key boot files.

Check for boot sector viruses

If your laptop boots to a message like “Missing operating system”, a boot sector virus may have infected the hard drive:

  1. Create a bootable antivirus rescue disc or USB drive.
  2. Boot your computer from the rescue media.
  3. Run a full system scan to detect and remove any boot viruses.
  4. Restart your computer normally and verify the issue is fixed.

Removing boot sector viruses can resolve this type of boot error. Always scan your system with updated antivirus software.

Replace the hard drive

If all else fails, you most likely have a failed hard drive. Follow these steps to replace it:

  1. Backup important data from the old drive if possible.
  2. Purchase a compatible new 2.5″ laptop hard drive or SSD.
  3. Clone the old drive to the new one if it is still accessible.
  4. Physically install the new drive in your laptop.
  5. Do a clean install of your operating system on the new drive.
  6. Reinstall hardware drivers, software and restore data.

Installing a new hard drive will resolve both physical failures and boot sector corruption issues. Just be sure to reinstall your operating system from scratch on the new drive.

Conclusion

The “boot device not found” error ultimately indicates some issue with your laptop’s hard drive that is preventing it from booting properly. Checking BIOS settings, reseating cables, testing the drive, repair options, viruses, and drive replacement are the main ways you can troubleshoot and fix this problem. With the right steps, you should be able to resolve this error and get your laptop booting again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why am I suddenly getting this error when my laptop was working fine before?

There are a few reasons why this error can suddenly appear when your laptop was previously working:

  • Your BIOS settings could have been reset to default or changed the boot order.
  • The hard drive cables worked loose during travel or a repair.
  • You installed a new hard drive but have not set it as the first boot device.
  • Your hard drive developed bad sectors or corruption that affected critical boot files.
  • A boot sector virus infected the master boot record on the hard drive.

Checking connections, BIOS settings, running diagnostics, and scanning for viruses can help identify the cause.

Can this error be fixed without losing my data?

It is often possible to fix this issue without losing data, depending on the cause:

  • Adjusting BIOS or reseating cables allows boot without data loss.
  • Using system restore or startup repair preserves data.
  • Removing viruses does not erase files.
  • Replacing the hard drive will require reinstalling the OS and applications, but personal files can usually be transferred over if they can be accessed.

However, if the hard drive has completely failed, a replacement will require a clean OS install and restoring data from backups.

How can I prevent this error from happening again?

To help avoid this issue in the future:

  • Be careful not to change boot sequence when adjusting BIOS settings.
  • Securely connect hard drive cables when installing hardware.
  • Regularly scan your system for viruses and malware.
  • Make regular backups so important data is preserved if drive issues occur.
  • Watch for early signs of hard drive failure like corruption or strange noises.
  • Replace aging hard drives after 3-5 years of use before problems develop.

Following best practices for hardware care, system security, preventative maintenance, and backups can reduce the chances of a “boot device not found” error occurring again.

Troubleshooting Steps

Quick checklist

Follow these quick troubleshooting steps:

  • Check BIOS for proper boot order
  • Reseat SATA cable connections
  • Test hard drive on another computer
  • Try system restore or startup repair
  • Scan for and remove boot viruses
  • Replace failed hard drive if needed

Detailed steps

For more detailed troubleshooting:

  1. Enter BIOS setup on boot: Access BIOS, check boot order has OS drive first.
  2. Reconnect SATA cables: Detach and firmly reconnect data and power cables.
  3. Connect drive externally: Attach drive to another PC using USB adapter to test detection.
  4. Check advanced recovery options: Boot to recovery environment and try system restore or startup repair.
  5. Scan for viruses: Use bootable antivirus disc to scan for and remove boot viruses.
  6. Replace hard drive: If drive has failed, install new drive and clean OS install.

Follow these steps methodically until the issue is resolved.

Resources

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