The “no bootable device” error occurs when your computer cannot find a bootable drive during the startup process. This usually means either your designated boot drive has failed or become corrupted, or your computer’s boot order configuration is incorrect and trying to boot from the wrong drive.
What causes the “no bootable device” error?
There are a few common causes of the “no bootable device” error:
- Hard drive failure – If your designated boot drive has failed or become corrupted, it may no longer be detected as a bootable device.
- Loose drive connections – If the data or power cable connecting your boot drive is loose, it may not be detected during boot.
- Boot order configuration – If your BIOS/UEFI boot order has changed or is misconfigured, it may be trying to boot from the wrong drive.
- Missing operating system – If your boot drive has been erased or reformatted without an OS reinstalled, it will no longer contain boot files.
- Damaged boot loader – If your computer’s boot loader (like GRUB or NTLDR) has become corrupted, it can prevent booting.
How to diagnose the cause
To pinpoint the exact cause and best solution, you’ll need to do some diagnosis. Here are some steps to try:
- Check drive connections – Make sure both the power cable and data cable are properly and securely connected to your boot drive.
- Try different SATA ports – If using a SATA drive, try plugging it into a different SATA port on your motherboard in case the current port has failed.
- Check boot order – Access your BIOS/UEFI settings and confirm the correct drive is listed first in the boot order.
- Test the drive – Try the drive in another computer or use disk management tools to check if the drive is detected and accessible.
- Replace cables – Faulty cables can cause connection issues, so try replacing SATA cables with new ones.
- Reset BIOS – Resetting your motherboard’s BIOS/UEFI to default settings may resolve incorrect boot order issues.
This should help you isolate if it’s a hardware problem with the drive itself, a boot order issue, or something else entirely. If the drive is detected in the BIOS/UEFI or disk management, the issue is likely incorrect boot order or a damaged bootloader.
How to fix boot order configuration
If diagnostics reveal the “no bootable device” error stems from incorrect boot order, here is how to properly configure it:
- Access your BIOS/UEFI settings on startup – The key to press varies by manufacturer, but common ones include F2, F10, Del, or Esc.
- Navigate to the “Boot” section – Use the arrow keys to find the section or menu for boot devices.
- Prioritize your boot drive – Use the boot menu to move your intended boot drive to the top of the boot order list.
- Save changes and exit – Be sure to save changes before exiting BIOS to set the new boot order.
- Attempt to boot again – With boot order corrected, the system should now boot from the proper drive.
This fixes issues caused by the system trying to boot from the wrong drive. But if the intended boot drive itself is undetected or damaged, additional steps are required.
How to fix drive detection issues
If your BIOS/UEFI does not detect your boot drive at all, try these steps:
- Reseat SATA connections – Unplug both ends of the SATA cable and reconnect them securely.
- Replace faulty SATA cable – Use a different SATA cable that you know works properly.
- Try a different SATA port – Use a different SATA port and see if drive is detected.
- Update BIOS/drivers – A BIOS or SATA driver update can improve device detection.
- Remove other devices – Disconnect other drives/devices and see if boot drive is then detected.
This can help rule out any faulty connections or conflicts and improve the chances of your boot device being detected properly. If it is still not showing up, the drive itself likely has an issue.
How to fix a damaged boot drive
If diagnostics indicate your boot drive itself is damaged, has failed, or has a corrupted bootloader, here are some options to try:
- Replace failing drive – If the drive is mechanically failing, replace it with a new, compatible drive.
- Repair corrupted bootloader – Use boot recovery tools to rebuild/repair damaged bootloaders like Windows Boot Manager.
- Reinstall OS – Back up data and perform a fresh OS installation to resolve software issues.
- Low-level format – Wipe the drive completely with a low-level format then partition and reformat.
- Use backup image – Restore your system from a system image backup to return to a working state.
For drives exhibiting physical damage or that can’t be reliably read, replacement is the surest option. Software fixes like OS reinstall or bootloader repair can fix many boot issues as well.
How to recover data from unbootable drive
If the boot drive has failed but contains important data you need to recover, follow these steps:
- Use recovery software – Specialized data recovery software may be able to access unbootable drives.
- Connect drive to another system – Attach the drive externally to a working computer via USB.
- Mount drive in external enclosure – Use a hard drive enclosure to connect the bare drive via USB.
- Clone drive contents – Use disk cloning tools to make an image backup of the entire drive.
- Access files in Linux – Boot a Live Linux environment and attempt to mount and copy files from the drive.
Handling the drive carefully and avoiding further writes or damage gives the best chance of recovering data. But if the hardware damage is significant, a professional data recovery service may be required.
How to perform drive diagnostics
To thoroughly test and diagnose boot drive errors, consider using some of these diagnostic and testing tools:
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| CHKDSK | Built-in Windows utility that scans drives for errors and attempts repairs. |
| SeaTools | Comprehensive hard drive diagnostic suite from Seagate for testing drives. |
| HDTune | Hard disk utility that performs drive benchmarks and speed tests. |
| MHDD | Utility for low-level diagnostic testing and manipulation of drives. |
| Diskpart | Windows command line tool useful for partitioning, formatting, and cleaning drives. |
Running diagnostics can identify specific hardware issues or file system damage on failing drives whenever possible.
Best practices to prevent boot issues
You can help avoid “no bootable device” errors by following these best practices:
- Keep BIOS/drivers updated – Ensure you have the latest firmware and SATA drivers for best compatibility.
- Use the correct shutdown process – Always properly shut down the system rather than force powering off.
- Disconnect devices safely – Use the Safely Remove Hardware process before disconnecting drives.
- Regular backups – Maintain current system image and data backups you can restore from if needed.
- Verify boot order – Periodically check that BIOS has the proper boot order configured.
- Monitor drive health – Keep an eye on hard drive health metrics using tools like S.M.A.R.T. data.
Following these tips will help keep your system’s boot configuration and drives in their best shape, and give you the means to recover should problems arise.
Common troubleshooting steps
When faced with a “no bootable device” error, try these common basic troubleshooting steps:
- Force power cycle the machine – Shut down, unplug power, wait 30 secs, reconnect and start.
- Boot into BIOS – Access BIOS and verify boot order and drive detection.
- Check connections – Reseat SATA data and power cables at both ends.
- Try different SATA port – Swap SATA ports and see if drive is detected.
- Remove unnecessary devices – Disconnect other disks and peripherals and test boot.
Many times the issue can be resolved by one of these simple actions. But if they don’t work, further diagnostics and troubleshooting is required.
Advanced troubleshooting tips
For tricky no boot situations, less obvious steps that may help include:
- Reset BIOS to defaults – Override any bad settings by resetting BIOS completely.
- Update BIOS – A BIOS update can improve compatibility and detection issues.
- Check for loose interior connections – Make sure no loose SATA connectors or power cables inside the case.
- Test with minimum components – Remove all nonessential hardware and peripherals to isolate issue.
- Try drive in external enclosure – See if the drive boots properly when connected externally.
Thinking a bit outside the box like this can uncover less obvious causes. Trying boot combinations can also help pinpoint faulty hardware.
What to do if the problem persists
If you’ve exhausted all applicable troubleshooting steps but the “no bootable device” error remains, a few final options are:
- Replace drive and reinstall OS – Failing or corrupted boot drives often need replacement.
- Replace system board – Damaged BIOS, ports, or chips on the board can prevent booting.
- Repair bootloader – Use recovery software or a Windows install disk to rebuild the bootloader.
- Restore from backup – Full system restore from a disk image backup can fix software issues.
- Take to a repair shop – For complex hardware issues, seek professional repair assistance.
At this point the cause is likely a definitive hardware failure or critical software issue requiring advanced diagnostics and repairs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my computer suddenly give a no bootable device error?
Common reasons a computer abruptly starts showing no bootable device include drive failure, disconnected or faulty cables, BIOS settings getting reset or corrupted, boot sector viruses, or operating system files that have become corrupted.
Can I boot from a USB drive?
Yes, configuring your BIOS to temporary boot from a USB flash drive containing an operating system installer or bootable environment can often bypass no bootable device errors to recover data and troubleshoot problems.
Is it safe to reformat my boot drive?
Reformatting will erase all data on the drive. But if backups are available or data has been safely recovered first, reformatting and starting fresh can resolve boot issues caused by file system corruption or software problems.
How can I tell if my boot drive is dead?
If the BIOS does not detect the drive at all, or the system hangs when trying to boot from it, that likely indicates a failed drive. Check connections and try diagnostics, but a drive not responsive to commands is often non-functional and needs replacement.
Can I replace a boot drive without reinstalling Windows?
You can clone your existing Windows installation to a new replacement drive using disk cloning software. This allows swapping the failed drive without having to reinstall and reconfigure the operating system.
Conclusion
The “no bootable device” error can be frustrating, but using the appropriate troubleshooting steps methodically can usually determine the underlying problem. Checking connections, cables, and boot order are a good starting point before moving on to drive diagnostics and repairs. Persistence and care is key, and a backup plan helps minimize downtime and data loss. In most cases the issue can be resolved and normal booting restored.