A disk boot failure error can be frustrating, but don’t worry – it can usually be fixed with a few simple steps. This comprehensive guide will walk you through all the potential causes and solutions to get your computer booting properly again.
What is the Disk Boot Failure Error?
The disk boot failure error, sometimes shown as “No boot device found” or “No boot disk has been detected”, means your computer cannot find a bootable disk to start up the operating system.
This is often caused by a hardware issue, like a hard drive failure, but it could also be a software problem if your boot configuration data has become corrupted.
Potential Causes of the Disk Boot Failure
There are several potential causes behind the disk boot failure error message:
- Hard drive failure or damage
- Boot sector virus infection
- BIOS configuration issues
- Loose or disconnected cables
- Damaged master boot record (MBR)
- Corrupted system files
Let’s look at each of these common causes in more detail:
Hard Drive Failure or Damage
One of the most common reasons for the disk boot failure error is that your hard drive has failed or is damaged in some way. This can happen from normal wear and tear over time, a power surge, or physical damage to the drive.
If the drive has completely failed, you may hear clicking or buzzing noises coming from the computer. Or your BIOS may not even detect the hard drive anymore. A damaged hard drive can often be repaired or replaced to get your system operational again.
Boot Sector Virus
Another possibility is that your master boot record has been infected with a boot sector virus. This type of malware is designed to target the boot sector of your drive and damage critical startup files.
Boot sector viruses used to be quite common, though modern antivirus programs do a good job of catching them. If you have an active antivirus program installed, update it and run a full system scan to check for and remove any potential infections.
BIOS Configuration Issues
The BIOS settings may also be a factor with the disk boot failure. For example, the BIOS boot order may have changed, so the system is trying to boot from the wrong device.
Go into your BIOS setup menu and make sure the first/main boot device is set properly to your hard drive. The boot order may need to be adjusted or reset to default settings if it’s attempting to boot from the wrong drive.
Loose or Disconnected Cables
It’s also worth checking for any loose or disconnected cables between your hard drive and motherboard. If the data or power cable has come loose, the BIOS won’t be able to find and access the drive to boot.
Shut down the computer, open the case, and check that the SATA and power cables are plugged in properly to the hard drive and motherboard. Reconnect any loose cables firmly.
Damaged Master Boot Record (MBR)
The master boot record (MBR) is a special boot sector located on your hard drive that contains information needed to successfully load the operating system.
If this data gets corrupted or damaged, you’ll see the disk boot failure error. This can potentially happen from an incorrect system shutdown, power outage, or partition errors.
You can use the Windows automatic repair tool from your installation media to check and fix errors with the MBR and boot configuration data.
Corrupted System Files
Finally, if any critical Windows system files have become corrupted, damaged, or infected with malware, it can prevent your system from properly booting up.
System file corruption is often caused by an improper shutdown sequence, storage drive bad sectors, or some Startup Repair troubleshooting steps. Running the SFC /scannow command can help identify and replace any corrupted system files.
How to Fix the Disk Boot Failure Error
Now that you understand the potential causes, here are the detailed steps to troubleshoot and fix the disk boot failure error:
- Check cables and connections
- Reset BIOS to default settings
- Run CHKDSK scan on the hard drive
- Use Startup Repair with Windows installation media
- Replace damaged hard drive
- Clean boot into Safe Mode
- Run System File Checker (SFC Scan)
- Reinstall or repair bootloader
- Restore from backup
Work through these solutions sequentially for the best chance of determining and fixing the underlying problem:
1. Check Cables and Connections
First, the easiest possibility to rule out – shut down the PC, unplug it, and open up the case. Check that all the cables are properly and securely connected between the hard drive and the motherboard.
Specifically, make sure the power cable and SATA data cable are inserted completely on both ends. Reconnect any loose cables firmly.
2. Reset BIOS to Default Settings
Next, enter into your system BIOS setup menu on startup. Look for an option to load/reset to default settings. This will revert any potentially changed boot order, drive priorities, or misconfigured options.
Save changes and exit BIOS to reboot. On many PCs you can access BIOS by tapping F2, Delete, or a function key on bootup.
3. Run CHKDSK Scan on Hard Drive
If the drive is still not bootable, run the CHKDSK scan from your Windows installation media. CHKDSK will check the hard drive file system structure for any errors or bad sectors, and attempt repairs.
- On another working computer, create a Windows installation USB or DVD.
- With the non-booting PC turned off, insert the Windows installation media and turn it on.
- Boot from the installation media instead of the hard drive.
- Select your language, time/currency, and keyboard options.
- Click Repair your computer -> Troubleshoot -> Advanced options.
- Select the Command Prompt option.
- Run the command:
chkdsk C: /f /r /x - This scans drive C: (typically the boot drive) and automatically fixes any file system errors found.
- Type exit to restart when finished and attempt booting normally.
4. Use Startup Repair with Windows Installation Media
If CHKDSK does not resolve the issue, try using the Startup Repair tool.
Startup Repair will automatically diagnose hardware and file system problems that are preventing successful bootup. It can fix the master boot record (MBR) data and repair critical boot files.
- Follow steps 1-5 above to access the Advanced options menu.
- Click Startup Repair this time.
- Allow Startup Repair to run, searching for and repairing any boot problems.
- After completing (may take 10-30 minutes), restart the PC normally and check if fixed.
5. Replace Damaged Hard Drive
If neither CHKDSK nor Startup Repair are able to get your PC booting again, the hard drive itself is likely damaged beyond repair. A clicking noise coming from the drive is a giveaway.
In this case, you will need to replace the boot drive with a new solid state or hard disk drive. Install Windows fresh on the new drive and restore data from a backup.
6. Clean Boot into Safe Mode
Booting into Safe Mode starts Windows with only the bare minimum drivers and services. This can help isolate software and driver conflicts causing boot problems.
Repeatedly tap F8 as the computer starts up to access the Advanced Boot Options. Select Safe Mode and see if able to boot properly.
If successful, use Safe Mode to create a new user account and backup files before troubleshooting the software issue.
7. Run System File Checker (SFC Scan)
Corrupted Windows files could still be preventing normal boot. Use the System File Checker tool in Safe Mode to scan for and restore corrupted files.
- In Safe Mode, run the command prompt as administrator.
- Enter the command:
sfc /scannow - SFC will scan system files and replace any damaged or corrupt files.
- Restart when finished and test if resolved.
8. Reinstall or Repair Bootloader
If all else fails, you can rebuild the bootloader from scratch. On Windows, this includes the master boot record (MBR) and BOOTMGR files.
On a working PC, use bootrec.exe from a Windows installation disc to rebuild the bootloader. Or reinstall your operating system while preserving files.
9. Restore System Image from Backup
The last resort is to wipe the hard drive and restore your full system image from a backup. Ensure you have a current system image backup before proceeding.
- Boot from the Windows installation media.
- Go to Repair -> System Image Recovery.
- Select the system image backup location.
- Follow prompts to restore disk partitions and system image.
- Reboot once fully restored to factory condition.
Preventing the Disk Boot Failure Error
After fixing the problem, take steps to prevent this annoying error from recurring down the road:
- Keep your antivirus software updated.
- Install pending Windows updates frequently.
- Use the Safely Remove Hardware tool before disconnecting external drives.
- Always use the proper Shutdown or Restart options.
- Perform occasional disk error scans like CHKDSK.
- Backup important data and system images regularly.
Following best practices like these will help keep your PC booting smoothly and avoid issues with disk boot failures.
Recap and Conclusion
Dealing with the disk boot failure error can be frustrating. But in most cases it can be resolved with some targeted troubleshooting steps:
- Check cables and BIOS settings
- Run CHKDSK and Startup Repair
- Consider replacing a failed hard drive
- Boot to Safe Mode and run SFC
- Repair or reinstall bootloader
- Fully restore system image from backup
Identifying the underlying cause is key – whether it’s hardware, boot sector virus, file corruption, etc. With the right solution, you’ll have your PC booting properly again in no time.
Just be sure to backup important data regularly and take preventative measures to keep your system healthy. Follow these steps and the frustrating “No boot device found” or “disk boot failure” error will be a thing of the past!