No Bootable Device error

The “no bootable device” error is like a nightmare for Windows users. Many users who get this error find themselves helpless and unable to understand what is wrong with their computer that worked well until yesterday.

With that said, you don’t have to worry about this error anymore. On this page, you’ll find easy-to-do solutions for no bootable device error.

Note: The 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th solution given in the list would require Windows installation media such as DVD or USB drive with Windows installation files.

BIOS Drivers – Common Errors and Fixes

Solution One- Check the boot order in BIOS

Every time you start windows computer, it checks the BIOS for the boot order. It looks for files like NTLDR and other boot files in the volume boot record before it can start Windows OS. If it does not find files in the first boot device or the second, it throws up an error, like no bootable device.

To resolve the error, you need to ensure the hard drive is the first bootable device in the BIOS.

Here are the steps to check the boot order in BIOS and make changes if necessary.

When your computer starts, the BIOS flash screen/POST screen shows the keys that allow access to BIOS and other features.

Here are the steps to follow to fix the issue.

Depending on your device or motherboard make and model, press the right key to access BIOS Setup
Once you enter the BIOS Setup, look for Boot or Advanced options and press the right key to access that tab. (Note- the navigation keys are shown at the bottom of the BIOS screen)

Check the first boot device. If you see first boot device as USB CD-ROM, Flash drive or any other option other than hard drive, you need to change it

Select the first boot device using the suggested navigation keys and select Hard Drive as the first boot device.

Press F10 or any other key as suggested in BIOS setup to save the changes and exit BIOS setup

The Windows system should reboot normally which indicates the “no bootable device” error is resolved. If you still get the error, perform the steps in Solution two

Solution Two – Rebuild boot information

If the Master Boot Record (MBR) or BCD (Boot Configuration Data) is corrupted, your Windows system can throw up an error like “no bootable device”. The solution to this problem is rebuilding boot information.

However, you will need Windows installation disc to perform steps given below.

Insert the installation media (USB/CD) in your computer and boot from it. You need to check the BIOS Flash/POST screen to know the right key to access Boot menu
Select the right bootable device (USB/CD-ROM) depending on the type of windows installation you have.
When the Windows 10 boot media loads, you will see a screen with the option to Repair your computer, click it

In the next screen, select Troubleshoot

In the next screen, select Advanced options

In the Advanced options screen, select Command prompt

If you are using Windows 7 computer, follow the steps given below
When the Windows 7 boot media loads, you will get a window with system recovery options
Select the option –Use recovery tools that can help fix problems starting Windows

Select the drive where Windows 7 is installed and click Next
In the next screen, select Command Prompt

The steps given below are the same for Windows 7 and Windows 10 users

In the command prompt window, type the following commands one after another and press Enter after each command. If you are prompted to add a new installation to boot list, press Y on the keyboard

bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /scanos
bootrec /rebuildbcd
Type Exit in command prompt window and restart your computer

The no bootable device error should be gone and the computer should boot normally.

If the no bootable device error persists, try the steps in Solution Three.

Solution Three – Set the primary partition as active

For the windows to boot normally, the primary partition in which installation files are stored should be set as active. It is quite possible you made some accidental changes when making new partitions or modifying partitions on your computer. This can lead to no bootable device error.

The solution to this problem is set the primary partition as active.

Here are the steps to follow.

Refer the steps given in Solution Two to boot from installation media and perform steps until you get access to the command prompt
In the command prompt window, type the following commands in the given order and press Enter after typing each command

diskpart
list disk
In the list of disks, you need to select the disk where Windows is installed. If you have only one hard drive, you will only see one disk in the list which is labeled as 0(zero)
Type select disk 0 and press Enter
Type list partition and press Enter
You should see all partitions on your hard drive. You need to select the partition that has Windows installed that is your system partition
Type select partition 1 or whatever is applicable in your case and press Enter

Type active and press Enter
Type Exit in command prompt
Restart the computer

The system partition is now set active which would resolve the “no bootable device” error. If the error is still not resolved, the last option is to Reset the PC which would fix the issue.

Solution Four- Reset PC

One of the reasons behind “no bootable device” error is corrupted windows installation files. To fix the problem, try resetting your system.

To reset your computer, you will need Windows installation media.

Here are the steps to follow

Insert Windows installation in your computer and boot your computer from installation media
When the windows loads from installation media, select Repair your computer
In the next screen, select Troubleshoot