No Bootable Devices Error
Explanation, Causes & Troubleshooting Guide
Yesterday, in the middle of switching between user
accounts, my Girlfriend's laptop went blank, then blue
screen, then when everything restarted an awful error
message appeared:
"No bootable devices--strike F1 to retry boot, F2 for
setup utility"
If you ask tech support, they will likely suggest wiping
your hard drive (if it is just corrupted) and starting over,
or buying a new hard drive (if it really is dead) and
starting over. Both options suck. And both options
equal loosing any data you have on your computer.
Going through pages and pages of search results, forum
discussions, troubleshooting guides, etc...I fixed my "No
Bootable Devices" error in a very simple way...and
learned a lot about troubleshooting internal HDD errors. I
realized I could help visitors with the same problem by
organizing all the info I gathered into this page.
So, before giving up and trying to re-install Windows (or
other OS), or messing with BIOS -- Please see how I
fixed this problem, how others fixed the problem, and
what to do next if you can't find an easy fix. This guide
is based on my experiences fixing this error on a Dell
laptop with WinXP, but the instructions/steps should
hold up for just about any make, model or operating
system (OS).
No Boot Device Available - What Does This Mean?
Simply put: "No Bootable Device Available" means your
computer can't find your hard drive. Aka: Hard Disk or
HDD. The hard drive is where data is stored on your
computer (files, programs, photos, everything), this
includes Windows or whatever operating system you
have installed.
Since your computer "can't find" your hard drive (HDD)...
it can not boot (start) Windows or other OS...and you are
stuck.
Troubleshooting Steps:
First, let's see if your computer has any link left to the
hard drive. You've already tried pushing F1 (if you are on
a Dell), and recieved an "Internal HDD Error".
So, step 1: Press F2 (or whatever the computer
suggests) to enter BIOS setup. If F2 doesn't work try the
"del", or F10 key. The "esc" key works on some brands,
too.
BIOS has different versions, but there should be
something labled "Primary Hard Drive" - if it says
"none" ... then your computer doesn't even recognize
that a Hard Drive is connected. Let's hope my solution
works for you.
If under "Primary Hard Drive" it lists any info (name,
size, etc)...then skip down to this section for your next
step (actually, even if the HDD is showing up in BIOS,
you could try my easy fix below...but it is less likely to
work.
If under "Primary Hard Drive" it says "none", it could just
be a loose connection keep reading:
How I fixed my No Bootable Devices Error on my Dell
Laptop:
I removed the Hard Drive, then pushed it back in...nice
and tight. And TA DA!
All Fixed. Crazy, eh?
If your computer can't find the HDD at all, the problem
came without warning, and you are on a Laptop (Dell
and HP are known for this)... this would be my first
suggestion to try fixing your error.
Opening a computer can void your warranty, but if you
are like me: my computers always break after the
warranty has expired anyway -- it doesn't matter
You must: Unplug the power cable, and remove the
battery first before removing the Hard Drive. Remove any
thing else plugged into the computer: mouse, USB
drives, etc.
Also, you'll want to ground yourself by touching a un-
painted metal object (I use a wrench) to ground myself
before touching the insides of a computer.
After removing the battery, you should see if you
computer model has a way to ground the MotherBoard.
On my Dell 610 -- you simply hold the power button
down for a 5 seconds after disconnecting the battery to
ground the MotherBoard. All Dell laptops work this way,
I think.
This guide has photos and steps to disassemble a Dell
610 Laptop (thanks to the author for helping me fix my
computer!) -- but my guess is that any Dell Laptop
would have similar instructions.
If you have a different computer brand or model simply
do a Google search for "disassemble brand /model" --
replacing "brand / model" with your own computers
name. For instance if you have a HP Pavillion G6, your
search term would be "disassemble HP Pavillion G6". Go
through the results and try to find a nice step-by-step
guide with photos. Check out my resources below for
quick links to common Laptop Disassembly guides .
Remember: you don't have to take apart your whole
computer. Just find out how to remove the battery and
the hard drive. Be sure to read warnings and
suggestions if the guide mentions any.
I don't know if this would work on Desktop computers
-- but it may be worth a try.
Why Does Removing and Putting-Back a Hard Drive Fix
this Error?
Sometimes, the connection to the HDD gets loose --
removing it and putting it back in (push it into the slot
firmly to make sure) can fix this issue instantly. Dell
laptops seem to be especially associated with this
issue.
I also think perhaps removing and re-installing
(physically, not software-wise) the hard drive resets
things back to normal. Kind of like how if your computer
is acting weird, the first step is generally to turn it off
and on again.No Bootable Devices Error
Explanation, Causes & Troubleshooting Guide
Yesterday, in the middle of switching between user
accounts, my Girlfriend's laptop went blank, then blue
screen, then when everything restarted an awful error
message appeared:
"No bootable devices--strike F1 to retry boot, F2 for
setup utility"
If you ask tech support, they will likely suggest wiping
your hard drive (if it is just corrupted) and starting over,
or buying a new hard drive (if it really is dead) and
starting over. Both options suck. And both options
equal loosing any data you have on your computer.
Going through pages and pages of search results, forum
discussions, troubleshooting guides, etc...I fixed my "No
Bootable Devices" error in a very simple way...and
learned a lot about troubleshooting internal HDD errors. I
realized I could help visitors with the same problem by
organizing all the info I gathered into this page.
So, before giving up and trying to re-install Windows (or
other OS), or messing with BIOS -- Please see how I
fixed this problem, how others fixed the problem, and
what to do next if you can't find an easy fix. This guide
is based on my experiences fixing this error on a Dell
laptop with WinXP, but the instructions/steps should
hold up for just about any make, model or operating
system (OS).
No Boot Device Available - What Does This Mean?
Simply put: "No Bootable Device Available" means your
computer can't find your hard drive. Aka: Hard Disk or
HDD. The hard drive is where data is stored on your
computer (files, programs, photos, everything), this
includes Windows or whatever operating system you
have installed.
Since your computer "can't find" your hard drive (HDD)...
it can not boot (start) Windows or other OS...and you are
stuck.
Troubleshooting Steps:
First, let's see if your computer has any link left to the
hard drive. You've already tried pushing F1 (if you are on
a Dell), and recieved an "Internal HDD Error".
So, step 1: Press F2 (or whatever the computer
suggests) to enter BIOS setup. If F2 doesn't work try the
"del", or F10 key. The "esc" key works on some brands,
too.
BIOS has different versions, but there should be
something labled "Primary Hard Drive" - if it says
"none" ... then your computer doesn't even recognize
that a Hard Drive is connected. Let's hope my solution
works for you.
If under "Primary Hard Drive" it lists any info (name,
size, etc)...then skip down to this section for your next
step (actually, even if the HDD is showing up in BIOS,
you could try my easy fix below...but it is less likely to
work.
If under "Primary Hard Drive" it says "none", it could just
be a loose connection keep reading:
How I fixed my No Bootable Devices Error on my Dell
Laptop:
I removed the Hard Drive, then pushed it back in...nice
and tight. And TA DA!
All Fixed. Crazy, eh?
If your computer can't find the HDD at all, the problem
came without warning, and you are on a Laptop (Dell
and HP are known for this)... this would be my first
suggestion to try fixing your error.
Opening a computer can void your warranty, but if you
are like me: my computers always break after the
warranty has expired anyway -- it doesn't matter
You must: Unplug the power cable, and remove the
battery first before removing the Hard Drive. Remove any
thing else plugged into the computer: mouse, USB
drives, etc.
Also, you'll want to ground yourself by touching a un-
painted metal object (I use a wrench) to ground myself
before touching the insides of a computer.
After removing the battery, you should see if you
computer model has a way to ground the MotherBoard.
On my Dell 610 -- you simply hold the power button
down for a 5 seconds after disconnecting the battery to
ground the MotherBoard. All Dell laptops work this way,
I think.
This guide has photos and steps to disassemble a Dell
610 Laptop (thanks to the author for helping me fix my
computer!) -- but my guess is that any Dell Laptop
would have similar instructions.
If you have a different computer brand or model simply
do a Google search for "disassemble brand /model" --
replacing "brand / model" with your own computers
name. For instance if you have a HP Pavillion G6, your
search term would be "disassemble HP Pavillion G6". Go
through the results and try to find a nice step-by-step
guide with photos. Check out my resources below for
quick links to common Laptop Disassembly guides .
Remember: you don't have to take apart your whole
computer. Just find out how to remove the battery and
the hard drive. Be sure to read warnings and
suggestions if the guide mentions any.
I don't know if this would work on Desktop computers
-- but it may be worth a try.
Why Does Removing and Putting-Back a Hard Drive Fix
this Error?
Sometimes, the connection to the HDD gets loose --
removing it and putting it back in (push it into the slot
firmly to make sure) can fix this issue instantly. Dell
laptops seem to be especially associated with this
issue.
I also think perhaps removing and re-installing
(physically, not software-wise) the hard drive resets
things back to normal. Kind of like how if your computer
is acting weird, the first step is generally to turn it off
and on again.No Bootable Devices Error
Explanation, Causes & Troubleshooting Guide
Yesterday, in the middle of switching between user
accounts, my Girlfriend's laptop went blank, then blue
screen, then when everything restarted an awful error
message appeared:
"No bootable devices--strike F1 to retry boot, F2 for
setup utility"
If you ask tech support, they will likely suggest wiping
your hard drive (if it is just corrupted) and starting over,
or buying a new hard drive (if it really is dead) and
starting over. Both options suck. And both options
equal loosing any data you have on your computer.
Going through pages and pages of search results, forum
discussions, troubleshooting guides, etc...I fixed my "No
Bootable Devices" error in a very simple way...and
learned a lot about troubleshooting internal HDD errors. I
realized I could help visitors with the same problem by
organizing all the info I gathered into this page.
So, before giving up and trying to re-install Windows (or
other OS), or messing with BIOS -- Please see how I
fixed this problem, how others fixed the problem, and
what to do next if you can't find an easy fix. This guide
is based on my experiences fixing this error on a Dell
laptop with WinXP, but the instructions/steps should
hold up for just about any make, model or operating
system (OS).
No Boot Device Available - What Does This Mean?
Simply put: "No Bootable Device Available" means your
computer can't find your hard drive. Aka: Hard Disk or
HDD. The hard drive is where data is stored on your
computer (files, programs, photos, everything), this
includes Windows or whatever operating system you
have installed.
Since your computer "can't find" your hard drive (HDD)...
it can not boot (start) Windows or other OS...and you are
stuck.
Troubleshooting Steps:
First, let's see if your computer has any link left to the
hard drive. You've already tried pushing F1 (if you are on
a Dell), and recieved an "Internal HDD Error".
So, step 1: Press F2 (or whatever the computer
suggests) to enter BIOS setup. If F2 doesn't work try the
"del", or F10 key. The "esc" key works on some brands,
too.
BIOS has different versions, but there should be
something labled "Primary Hard Drive" - if it says
"none" ... then your computer doesn't even recognize
that a Hard Drive is connected. Let's hope my solution
works for you.
If under "Primary Hard Drive" it lists any info (name,
size, etc)...then skip down to this section for your next
step (actually, even if the HDD is showing up in BIOS,
you could try my easy fix below...but it is less likely to
work.
If under "Primary Hard Drive" it says "none", it could just
be a loose connection keep reading:
How I fixed my No Bootable Devices Error on my Dell
Laptop:
I removed the Hard Drive, then pushed it back in...nice
and tight. And TA DA!
All Fixed. Crazy, eh?
If your computer can't find the HDD at all, the problem
came without warning, and you are on a Laptop (Dell
and HP are known for this)... this would be my first
suggestion to try fixing your error.
Opening a computer can void your warranty, but if you
are like me: my computers always break after the
warranty has expired anyway -- it doesn't matter
You must: Unplug the power cable, and remove the
battery first before removing the Hard Drive. Remove any
thing else plugged into the computer: mouse, USB
drives, etc.
Also, you'll want to ground yourself by touching a un-
painted metal object (I use a wrench) to ground myself
before touching the insides of a computer.
After removing the battery, you should see if you
computer model has a way to ground the MotherBoard.
On my Dell 610 -- you simply hold the power button
down for a 5 seconds after disconnecting the battery to
ground the MotherBoard. All Dell laptops work this way,
I think.
This guide has photos and steps to disassemble a Dell
610 Laptop (thanks to the author for helping me fix my
computer!) -- but my guess is that any Dell Laptop
would have similar instructions.
If you have a different computer brand or model simply
do a Google search for "disassemble brand /model" --
replacing "brand / model" with your own computers
name. For instance if you have a HP Pavillion G6, your
search term would be "disassemble HP Pavillion G6". Go
through the results and try to find a nice step-by-step
guide with photos. Check out my resources below for
quick links to common Laptop Disassembly guides .
Remember: you don't have to take apart your whole
computer. Just find out how to remove the battery and
the hard drive. Be sure to read warnings and
suggestions if the guide mentions any.
I don't know if this would work on Desktop computers
-- but it may be worth a try.
Why Does Removing and Putting-Back a Hard Drive Fix
this Error?
Sometimes, the connection to the HDD gets loose --
removing it and putting it back in (push it into the slot
firmly to make sure) can fix this issue instantly. Dell
laptops seem to be especially associated with this
issue.
I also think perhaps removing and re-installing
(physically, not software-wise) the hard drive resets
things back to normal. Kind of like how if your computer
is acting weird, the first step is generally to turn it off
and on again.