A “no bootable device” message on a black screen is simply an indication that your computer did not find anything it thought was a valid drive to start Windows (or macOS), and therefore will not allow it to start from there. This problem can be caused by a setting, or the drive you have can be dead with all of your files still on it. The great news is that you can go through the resolution process from the easiest possible solution to the most serious. Below is the explanation of what the error means, how to fix it, and how to recover your files if the drive itself is dead.
All that the “no bootable device” message says to you is that your computer could not find something it could use as a starting point (boot). The reason your computer could not find something it could use as a starting point could have been because of the boot order, a loose cable, corrupted Windows files, or a dead drive, so let’s work through the easy solutions first, and then make recovering your files the top priority if the drive itself has failed.
After turning a PC on, the BIOS/UEFI code (firmware) starts searching a list of drives for a drive containing an OS capable of being booted. The “no bootable device” error and similar errors (“no boot device available” and “operating system not found”) tell you that the search yielded no results. The single most important item you should take away from this is that just because your PC cannot start from the drive indicated, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the drive is dead or that all of your files have disappeared; it merely means that the computer cannot start from the drive. Therefore, since the cause could range from a changed setting to a hardware failure, checking every option from least to greatest in seriousness makes sense, and we’ll do just that.
Start with the cheap fixes. Most commonly, you just need to make sure your main drive is listed and in first position in the boot order: enter the BIOS/UEFI, usually by tapping F2, F12, Delete or Esc during power-on. A flat CMOS battery, a plugged-in USB stick or a knocked setting can all bump it down the list. While you’re there, check whether the drive is detected at all. If it’s a desktop, or you’re comfortable going inside a laptop, unplugging and replugging the drive’s power and data cables can fix a connection that has worked loose. If the drive is showing up and the boot order is correct but it still won’t boot, the problem has moved from hardware to software.
If the drive appears in the BIOS/UEFI but Windows will not start, your boot files or partition may be corrupt, for example due to a botched update, a loss of power while writing data, or a corrupted file system. Windows’ built-in Startup Repair (from a recovery USB) can often rebuild the boot information, and tools like bootrec can repair the boot sector. These are safe to try because the drive is healthy: they address the software, not the disk. However, you need to be cautious about any option that reinstalls Windows or wipes the drive to “fix” it: if your files aren’t backed up, that is the step that loses them. Recover the data first if it matters.
If the BIOS/UEFI cannot find your hard drive, or the hard drive is clicking or remains completely silent, then the failure is in the hard drive’s hardware. Boot repair will never restore a bad hard drive. Your primary concern now should be the protection of your data. Do not continue to turn the PC off and on with hopes that it will eventually boot up. Do not allow anyone to put Windows on a new disk before the original has been recovered. Dead boot disks are handled just like every other dead drive: they are taken back to the bench and returned to a readable state, after which they are imaged read-only and a single drive is from £300 +VAT. After the safety of your data is secured, the PC can be fitted with a new drive and a new install of Windows.
It indicates that when the computer was scanning through its available devices for one that contained an operating system (OS), it found none. This does not necessarily mean that your drive is dead or that you have lost your files; it merely means that the computer was unable to start from that particular device. There are many possible causes for this condition, including: a changed boot-order configuration; a corrupted Windows OS installation; or a dead drive.
Work from lowest risk to highest. First check the BIOS boot order. Next check that your drive is recognised and listed first. For most desktops, reseating the drive cable(s) may resolve the issue. If your drive is being recognised by the BIOS but Windows will still not load, attempt using the built-in Startup Repair tool via a recovery USB. If the BIOS does not detect your drive at all, or if your drive makes clicking noises, then it has failed and your priorities shift from trying to fix the boot to focusing on recovering your data.
Not necessarily. If something goes wrong with the boot order (or a bad cable, or corrupted Windows files), the drive and your data are okay once that is fixed. The only time you would lose your data is either if the drive has actually failed, or if you reinstall Windows/remove all content on the drive to fix the problem without backing up first. Get your data from the drive before doing anything destructive.
Usually, a loose or bad cable, or failure of the drive itself: dead board, stuck motor, failing heads. Sometimes simply reseating cables will correct any connection issues. If the BIOS still can’t see your drive, or it’s clicking/silently unresponsive, then the hardware has failed and requires bench recovery: there is no more reason to try to boot it.
Yes. Frequently, a drive that won’t boot may still be recovered; sometimes it’s just a software or connection fault, and even a physically failed boot drive can be repaired enough to read on the bench and imaged read-only. Please don’t keep reinstalling/power-cycling it; a single-drive recovery costs from £300 + VAT after a free diagnostic.
If your drive is clicking and/or the BIOS won’t identify it, do not attempt to install over it. Please send it in for us to read it out read-only first. We’ll provide a free diagnostic and a fixed quote before we do any work.