BIOS & startup · critical

How to fixBoot Device Not Found

Boot Device Not Found

What this error means

Boot Device Not Found shows up as a critical-severity hardware BIOS/UEFI fault. The BIOS/UEFI firmware cannot locate a bootable operating system partition or storage drive. Reports of Boot Device Not Found usually describe a sudden crash, brief unresponsiveness, or a stop-code screen appearing out of nowhere. The steps below are ordered to resolve this efficiently.

Before you begin

Save open work and back up important files. Note any recent driver or hardware changes. If Windows cannot start, use the startup guide first.

Work through these checks

0 of 3 complete
01Check physical SATA/power/NVMe connection

Check physical SATA/power/NVMe connection.

Use the instructions for your exact device and operating system. Check the manufacturer’s documentation before changing firmware, hardware, or system settings.

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02Repair MBR/BCD via Windows Installation USB

Repair MBR/BCD via Windows Installation USB.

Use the instructions for your exact device and operating system. Check the manufacturer’s documentation before changing firmware, hardware, or system settings.

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03Check drive health status in BIOS

Check drive health status in BIOS.

Use the instructions for your exact device and operating system. Check the manufacturer’s documentation before changing firmware, hardware, or system settings.

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Possible causes

  • Disconnected storage drive SATA or NVMe cables
  • Corrupted boot files (MBR or BCD)
  • Failed hard drive or SSD