Top 5 Ways to Fix No Bootable Device Error on Windows 10

Your computer is running Windows 10 and Windows 11 without errors if you do not modify the original installation. However, it is a horror to wake up and find your computer returning the “No Bootable Device Found” error.

This error occurs when the hardware cannot detect the Windows operating system on your computer’s storage. It can also happen if the boot files are corrupted. Either way, troubleshooting and running a few fixes can clear the error. Here is how you can do it.

1. Check your boot order and BIOS settings

An improperly configured boot order can redirect your computer to load from the wrong drive. This can happen if you installed a new hard drive or SSD but forgot to set the boot order from BIOS. In such a case, your computer displays this error and you can resolve it by correcting the boot order.

Step 1: Turn on your PC and click a certain key to access your BIOS / UEFI settings menu. The most common keys you can press are F2, F12, or DEL.

To note: Different PCs have different keys that you can press to access the settings menu. Check your computer manufacturer’s support site to confirm the correct key.

2nd step: Go to your computer’s startup option.

To note: The position of the start menu will be different from device to device. Use the manufacturer’s manual to determine the boot option in your computer’s BIOS.

Step 3: Move your system drive to the first option and press F10 to save the changes.

Restart your computer and confirm if you can now start your PC.

Loose or damaged devices are a major cause of the unbootable device error. In such a case, you need to check the functionality of all connected devices. You can try unplugging and then plugging in external devices again to see if your device boots up properly.

Additionally, check for damaged devices and replace them. Remember to boot your device before plugging it back in in the case of removable devices, such as USB drivers. You can then plug in the external devices one by one to determine and correct which one is causing the error.

3. Fix MBR boot information

Corrupted MBR boot information can also cause the “no bootable device” error. To rebuild your Master Boot Record (MBR), use the command prompts. For this method, you need the Windows installation media on USB or DVD.

Step 1: Boot from the Windows installation media.

2nd step: Select Language and Region and click Next.

Step 3: Tap Repair your computer.

Step 4: Select Troubleshoot.

Step 5: Touch Advanced options.

Step 6: In the Advanced options window, tap Command prompts

Step 7: Type the following commands and press Enter after each.

bootrec/fixmbr

bootrec/fixboot

bootrec/scanos

bootrec/rebuildbcd

Wait for the process to complete then exit the window and restart your PC.

4. Use SFC to scan for corrupt files

You can also use SFC commands to scan and repair corrupt files. Here is how you can do it.

Step 1: Open the command prompt window and type this command. Replace C and D with the drive letter assigned to the System Reserved partition and your existing Windows installation, respectively.

sfc /scannow /offbootdir=C: /offwindir=D:Windows

2nd step: Press Enter to start executing the command. Exit when the process is complete, then restart your computer.

5. Set the primary partition to Active

Sometimes a problem in the primary partition can cause the unbootable device error. In cases where the primary partition is inactive, follow these steps to make it active.

Step 1: Boot the Windows installation media and follow solution 3 to get to the command prompt.

2nd step: Type disc part and press Enter. Then type list disk and press Enter.

Step 3: Type select disk 0, where 0 is the disk where your operating system is installed, and then press Enter.

Step 4: Type list partition to see the different partitions on the disk and press Enter. Locate the System Reserved partition which is usually the smallest in size.

Step 5: If the system partition is # 1, type select partition 1 and press Enter. To set it to active, type active and then press Enter.

Exit the command prompt and restart your computer to update the changes.

Starting your device

Running command prompts can help fix the non-bootable device error. Another usable device for the error is troubleshooting issues with external devices. Also, consider keeping a Windows system up to date. Windows Update introduces features that resolve most driver issues.