A message says no bootable device
It says no bootable device found or operating system not found. Is my data gone?
Written by The CommonFixes team · fact checked by CommonFixes review desk
Last updated
Short answer
The computer cannot find the drive that holds Windows. Sometimes the drive is simply not first in the start order, and sometimes a cable or the drive itself has failed. The quickest thing to try first: remove usb drives and restart — A flash drive left in a port is the single most common cause of this message. Most people are done in about 20 minutes.
Full walkthrough below: 5 steps for Windows, rated medium.
Sounds like this
- •Black screen with a text message
- •Mentions boot device or operating system
- •Never reaches Windows
Why it happens
The computer cannot find the drive that holds Windows. Sometimes the drive is simply not first in the start order, and sometimes a cable or the drive itself has failed.
Work through these in order
0% done- 1
Remove USB drives and restart
A flash drive left in a port is the single most common cause of this message.
- 2
Check the boot order
Restart and tap F2, F10 or Delete to open the setup screen. Under Boot, make sure the internal drive, often called Windows Boot Manager, is at the top. Save and exit.
- 3
See whether the drive is listed at all
In the same setup screen, look for the storage list. If the drive does not appear, it is disconnected or dead. If it appears, the fault is in the boot files and is repairable.
- 4
Rebuild the boot files
Start from a Windows USB, choose Repair your computer, Troubleshoot, Command Prompt, and run these one by one: bootrec /fixmbr, bootrec /fixboot, bootrec /rebuildbcd.
- 5
Reseat the drive on a desktop
With the machine unplugged, press the drive cable firmly back into place at both ends. Loose cables are common after moving a desktop tower.
If none of that worked
Your files are usually still fine. A technician can copy them off with a drive adapter even when the computer refuses to start.
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Who wrote this and how we checked it
The CommonFixes team
Writer and researcher
We are a small group of people who spend our days repairing laptops and desktops for family, friends and small offices. Every guide here starts with a problem someone actually brought to us, and we only write down the steps that put the machine right.
- Everyday repairs
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CommonFixes review desk
Technical editor
Before a guide goes live, a second person walks through it on a real machine and checks each instruction against the maker's own support pages. Anything we cannot confirm is removed rather than guessed at.
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This guide was last updated on 10 August 2026. If a step no longer matches what you see on screen, tell us on the contact page and we will test it again.
A gentle reminder: back up anything you cannot afford to lose before major repairs. If a step ever feels risky, stop and ask a technician. There is no shame in that.