How to Fix a No Bootable Device Error on Windows 10

First of all do not panic

If you’ve started up your Windows PC and you’re faced with a “no bootable device” error, you might panic. While it could be a sign that your hard drive has failed, it could also point to a misconfigured boot order or corrupt system files, which can be fixed using certain Windows system commands like the System File Checker (SFC).

A “no bootable device” error can be problematic, but it can also be fixed by following some common troubleshooting steps. If you’re facing this error and you’re not sure how to fix it, the steps below should help you resolve the issue on Windows 10.

Check Your Drive Boot Order

In many cases, a “no bootable device” error is a sign that your PC can’t find the correct drive to boot up because the boot order, which determines which drives and devices it should load and in what order, is incorrectly configured. To fix this, you’ll need to enter your PC’s BIOS or UEFI settings menu.

With the boot order changed, follow the on-screen instructions to save your settings and reboot your PC. When your PC reboots, and assuming no other issues, your system drive will load first, allowing the Windows boot-up process to begin.

Check Your Cabling

If there are other issues causing a “no bootable device” error, however, you’ll need to investigate further. If you have a desktop PC, for instance, you may need to open the case and check the cabling to ensure that your hard drive’s power and data cables are connected properly.

If your drive has loose cabling, there may not be enough power for it to boot. Likewise, if the data cable from your drive to your motherboard is loose, your drive can’t be used, causing the error.

Before you close your case, however, you should also check for damage. A frayed or exposed cable may also stop your drive from working. Always replace damaged cabling when you spot it to prevent your drive from being damaged.

Scan for Corrupt System Files Using SFC

If your hard drive is connected properly, it could point to a corrupt Windows installation. You can check for corrupt system files using theSystem File Checker(SFC)tool.

As Windows can’t boot, however, you’ll need tocreate a Windows 10 installation USB stick(or DVD)first. This will give you access to a command prompt in the Windows installation menu, allowing you to run theSFCcommand to scan for corrupt files on your drive.

However, this will only work if your drive is detected by your PC in your BIOS/UEFI menu and by the Windows installation media. Otherwise, this step won’t work, and you’ll need to try another method.

Repair Windows Bootloader (GPT or MBR) Using Diskpart

Older Windows installations used a Master Boot Record (MBR) to save hard drive partition information to your drive, giving your PC information on where to find and load Windows system files. If you’veswitched from MBR to GPTrecently, you may have corrupted your bootloader.

As a PC’s BIOS/UEFI requires this information to boot Windows, you’ll need to repair or replace it first using thediskpartcommand. This carriesextreme risk, however, and could cause you to lose all saved data on a drive. If you’re unsure what you’re doing, you’ll need to use another method to back up your drive first.

If you want to proceed, you’ll need Windows installation media on a USB drive or DVD first to be able to run this command on a drive that no longer boots.

If these steps don’t work, or if you’ve corrupted your bootloader entirely, you may need towipe and reinstall Windows. This will place a new bootloader on your system drive, but you’ll probably lose any saved files in the process.

Maintaining a Windows 10 Installation

A “no bootable device” error on a Windows 10 PC can be a sign that urgent maintenance is required. Keeping your PC well maintained withregular system updatesand ascheduled file backupcan help you, especially if your hardware has failed and you need to reset Windows to factory settings.

Of course, if a broken drive is causing these issues, it could be time toupgrade your PCand replace your drive completely. Switching from an older hard drive toan SSHD or SSD driveshould improve speed and efficiency, but you may want to invest in agood external hard driveto keep your essential files safe from sudden data loss.

Ben Stockton is a freelance technology writer based in the United Kingdom. In a past life, Ben was a college lecturer in the UK, training teens and adults. Since leaving the classroom, Ben has taken his teaching experience and applied it to writing tech how-to guides and tutorials, specialising in Linux, Windows, and Android. He has a degree in History and a postgraduate qualification in Computing.Read Ben’s Full Bio

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