So, you booted up your PC like any other day, but instead of going straight to the Welcome menu, you’re stuck within boot screen itself with the error “boot device not found”. Luckily, there are ways around this debilitating Windows error, and you can resolve this error for good. But, before that, let’s look at the different causes of this error.
Boot device not found? Here are the causes…
Boot device not found can be caused by a variety of reasons. Here are a few of them:
- Lost your important system files.
- Damaged to the Master Boot Record (MBR) or boot sector.
- While system has become corrupted.
While the apparent causes can be different, the underlying reason of error is almost always damage to the operating system. So, to resolve this error, all solutions will involve resetting the system settings. Let’s dive in into the solutions now.
Top fixes for “Boot device not found” error
For most cases, the first method below will do the trick, and I’d personally suggest you go with that one. It might, however, take a while. So, you can always try one of the more popular methods below to see if you can hack your way into Windows. Let’s begin.
1. Reinstall your Windows 10 or Windows 11
Since the most probable cause of the “Boot device not found” error is trouble with your Windows operating system, the natural way out of it is through reinstalling your operating system.
For this, you’ll need a bootable USB stick. If you have one, great. Otherwise, you’ll create one on another PC. We have created a detailed guide on creating a bootable Windows USB stick. So give that a read, and learn how to do it well.
When you’ve a fresh Windows USB stick ready with you, plug in the USB stick, start up your PC and hit the Esc/F10/F12 key. You’ll be taken to a new boot menu, where you’ll get the option to either install a fresh copy of Windows or repair the existing one.
Go with installing the complete Windows option. From there, simply follow the on-screen instructions, and you’re good to go. The whole process can take anywhere from thirty minutes to a full hour. So make sure you set aside a block of time for doing this.
2. Do a Hard Reboot
A Hard Reboot, sometimes also called cold reboot, is a process of rebooting your PC forcefully by pressing the power button. It drains the electricity in remote parts of your motherboard, and from there, you can start everything afresh.
To carry out a Hard Reboot, press and hold the power button of your PC for about 10 seconds. Your computer will turn off on its own in a while—then, when the power is off, wait for a few seconds and turn it on back again.
Fixing the “Boot device not found” error for good
The “Boot device not found” is an error that can make accessing your PC troublesome. If you follow one of the above listed methods, though, the error can be removed from your PC without any hassles.
