Boot Device Not Found after Compress OS

[JTSanchez]

Hopefully someone can help. I recently kept getting messages saying to free up space on my C drive. A load of manual deleting later and I came across the ‘compress os’ option in the cleanup. After the messages said it wouldn’t effect the operating I clicked, only now to be presented

with a blue screen. On startup I am now presented with a ‘boot device not found - please install an operating system on your hard disk’ message .

Any help? 

And please if you do imaging you’re speaking to an idiot...you’re probably not far off 🙂

[WAWood · Accepted solution]

@JTSanchez 

Compression is like encryption -- in that, they only work if the Windows boot files exist on a separate partition that is NOT being either compressed or encrypted.

What MIGHT work, is running a utility from a Boot USB stick that will attempt to find and repair the Windows boot files ...

You will need to create Boot Media using a working PC -- as there is no way to repair this on your current PC.

Macrium Reflect is a free tool that can be used to image and restore PCs, but it also has an option to create Rescue Media (in disk or USB form) that can then be used to Repair your PC.  It is available from here: http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

What I recommend is the following:
a) Download and install Macrium Reflect (MR)
b) Use the option to create a boot USB stick or CD
c) Boot your PC from the MR media and select the option to repair the Windows Boot

If that does not work, you are likely then looking at purchasing HP Recovery Media to do a factory reset on your PC.

HP Recovery Media is a set of DVDs and a CD, or USB stick, that will erase the hard drive (removing all data, settings, and applications, reinstall the original OS, drivers, and some HP Utilities.

In some cases, you may be able to order a USB stick instead of disks. You have to order these from HP; they can not be downloaded.

You can look online for Recovery Media starting with the linked paged: http://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers

Once there, input your Product name or number. On your Software and Drivers Download page, select your Operating System and and Version. Click "Update".

If HP Recovery Media is available for your machine, down near the bottom of the page, you will see an entry for Order Recovery Media-CD/DVD/USB. Click the "+" symbol to expand that entry and click on Order Media for details.

Or, if you prefer, you can do the same by contacting HP Customer Service:

If you live in the US or Canada, contact information is on this page: http://www8.hp.com/us/en/contact-hp/phone-assist.html#section1

If you live elsewhere, contact information is on this page: http://www8.hp.com/us/en/contact-hp/ww-contact-us.html

NOTE: After you get through, stay on the line until you are finally able to talk to some one -- it can take a while!

If you have trouble finding a phone number, then try: 1 (650) 857-1501.

If HP no longer provides Recovery Media for your model, another site you can check is: http://www.computersurgeons.com

When you get the media, if it is a USB stick, insert it into your PC, pressing F9 to get a Boot menu, then select the External USB Hard Drive to boot from it.

[JTSanchez]

@WAWood Thanks for the reply. This would be just days after finding my HP laptop screen has cracked and now, no more computers at home...always the way! 

I’ll see if I can get hold of one and do as suggested. I’ll update with how it goes. Thanks again

[JTSanchez]

@WAWood. Thanks. That seemed to work. However on going to the computer this morning I was presented with the no boot device message again. I changed the boot options and removed the usb. 

When I put the usb in it automatically repaired what it needed to, or so I thought. Any tips on what to do once I’ve logged in. Thanks