Hard Disk - (3F0)

[nikomunenado]

My PC was working just fine with Win10. With no upgrade path to Win11 I installed Ubuntu. It prompted me to update/upgrade firmware (BIOS?). After reboot I am getting 3F0. It will not boot either HDD or USB-stick.

In BIOS via ESC/F10 both Legacy and UEFI boot is disabled. I can enable but Boot Order does NOT show any devices.

Device configuration and UEFI testing is OK and shows me both HDD and USB-stick are detected.

Online searches suggest upgrading BIOS, however I can't find any downloads for my PC Model N3G97AV.

No options to update BIOS from inside BIOS.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

[zoey7886]

@nikomunenado, Welcome to the HP Support Community!  

Thanks for reaching out about your query regarding Hard Disk - (3F0) Error and Enable Boot Devices! 

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.  

The error code Hard Disk - (3F0) typically indicates that the system cannot detect the hard drive during the boot process. Here are the steps to resolve this issue and ensure the boot devices are properly configured in BIOS:

Check and Configure BIOS Settings

Access BIOS Settings:

• Turn on or restart your computer.
• Press Esc repeatedly when the monitor light turns green to access the Startup Menu.
• Press F10 to enter BIOS Setup.

Modify Boot Options:

Navigate to the Advanced menu using the arrow keys.

Ensure that Legacy Support is enabled and Secure Boot is disabled if needed:

• Set Legacy Support: Enabled
• Set Secure Boot: Disabled

If the options are disabled, enable Legacy Support and UEFI Boot Order.

Configure Boot Order:

• In the Boot Options settings, ensure that the UEFI Boot Order is enabled.
• Press Enter to configure the boot order.
• If the boot devices are not listed, troubleshoot connectivity and hardware errors. Check the physical connections and reseat the HDD and USB-stick.

Run System Diagnostics:

• Navigate to the System Diagnostics menu.
• Perform a Memory Test and Hard Drive Check to verify the status of your hardware.

Update BIOS:

• Update System BIOS might resolve issues caused by firmware updates. Here’s how:
  • Select Update System BIOS under the Main menu.
  • Connect to the internet and check for BIOS updates under Network Configuration Settings, or use a USB drive to update the BIOS using local media.  

Hope this helps! 

Take care, and have an amazing day!  

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, Please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!  

Regards, 

[nikomunenado]

I am not having any luck with your instructions. I took snapshots of variety of Menus/Options. I might have a different version of BIOS then you are expecting.

I did open case and tried to re-seat connections for both HDD and SSD. 

In DeviceConfiguration menu I am seeing both HDs and USB

However in Boot Order nothing is available.

And I can't find Menu Option to Update BIOS. 

I did start Memory/HD Tests. Indicative Time for Memory is about 38min, so I didn't wait for completion.

Test for HD1 complete with no issues.

Please let me know if I should attach additional screenshots

Storage/DeviceConfigurationStorageSecurity/SecureBootSecurityPowerFileAdvanced

[zoey7886]

@nikomunenado, Thanks for sharing the BIOS screenshots — that really helps paint a clearer picture. It’s good to hear that both your HDD and USB are visible under Device Configuration, which tells us the hardware is alive and talking to the BIOS.

But since the boot order is empty and you're hitting a 3F0 error, it means the BIOS isn't recognizing any of those devices as bootable at startup — and this often happens after a firmware update or OS reinstall like what you described.

Confirm Boot Mode (UEFI vs Legacy)

From your screenshot, Legacy Support is enabled and Secure Boot is disabled, which is correct if you installed Ubuntu in Legacy mode. But:

If Ubuntu was installed in UEFI mode, try disabling Legacy Support and enabling Secure Boot temporarily, save changes, and reboot.

If Ubuntu was installed in Legacy mode, keep Legacy enabled and Secure Boot disabled.

Mismatch between install mode and BIOS mode is a common cause of boot failures like this.

Try Booting from USB Again

Just to be safe:

Recreate your Ubuntu bootable USB using Rufus or BalenaEtcher.

Plug it in and reboot.

Tap F9 repeatedly at startup (not F10) to access Boot Menu.

If it shows up there, try booting from it directly.

Hope this helps! 

Take care, and have an amazing day!  

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, Please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!  

Regards, 

[nikomunenado]

I have double checked my USB-stick by booting another PC with it.

I have used "F9" and there are no boot options available there.

Everything suggests that w/o BIOS update this very-old PC is not coming back to life.

I still haven't found any "menu-options" in BIOS to trigger an update.

Do you have any more suggestions?

Is my only option a motherboard upgrade?

[Garp_senchau]

Hey @nikomunenado,

Thank you for your response

My colleague @zoey7886 is currently out, but don't worry – I’ll be taking over and making sure we get this sorted for you.

I suggest you refer to this guide and let me know how it goes: HP PCs - Hard disk 3F0 boot device not found error | HP® Support

I hope this helps.

Please feel free to reply here if you have any questions or if you need further clarification on any of the steps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!

Regards,

[nikomunenado]

I've seen this guide before.

It's not finding HD or USB-stick during boot even though it finds them while inside BIOS.

Is there a way to update BIOS?

I understand BIOS is in non-removable chip on MB.

Modern MB will not support 6th Gen CPU 

[Garp_senchau]

Hey @nikomunenado, 

Thanks for reaching out! Since the issue remains unresolved, I suggest contacting our phone/chat support team for personalized assistance. They can provide one-on-one help and may even be able to work their remote assistance magic to fix the problem.

Note: There might be a nominal charge for the service they provide.

Regards,