Boot device not found.. Install operating system on your hard disk

[BRANCHEX]

Boot device not found.. Install operating system on your hard disk

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @BRANCHEX,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.
 

Thank you for posting your query. I will be glad to help you.

The “Boot device not found. Install an operating system on your hard disk” error on your HP desktop usually means the system can’t detect a valid bootable drive. This can feel alarming, but let’s walk through it step by step to see if we can bring it back to life.

Step-by-Step Fix for “Boot Device Not Found”

1. Check BIOS for Drive Detection

Let’s first see if your hard drive is being detected:

1. Turn off the PC.
2. Turn it back on and immediately press F10 repeatedly to enter BIOS Setup.
3. In BIOS, check: 
   • Storage > Device Configuration – Is your hard drive listed?
   • If not, it may be disconnected or have failed.

If the drive is detected, proceed to Step 2.
If not detected, skip to Step 4.

2. Reset BIOS to Defaults

Sometimes a misconfigured BIOS can cause boot issues:

1. In BIOS, press F9 to load defaults.
2. Press F10 to save and exit.

3. Run HP Diagnostics

1. Restart the PC and press F2 repeatedly to enter HP Hardware Diagnostics.
2. Run the Storage Test.  
   • If it fails, the hard drive may be corrupted or failing.
   • If it passes, the OS might be missing or corrupted.

4. Reseat or Replace the Drive (if not detected)

If the drive isn’t showing up in BIOS:

• Open the desktop case (if you're comfortable doing so).
• Reseat the SATA and power cables to the hard drive.
• If still not detected, the drive may need replacement.

5. Reinstall Windows

If the drive is detected and passes diagnostics, but the OS is missing:

• Use another PC to create a Windows 11 bootable USB: 
  • Download HP Consumer PCs - Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool in Windows 11 and 10 | HP® Support
• Boot from the USB and reinstall Windows.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have an amazing day!
 

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Regards,

VikramTheGreat