Crashing with Boot Device Not Found but no issue with boot device.

[Mulz]

HP Pavilion 15.6 inch Laptop bought this year and will crash about two or three times a week with "Boot Device Not Found". Will always recover with a reboot. Never crashed while I was actually using it and will always reboot without issue.
Running System Diagnostics (F2 on reboot) does not indicate any issues with the boot device and the HP Support Assistant diagnostics all run clean.
The error points to this link https://support.hp.com/ie-en/document/ish_3053911-2842957-16 but it doesn't really refer, as my boot list is not corrupt. My BIOS is up to date (BIOS Revision F.29). Anybody else out there experience this?

[Raj_05]

Hi @Mulz,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

The intermittent "Boot Device Not Found" error you're experiencing can be frustrating, especially since your laptop recovers after rebooting and diagnostics show no issues. Here are some potential causes and solutions.

Possible Causes

1. Loose or Failing SSD Connection:
   • The internal SSD may have a loose connection, leading to temporary disconnections.
2. Power Management Issues:
   • Power-saving features or glitches in the BIOS could cause the SSD to become unresponsive.
3. BIOS Settings:
   • Certain settings, like Fast Boot or Secure Boot, may conflict with how the boot device is recognized.
4. Driver Issues:
   • A driver conflict in the storage controller might lead to intermittent recognition failures.
5. Firmware Issue with the SSD:
   • The SSD itself might have firmware that needs updating.

Steps to Resolve

1. Check Hardware Connection

• Action: If you're comfortable, open the laptop (or have a professional do it) and check if the SSD is securely seated. Sometimes reseating the SSD can resolve the issue.

2. Reset BIOS to Defaults

• Access the BIOS during startup (usually by pressing F10) and reset it to default settings. Ensure the boot order prioritizes the internal SSD.

3. Disable Fast Boot

• Fast Boot can occasionally skip proper initialization steps, causing detection issues.
• Action: Disable Fast Boot in the BIOS and see if this resolves the problem.

4. Update or Reinstall Storage Drivers

• Go to the HP support site for your model and download the latest storage drivers.
• Reinstall the Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RST) drivers or AHCI drivers if applicable.

[Raj_05]

5. Check SSD Firmware

• Visit the SSD manufacturer’s website (if identifiable, e.g., Samsung, Kingston) to check if firmware updates are available.

6. Test with an Extended Diagnostics Tool

• While HP System Diagnostics didn’t detect issues, third-party tools like CrystalDiskInfo or Samsung Magician (for Samsung SSDs) might uncover potential problems.

7. Check Event Viewer for Clues

• Look in the Windows Event Viewer under System Logs around the time of the crashes for any warnings or errors related to the disk or storage subsystem.

8. Monitor Power Management

• Disable settings that allow the SSD to enter a low-power state:
  • Go to Device Manager, expand Disk Drives, right-click your SSD, and go to Properties. Under the Power Management tab, uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power."

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Alden4

HP Support