Boot device not found please install an operating system. Please help!

[Thongpoon]

Hello,

I have this laptop with an SSD harddisk. The laptop always works fine but I have 1 big problem and I am not able to solve this problem. Many times I get the message: boot device not found. please install an operating system. Ofcourse I did check my hardware, harddisk and memory. everyting is ok but that message comes almost every time I startup my laptop. I check the HP site for help but that is very difficult. It has something to do with UEFI and I must do something with my bios. I am trying to find a solution for a few weeks now but for me its impossible. I guess I am too old for this. Do anybody have an simple solution for this problem?? I try everything but its simply to complicated for me. Please help.

Excuse me my bad English.

Regards Thongpoon.

 

[EddyK]

Hello Thongpoon,

Your English is great.:smileyhappy:

I do want to inquire how you checked your hardware - through manual inspection and removal or through HP UEFI Diagnostics.

Either way, please try both - open up the laptop using your computer's Maintenance and Service Guide as reference and disconnect, reconnect the hard drive. The steps of removal of the hard drive are on page 75 and will include the reference pages of how to access the internal components of the computer. You will only need to disconnect it from the system board - please do not disassemble the hard drive.

In terms of the HP UEFI Diagnostics, please follow the below steps:

1. Repeatedly press Esc upon startup
2. Select F2 (System Diagnostics)
3. Select the desired language
4. Navigate to component tests
5. Select Hard Drive

Also please try a hard/power reset. 

Remove any external peripherals, disconnect the battery, and hold down the power button for at least 30 seconds. Then reinsert the battery, plug in the AC adapter and attempt to turn the laptop back on. 

Regards,

Eddy

Hit the Accept as Solution if I solved your problem.
Hit the thumbs up to show appreciation!

[Thongpoon]

Hi Eddy,

Thanks for your quick response! I did both things you adviced. Now I have to try it out a few days and see if it happens again. I will let you know if the problem still exsist. Thanks again!!

[Thongpoon]

Hi Eddy,

Its not working and the message keeps coming. It is not happen every time I startup. Some times It startup perfect for a few days, but then the error message pops up again. It drives me crazy and I am not exactly an whizzkid.

Regards, Poon.

[EddyK]

Hello Thongpoon,

The second method in confirming whether this is a hardware issue is not a solution but a diagnostics tool. So did you receive any failure ID? 

Please run it again if you are not too sure and this time also do System test > Fast test.

Because it is only happening every now and then, it may be ok but please try these two methods below to check/fix any boot/file corruption:

Search CMD > right-click and select Run as Administrator > type in "sfc /scannow" without the quotation marks and with the space in between the c and /. 

Then please refer to this article on repairing the MBR. Scroll all the way down to Fix the MBR in Windows 10 and proceed with the steps.

Regards,

Eddy

Hit the Accept as Solution if I solved your problem.
Hit the thumbs up to show appreciation!

[mdklassen]

>  It does not happen every time I startup.

> Sometimes It startup perfect for a few days, but then the error message pops up again.

Your disk-drive is in "imminent failure" status.  It must be replaced, before it fails 100% of the time.

There are two methods:

1. make a backup copy, onto large capacity USB memory-stick, or writing to DVD-recordable media, or external disk-drive, of all your personal files.  Then, take an inventory of all the installed programs. Find the media to reinstall those programs. Find the media to reinstall Windows. Buy a new disk-drive.  Install it, to replace the current disk-drive. Reinstall Windows. Reinstall your programs.  Restore your personal files from your backup. Run Windows Update.  This will take a full day, or more.

2. buy a new disk-drive, and use "disk-cloning" software, to make an exact, block-for-block, copy of your disk-drive.

Remove the old disk-drive. Connect the new disk-drive. Boot from the new disk-drive.  Done -- within 3 hours.

If doing either of the above is too complicated for you, find a friend who is willing to help, or hire a professional computer-technician to do the  work.

P.S. Note that it is the motherboard that is failing to "detect" the "hardware" -- the disk-drive -- sometimes.

So, running any "software" programs, such as "SFC" (System File Checker) or "Fix Boot Record" cannot fix your "hardware" problems. 

Your only solution is to replace the disk-drive.

[EddyK]

I wasn't too sure if it really was the hard drive failing but because mdklassen confirmed it, I also agree with having the hard drive replaced.

If you are still under warranty, contact HP.

Contact HP Worldwide here.

Check warranty status here.

If you are not under warranty, you will need to replace the hard drive yourself or bring the computer to your local computer repair shop. Make sure you have gone through mdklassen's post on backing up your files. Steps to replacement are located on pages 75-76 on your computer's Maintenance and Service Guide.

If you wish to, you can order the hard drives that are 100% confirmed to work with this model, from HP:

You can then use the HP Spare part number(s) in the HP Parts store here. You may also be able to find it elsewhere on the Internet.

However, I do recommend that you instead opt for an SSD such as this.

Kind regards,

Eddy

Hit the Accept as Solution if I solved your problem.
Hit the thumbs up to show appreciation!

[Thongpoon]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for trying to help me! For the last days I was busy with trying to fix my problem, but it is too complicated for me. I think its better to bring my laptop to a computershop and let it fix there. As I am living in a small town in Thailand its not easy to find an computerspecialist, but we will see. Thanks again for your help !!

Regards, Thongpoon. 

[EddyK]

Hello Thongpoon,

While any computer shop is fine, I would recommend visiting an HP Authorized Service Center in Thailand.

If you are under warranty, the service would be free of cost.

Check warranty status here.

Check out Thailand's service centres here.

Regards,

Eddy