3F0 boot device not found error with BIOS

[modemasue]

Hello everyone,

I was working on my laptop when suddenly it turned off. I turned it on but it couldn't boot up OS, showing the message "boot device not found". I found the solution on hp support site but I can't follow it because my BIOS has white design, not regular blue one (sorry I don't know how to explain it). I followed up to 3rd step on this https://support.hp.com/hr-en/document/c06201699 but I cant find Optane memory because of BIOS. Please help me, this is really urgent, I need my pc for school and this showed up unexpetedly. My SSD and everything is working perfectly, but somehow it can not boot Windows 10. 

[IT_WinSec]

Hi @modemasue 

Welcome to the HP Support Communities.

Your BIOS is with white background because you use a business class/commercial notebook.

Reason/Root cause >> You get this 3F0 message because either of these:

-  Computer's BIOS is not configured correctly and it tries to boot from a device (not standard HDD) that has no bootable stuff on it (e.g. empty USB pen drive)

-  there is no HDD/SSD/disk drive/storage drive present in the PC

-  HDD/SSD is indeed present but corrupted (or some connector is not working)

-  Operating system (e.g. Windows) is totally corrupt/unbootable

You can review the official HP article about such issues > http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c01443463

Tell me if you have performed any changes before the issue started, provide some update.

* Please, perform some basic hardware checks to rule out corrupted SSD

1. Please, shutdown the computer using the power button

2. Power it on.

2.1 As soon as you press the power-on button, immediately begin hitting the Esc button (like tap-tap-tap).

This should open a HP Startup Menu >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSN0qzXayUY

3. Choose F2 to open System Diagnostics (or the respective F option to run diagnostics).

Follow the on-screen instructions to perform System Test >> Fast tests.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JXUp43ahHA

If there are no system checks/no quick tests, perform Run in test

or SSD/HDD (storage disk drive) and RAM (memory) check.

Let me know the test results.

* Reset BIOS/UEFI settings to default... Repeat steps above but when HP Startup menu opens, please choose F10 to open BIOS setup.

Navigate through the BIOS and find the option to load default settings/configuration/reset BIOS settings to default.

Save the changes.

Check the Legacy boot and Secure boot options in Advanced tab.

Exit the BIOS saving the changes.

Let me know how it goes.

[modemasue]

Hi @IT_WinSec,

I performed system checks on both Memory and Hard Drive, and they are both working properly, message shown says PASSED.

For the next step, I entered BIOS, but there is no option to load default settings/configuration/reset BIOS settings to default available, instead I have these options: Save custom Defaults, Apply Custom Defaults and Exit, Apply Factory Defaults and Exit, Ignore Changes and Exit, and Save Changes and Exit. Should I choose option 'Apply Factory Defaults and Exit'?

In Advanced,  'Legacy Support Enable and Secure Boot Disable' is already chosen. 

[IT_WinSec]

Hi,

Yes, it's called "apply factory default".

If 'Legacy Support Enable and Secure Boot Disable' is already chosen, you may want to turn them to "Legacy Support Disable and Secure Boot Disable" to see if Windows will boot.

Does the 3F0 message says to install an operating system ?

[modemasue]

Hi,

I tried with 'Apply Factory Default' but it is still not booting up. I also tried changing to "Legacy Support Disable and Secure Boot Disable" but it won't boot. 

The message I get on my screen is this:

'BootDevice Not Found

Please install an operating system on your hard disk.

Hard Disk - (3F0)

F2 System Diagnostics

For more information, please visit: www.hp.com\go\techcenter\startup'

Thank you for your help. 

[IT_WinSec · Accepted solution]

Hi @modemasue 

"Please install an operating system on your hard disk" means that it cannot find an operating system to load.

Considering that message + the BIOS checks + the hardware checks, I can conclude that the problem comes from a corrupted operating system.

Something has corrupted your operating system. You need to reinstall Windows on this machine. Check the attached PDF file (below) and follow the steps to create a Windows installation USB. Use it to reinstall Windows.

Do you have a back-up of your data ? If you do not, I might be able to provide you with some steps to try to back up your files prior to installing Windows.

Let me know how it goes

[modemasue]

Hi,

I unfortunately did not backup my data, it would be great if you could help me with that. I recently bought this laptop so I will return it to seller, they can install OS again.  I just do not understand how this all happened.

Thank you so much for your help. 

[IT_WinSec]

Hi,

There are 2 options which I can think of:

1) Please, check this thread with an option with a Linux bootable device (slightly more difficult option but should work) >> https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Boot-and-Lockup/Startup-disk-error/m-p/7519579/highlight/fals...

2) Slightly easier option with F11 Windows options depending on how your Windows was installed and if recovery partition is still there working >> https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Operating-System-and-Recovery/Windows-10-desktop-screen-not-f...

3) Third option would be to get the disk drive out and attach it to another PC ... Let me know if you need instructions for that.

How your issue happened - it often happens due to Windows updates being applied automatically and something got installed on its own, it was not very compatible with your device, which caused this problem... this is typical for Microsoft's Windows 10. If you want to avoid these scenarios, you need the Pro version of Windows 10 or Enterprise editions and your Windows must be configured to delay certain updates and never install them automatically. Here are some tips >> https://www.windowscentral.com/how-stop-updates-installing-automatically-windows-10

With Win 10 Home edition, you may use this >> https://greatis.com/stopupdates10/

Of course, it may be something else besides Windows, like virus/malware... etc

[modemasue]

Hi,

In this second thread, I can not open file you posted for Windows 10 recovery option. 

It is funny because I have Windows 10 Pro installed but updates were set to be installed automatically, so I don't know if that caused this issue 😞 

Again, thank you so much for your help.

[IT_WinSec]

You are most welcome ! 😊

In the second thread (F11), you do not need to download anything, just check if your PC can boot to F11 recovery options and follow the steps with Notepad, etc...

Once you reinstall Windows, just ping me again (post back) and I will help you configure Windows to avoid these issues come again.