HP Spectre - 13-af528tu cannot Install Windows (Hard Drive Not Found)

[LordJack2023]

I was tasked by my boss to install Windows 11 on HP Spectre - 13-af528tu but no matter how I tried, it always end up in "No Boot Device Found Please Install an Operating System". So far I have tried this method but none of them worked.

1. Legacy/UEFI BIOS Setting. Doesn't work either.

2. Legacy--> Installing windows 11 with MBR settings using rufus.

3. Changing various .iso and flashdisk.

4. Installing the OS on other PC/laptop, and the storage just fine running the installed OS. But the storage with installed OS won't run on the original laptop. The storage is a NVMe SSD.

5. Whenever I tried to Install Windows 11, it is always said that "No Storage Driver Found". But when I tried to search for the driver at https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-spectre-13-af500-laptop-pc-series/19927576/model...

I don't see a single Storage Driver there.

Is there any other way to save this laptop? Please tell me, I've tried all the method, but still won't work.

Thank you very much.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

First go back and set the BIOS to its defaults...Legacy mode disabled; secure boot enabled.

You won't be able to update W11 to the next release unless secure boot is enabled and W11 is installed in UEFI mode.

Use the storage controller drivers that I zipped up and attached below when you are at the screen where W11 can't find any drives.

Unzip the file to its folder and copy the folder to the flash drive.

Click on the Load driver option on that screen, and browse to the USB flash drive with the drivers.

If you check the box, it will only include the compatible driver.

Click Next and hopefully W11 will install.

If not, try making a bootable USB recovery drive with the cloud recovery tool to reinstall W10, so at least you have a working notebook again.

You can use the HP cloud recovery tool and a 32 GB USB flash drive to create a bootable USB recovery drive that will reinstall Windows, the drivers and the software that originally came with the PC.

Here is an info link for how to use the utility.

HP Consumer PCs - Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool in Windows 11 and 10 | HP® Customer Support

You can download the software from the Microsoft Store.

HP Cloud Recovery Tool - Microsoft Store Apps

Since you have to install and run the cloud recovery tool on another PC, you will have to enter the notebook's full product number in the tool's search window in order to proceed to make the recovery media.

I don't know the full product number of your notebook though, so you will have to either find it on the case bottom or in the BIOS' system information screen.

The first part of the number is:  7EW31PA, but I don't know what the other 3 characters are after the # sign.

You need to enter all of that information...7EW31PA#XXX

After you get W10 back up and running, have you tried to manually upgrade to W11 by clicking on the blue W11 Installation Assistant button at the link below (first option)?

If not, you may want to give that a try.

Download Windows 11 (microsoft.com)