Insert boot disk and press any key, Also stuck in BIOS and cannot acess advanced options.

[helpmepls7777]

i cannot boot & install my windows, due to a error “insert boot disk & press any key”, I am stuck on BIOS, and cannot access advanced options and neither advanced options to use the command prompt. I’m also unsure about my boot order, which causes me not to be able to boot correctly. I almost installed windows, but my drive wasn’t popping up as i was tryna set it as active, its a new cheap drive so i don’t think it’s necessarily a big problem within the drive. Its about to drive me up a wall, please help or come with a solution, I just want to play sims 2..

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @helpmepls7777 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

Thank you for sharing the details. We understand you're seeing the "Insert boot disk and press any key" message, are being taken directly into the BIOS, and are unable to access the advanced startup options needed to continue with Windows installation. We appreciate the information you've already provided, including that you've nearly completed a Windows installation attempt and have checked the drive during setup.

To help us better understand the situation and identify the most suitable solution, could you share a few additional details?

What is the full HP product model or product number?

• Examples: HP Pavilion 15, HP ENVY x360, HP Victus 16, HP Desktop M01, etc.

Is the storage drive:

• The original drive that came with the computer?
• Or a newly installed SSD/HDD?

When you enter BIOS, does the drive appear under:

• Storage Information
• System Information
• NVMe/SATA Devices

Are you trying to install:

• Windows 10
• Windows 11

Was the Windows installation media created on:

• A USB flash drive
• Another device
• HP Cloud Recovery Media

When you attempted the Windows installation and did not see the drive, do you recall whether the Windows Setup screen showed:

• No drives at all
• An unallocated drive
• A message about missing storage drivers

What happens after you save and exit BIOS?

• Does it immediately return to BIOS?
• Does it show "Insert boot disk and press any key"?
• Does it attempt to start Windows Setup?

Have you already tried any troubleshooting such as:

• Restoring BIOS defaults
• Changing Secure Boot settings
• Changing UEFI/Legacy boot settings
• Recreating the Windows installation USB
• Running HP Hardware Diagnostics

Once we have these details, we can determine whether we're dealing with a boot configuration issue, storage detection issue, Windows installation media issue, or a BIOS setting that may be affecting the boot process.

We're looking forward to helping you get back up and running! 

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

Note: Do not share any of your personal information in public, such as serial number, phone number, email ID, etc.

[helpmepls7777]

Hi! My pc is a HP Stream Laptop

14-axOXX, and it has its original drive. When I enter BIOS, I see system information and just the regular BIOS settings. I am trying to install Windows 10, and i installed it on my new usb. When I attempt to boot, Its no drive found at all, or unallocated drive when I activated my drive as active. After I press key “F10”, It immediately shows “Insert boot disk and press any key" when my USB is in, it does not attempt to open windows afterwards so I’m not very sure if I can reinstall windows. I’ve really had changed & altered almost all my settings, but I’m not really sure what else is missing.

[Hawks_Eye]

Thanks for replying @helpmepls7777

Thank you for the update and for sharing those details. We understand you'd like to get Windows installed and get the HP Stream 14 back to a bootable state. We also appreciate the troubleshooting you've already performed, including checking BIOS settings and attempting the Windows installation.

Based on what you've described, a few things stand out:

• The system is displaying "Insert boot disk and press any key" immediately after exiting BIOS.
• Windows Setup previously showed no drive or an unallocated drive.
• The computer has the original internal drive.
• Multiple BIOS settings have already been changed.

This suggests the system may be dealing with either:

• A BIOS boot configuration issue.
• The internal storage not being detected properly.
• Windows installation media not booting correctly.
• Storage partitions that need to be recreated during Windows Setup.

Please try the following steps in order:

Step 1: Restore BIOS Defaults

1. Turn the notebook on and repeatedly tap F10.
2. In BIOS, press F9 to load default settings.
3. Select Yes.
4. Press F10 to save and exit.

Then check whether the system behavior changes.

 

Step 2: Verify the Internal Drive Is Detected

While in BIOS:

1. Open System Information.
2. Look for:
   • Hard Drive
   • SSD
   • eMMC Storage
   • Storage Device Information

If no storage device appears at all, Windows Setup will not be able to install.

 

Step 3: Use the Startup Menu

1. Power off the notebook.
2. Power it on and immediately tap Esc repeatedly.
3. The Startup Menu should appear.
4. Select F9 Boot Device Options.

Check whether you can see:

• USB Hard Drive
• UEFI USB Device
• Windows Boot Manager

If the USB is listed, select the UEFI USB option.

 

Step 4: Recreate the Windows 10 Installation USB

If the USB does not consistently appear as a boot device, recreate it using Microsoft's Media Creation Tool on another computer.

When recreated, ensure:

• USB capacity is at least 8 GB.
• Installation media is created for Windows 10 64-bit.
• The process completes without errors.

 

Step 5: Delete All Existing Partitions During Setup

If Windows Setup opens and you can see the drive:

1. Select Custom: Install Windows Only.
2. Highlight each existing partition.
3. Select Delete until only Unallocated Space remains.
4. Select the unallocated space.
5. Click Next.

Do not manually set partitions as Active. On UEFI systems such as the HP Stream 14, Windows will automatically create the required partitions.

 

Step 6: Run HP Hardware Diagnostics

1. Power off the notebook.
2. Turn it on and repeatedly tap Esc.
3. Select F2 System Diagnostics.
4. Run:
   • Storage Test
   • Quick Test

If the storage test fails or the drive is not detected, the issue is likely with the storage device itself rather than Windows installation.

 

Important Note

The HP Stream 14-ax series commonly uses eMMC storage rather than a traditional SSD. If the eMMC storage is not detected in BIOS or HP Diagnostics, Windows Setup may show no drive available and installation cannot proceed until the storage is recognized.

Please check whether the internal storage appears in BIOS System Information and whether the F2 Storage Test detects the drive. Those results will help determine the next steps.

Regards,

Hawks_Eye