Screen says "missing boot file'

[MTMpaul]

Screen says "missing boot file'  Recently gotten message "LOW storage"

[zoey7886]

@MTMpaul, Welcome to the HP Support Community!  

Thanks for reaching out about your query regarding "Missing boot file" error! 

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.  

It sounds like you’re dealing with two separate but possibly related issues — the "missing boot file" error and the "low storage" warning. Don’t worry, I’ll walk you through some steps to help get your laptop back on track.

Missing Boot File Issue

The "missing boot file" message usually means that your laptop is having trouble locating the operating system when starting up. Here’s what you can try:

Power Reset

• Turn off your laptop completely.
• Disconnect any external devices (like USB drives or external hard disks).
• Press and hold the power button for about 15 seconds to drain any residual power.
• Turn it back on and see if it boots up.

Run Startup Repair
If it still doesn’t boot, try this:

1. Turn off the laptop.
2. Turn it back on and immediately press the F11 key repeatedly until you see the recovery menu.
3. Select "Advanced Options" → "Startup Repair" and follow the prompts.

Check Boot Order in BIOS
If Startup Repair doesn’t work:

1. Restart the laptop and press F10 to enter BIOS.
2. Under the Boot Options section, make sure the hard drive is listed as the first boot device.
3. Save and exit.

Low Storage Issue

Low storage can sometimes lead to system instability, so it’s good to address this too:

Free Up Space

• Open Settings → System → Storage to see what’s taking up space.
• Use the Storage Sense feature to clear temporary files and empty the recycle bin.
• Uninstall any unused programs and delete large files you don’t need.

Check Disk Health
Sometimes low storage can signal that your hard drive is nearing capacity or experiencing issues:

• Open Command Prompt (type cmd in the search bar).
• Type chkdsk /f and press Enter – this will check for and fix file system errors.

Give these steps a try and let me know how it goes! If you still see the boot error or have any other questions, just reply here — happy to help. 😊  

Take care, and have an amazing day!  

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Regards,