boot device not found

[yck]

I have tried the basic steps; When I turn the laptop on it says:

Boot device not found

Please install an operating system on your hard drive

Hard Disk - (3FO)

F2 System Diagnostics

How should I proceed?

TY

YcK

[Sneha_01]

Hi @yck 

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

The "Boot Device Not Found" error with the Hard Disk (3FO) message typically indicates that your HP laptop cannot find the operating system on the hard drive, which may be caused by various factors such as a disconnected or failing hard drive, corrupted boot files, or an incorrect boot order in BIOS.

Since you’ve already tried some basic steps, let’s proceed with a more detailed approach to fix the issue:

1. Run System Diagnostics

Since you’ve already seen the option for F2 System Diagnostics, let's first test your hard drive to see if it’s physically functioning.

• Turn on the laptop and press F2 to enter System Diagnostics.
• Choose Hard Drive from the list of available tests and run the Hard Drive Short Test.
• If the test fails, it means the hard drive may be defective and could need replacing.
• If the test passes, proceed to the next steps as it indicates the hard drive is likely fine, but there may be an issue with boot configuration or the operating system.

2. Check Boot Order in BIOS

Sometimes, the laptop may not be trying to boot from the correct device, which can trigger this error. Follow these steps to ensure your laptop is set to boot from the hard drive:

• Turn off the laptop completely.
• Turn it back on and immediately press F10 to enter the BIOS setup (you might need to press Esc or another key, depending on your model).
• Once in BIOS, navigate to the Boot tab.
• Make sure that the Hard Drive (usually named something like "Windows Boot Manager" or the name of your hard drive) is set as the first boot device.
• If it’s not, use the arrow keys to move the hard drive to the top of the boot order.
• Save the changes and exit BIOS. Restart the laptop to see if the issue is resolved.

3. Check the Hard Drive Connection

If the diagnostics indicate a problem, or the boot order is correct but the error persists, the hard drive may not be properly connected. This can sometimes happen if there has been any movement of the laptop or internal connections have become loose.

• Turn off the laptop and unplug it from the power source.
• Remove the battery if it's removable.
• Open the back of the laptop (you may need a screwdriver) and locate the hard drive.
• Check the connections to make sure the hard drive is securely connected to the motherboard.
• If it appears disconnected, reconnect the hard drive carefully and close the laptop back up.
• Restart the laptop and check if the error is resolved.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

Rachel571

HP Support