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No Bootable Devices Found

Dell Laptop

Severity: Critical

Source: OnlyErrorCodes.com — Every error code. One place.

Dell Laptop No Bootable Devices Found — How to Fix

What it means

No Bootable Devices Found means the BIOS cannot locate a drive with a valid operating system to boot from.
This is usually a hard drive failure, a wrong BIOS boot order, or a corrupted boot record.

Affected Models

  • Dell Inspiron
  • Dell Latitude
  • Dell XPS
  • Dell Vostro
  • Dell Precision

Common Causes

  • Hard drive failure or disconnection
  • BIOS boot mode mismatch (UEFI vs Legacy) after a Windows update
  • Corrupted Master Boot Record (MBR) or EFI partition
  • Hard drive not detected in BIOS due to a loose connector or bad cable

How to Fix It

  1. Check if the drive is detected in BIOS.

    Power on and tap F2 repeatedly to enter BIOS setup.
    Look in the System Information or Storage section.
    If the drive is not listed, the drive itself or its connection has failed — see step 4.

  2. Verify the boot mode (UEFI vs Legacy).

    In BIOS, check the Boot Mode setting.
    Windows 10 and 11 use UEFI by default.
    If the mode was changed to Legacy, boot will fail.
    Match the mode to how your Windows was installed.

  3. Repair the Windows boot record.

    Boot from a Windows 10/11 installation USB.
    Select Repair your computer > Troubleshoot > Command Prompt, then run: bootrec /fixmbr, bootrec /fixboot, bootrec /rebuildbcd

  4. Reseat or replace the drive.

    Power off and remove the bottom panel.
    Unplug and reseat the drive's SATA cable or M.2 connector.
    If the drive is still not detected after reseating, replace it.

When to Call a Professional

If the drive is detected in BIOS but Windows still will not boot after rebuilding the boot record, a technician can repair the operating system installation or migrate data to a new drive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Dell suddenly say No Bootable Devices Found after a Windows update?

Some Windows updates change boot configuration. Check that the BIOS boot mode is still set correctly (usually UEFI), and that the Windows boot manager is the first boot entry.

Will resetting BIOS to defaults fix No Bootable Devices on a Dell laptop?

Sometimes, if the boot order or boot mode was changed accidentally. Press F9 in BIOS to load defaults. If the error persists, the issue is with the drive or boot record, not BIOS settings.