Troubleshooting Computer Boot Errors: No Boot Disk Detected or Disk Failed

Introduction

When your computer displays the error message "No boot disk has been detected or disk has failed", it means that your system's built-in diagnostic tool, which monitors the health of all components before starting Windows, has identified a faulty boot device.

This boot device is often the C: drive or the local disk, which Windows uses to start up. If this device is defective or improperly configured, your system will not boot correctly.

Understanding Boot Devices and Booting

Think of your computer's boot device as its initial source of instructions to start up. You need to configure your system to look for the correct boot device, which is essentially the memory device that houses your operating system (OS).

For example, when you have Windows 10, you need to go into the setup menus and set your computer to boot from the correct memory device. This needs to be done only once, but your options for this device can vary widely, including:

SATA NvMe WD (Western Digital) Samsung

Note that different Windows OS releases and computer manufacturers may have different keys to access BIOS/UEFI boot settings.

Common Causes of Boot Device Errors

There are several reasons why your computer might display the "No boot disk has been detected or disk has failed" error:

Loose or Disconnected Cables: The connection between the hard drive and the motherboard might be loose or disconnected. BIOS/UEFI Settings: The BIOS/UEFI settings may not be correctly configured to recognize the boot disk. Hardware Failure: The hard drive or SSD might have failed or be experiencing issues. Corrupted Boot Sector: The boot sector of the disk might be corrupt, preventing the operating system from loading. Missing Operating System: The OS might have been accidentally deleted or corrupted.

Troubleshooting Steps

Here are some common steps to resolve the boot error:

Check Connections: Power off your computer and unplug it. Open the case and ensure all cables connected to the hard drive/SSD are secure. Access BIOS/UEFI: Restart your computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI setup. This is usually done by pressing keys like F2 or Esc during startup. Check if your hard drive is detected. Adjust Boot Order: Ensure the hard drive is set as the first boot device in the BIOS/UEFI settings. Run Diagnostics: Many computers have built-in diagnostics tools. Run them to check for hard drive issues. Check for Disk Errors: If you can boot from a recovery disk or USB drive, run commands like chkdsk to check for disk errors. Reinstall Operating System: If the OS is corrupted, reinstallation is necessary. Back up any important data if possible. Replace the Hard Drive: If diagnostics indicate a failure or if the drive is not detected, replacing the hard drive might be your only option.

Conclusion

Start with the simplest solutions and work your way to more complex ones. If you are not comfortable performing these steps, consider seeking help from a professional technician.