Fix Reboot and Select Proper Boot Device Error

This error message appears when your computer cannot find a bootable operating system on the selected drive. It usually happens after a BIOS setting change, a disconnected drive, a corrupted boot loader, or a failed Windows update. The fix involves checking your boot order, verifying drive connections, and repairing the boot files—steps you can do yourself with a few minutes and a Windows installation USB.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows installation USB drive (or a recovery drive) matching your Windows version (10 or 11)
• Access to your computer’s BIOS/UEFI setup (usually by pressing Del, F2, F12, or Esc during startup)
• A Phillips screwdriver if you need to reseat internal drives
• Another working computer to create the USB if you don’t have one

Step-by-Step

1. Restart and enter BIOS/UEFI. Turn off your PC, then turn it on and immediately press the key shown on the screen (often Del, F2, F10, or Esc). If you miss it, restart and try again.
2. Check the boot order. In BIOS, find the “Boot” or “Boot Priority” menu. Make sure your main hard drive or SSD (with Windows installed) is listed first. If a USB or other drive is first, change it and save (usually F10) then exit.
3. Disable Fast Boot (if present). In BIOS, look for “Fast Boot” or “Quick Boot” and set it to Disabled. This forces a full hardware check and can help the system recognize drives properly.
4. Reseat internal drives. Shut down, unplug the power cable, and open the case. Unplug and reconnect both the data cable (SATA or NVMe) and power cable to your hard drive/SSD. Also reseat the cable on the motherboard side. Close and restart.
5. If still failing, boot from the Windows USB. Insert the USB, restart, and press the boot menu key (often F12, F11, or Esc) to choose the USB drive.
6. Open Command Prompt. In the Windows Setup screen, select your language, click “Next,” then “Repair your computer” (bottom-left). Go to Troubleshoot → Advanced Options → Command Prompt.
7. Run bootrec commands. In the Command Prompt, type these commands one at a time, pressing Enter after each:
   bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /scanos
bootrec /rebuildbcd
   When asked to add an installation to the boot list, type Y and press Enter.
8. Type exit and restart. Remove the USB, then let the computer boot normally. If Windows starts, the fix worked.
9. If bootrec fails, use Diskpart. Back in Command Prompt, type diskpart, then list disk. Identify your Windows drive (usually Disk 0). Type select disk 0 (replace 0 if needed), then list partition. Find the small System Reserved partition (usually 100–500 MB, type “System”). Type select partition 1 (replace 1), then assign letter=S. Type exit to leave Diskpart. Now run:
   bcdboot C:\Windows /s S: /f UEFI (if your system uses UEFI) or bcdboot C:\Windows /s S: for legacy BIOS. Then exit and restart.
10. Check for a dead drive. If none of this works, the drive may be failing. In the Command Prompt, type chkdsk C: /r and let it run. If it reports bad sectors, back up what you can and replace the drive.

Common Mistakes

• Changing the wrong BIOS setting. Only adjust boot order and fast boot; don’t toggle SATA mode (AHCI/IDE) unless you know what you’re doing, as that can cause a different error.
• Forgetting to remove the USB after repair. If the USB is still first in boot order, the PC will keep booting to setup. Remove it or change boot order back.
• Running bootrec on the wrong drive. If you have multiple drives, make sure the Windows installation is on C: (or the correct letter). Check with dir C:\Windows before running bcdboot.
• Skipping the drive connection check. A loose SATA cable is a very common cause, and it takes two minutes to rule out.
• Assuming the drive is dead. Try the software fixes first; many “no boot device” errors are just a corrupted boot sector, not hardware failure.

Tips

• If you have a second computer, create the Windows installation USB before you need it. Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool is free and works on any Windows PC.
• Write down your BIOS settings before changing anything, so you can revert if needed.
• If you recently installed a new drive, make sure the old drive with Windows is still connected and set as first boot.
• After a major Windows update, this error can appear if the update interrupted power. Run the bootrec commands even if the drive looks fine.
• For laptops, the drive is often under a bottom panel; check your manual before opening. Some laptops have a small reset hole for the battery—try that first.

Troubleshooting

If bootrec says “Access is denied” or “Element not found”: This usually means the System Reserved partition letter wasn’t assigned. Redo the Diskpart steps, making sure you selected the correct partition (the one labeled “System”).

If the computer still shows the error after all steps: Try resetting the BIOS to defaults (look for “Load Optimized Defaults” or “Reset to Factory”). Then redo the boot order.

If you see “No bootable device” instead of “Reboot and select…” That often means the drive isn’t detected at all. Check the SATA/power cables, and try the drive in a different port. If it’s an NVMe SSD, reseat it in its M.2 slot.

If the drive is detected in BIOS but not in Windows Setup: The drive may be failing. Run chkdsk from Command Prompt. If it can’t read the disk, you’ll need a new drive and a fresh Windows install.

If you have a BitLocker-encrypted drive: You’ll need your BitLocker recovery key before running bootrec, or the repair may not work. Keep that key handy.

If the error appears after a power outage: The boot sector may be partially written. Run the bootrec commands twice; sometimes the first pass fixes the MBR and the second fixes the BCD.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my files if I run bootrec? No. bootrec only repairs boot files; it doesn’t touch your documents, photos, or programs. However, if you run a full Windows reinstall, you will lose files unless you back them up first.

Why did this error happen after a Windows update? Updates rewrite boot configuration. If power fails mid-update or the update conflicts with a dual-boot setup, the boot files can become corrupted. The bootrec commands rebuild them.

Can I fix this without a Windows USB? If you have a recovery drive or a Linux live USB, you might be able to repair manually, but the Windows USB is the most reliable method. Without any bootable media, you can’t run the repair commands.

Is this error a sign my hard drive is dying? Not always. It’s often just a corrupted boot sector or a loose cable. But if the error returns frequently, or you hear clicking noises, back up your data and test the drive with a health tool.

What if I have two operating systems installed? The bootrec /rebuildbcd command should detect both. If it only finds one, you may need to manually add the other with bcdedit. In that case, search for “add missing OS to boot menu” for your Windows version.

Does this work for both Windows 10 and 11? Yes, the steps are identical. The bootrec and bcdboot commands work the same on both versions. Just make sure your USB is created for the same version as your installed Windows.

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