What Does "No Boot Device Available" Mean?

When you turn on a PC and the screen displays "no boot device available," it means the computer cannot find a hard drive with an installed operating system or a boot disc such as a Windows install disc. Without an operating system, the computer cannot start. In many cases, this error results simply from improper BIOS settings or a loose cable, but in the worst-case scenario may signify complete drive failure. The message also appears in a particular message when using a Symantec Recovery disk.

Loose Cables

If a computer can't find a boot device after a recent upgrade, someone may have dislodged a hard drive cable. Shut down the computer, open it up and check both cables running from the hard drive to the motherboard. One powers the drive and the other transfers data. If either cable falls loose, the system won't find the drive, so press both cables in on both ends.

BIOS Settings

After a BIOS update or reset on a system with multiple hard drives, the system may not check the correct hard drive for the operating system. During boot, press "F2" or "Del," depending on the system, to enter the BIOS settings. Options in the BIOS vary by machine, but check the boot settings or drive settings to see which drives the system checks during boot and adjust as necessary.

Failed Drive

If nothing else works, your drive may have failed partially or completely. In a partial failure, you can try attaching the drive as a non-boot disk to another computer to recover some data. If the drive crashes completely, it will not work even when connected to another computer. In either case, you will need to replace the drive and reinstall the operating system before the computer will work.

Symantec Recovery

If you see "No Boot Device Available" while trying to run a USB recovery disk created by Symantec's enterprise protection software, your system likely uses the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface. UEFI systems do not support Symantec's recovery software on USB drives. You will need to use the Symantec Recovery Disc or a custom-made recovery disc on a CD or DVD instead.