Encountering an error message like "No Boot Disk Detected" or "Disk has Failed" can be frustrating, especially when starting your computer. This error indicates that the computer's BIOS or UEFI cannot locate a bootable disk to load the Operating System. In this article, we will help you to fix the "No Boot Disk Detected" or "Disk has Failed" error using 5 proven methods.
What Causes this Error?
The 'No Boot Disk Detected or the Disk has Failed' error can occur for various reasons. Some of the common causes include:
- Loose or damaged physical connections between the hard disk and the motherboard.
- Incorrect boot order settings in the BIOS or UEFI.
- Corrupted or missing system files on the boot disk.
- Failing or failed hard disk due to physical damage or logical issues.
Common Symptoms of the Error
When faced with this error, users may experience the following symptoms:
- The computer fails to boot, displaying the error message during startup.
- The system may get stuck in a boot loop, continuously searching for a bootable disk.
- Unusual clicking or grinding noises from the hard disk indicate potential hardware failure.
Part 1: Recover Data From the Problematic Disk
The troubleshooting methods involved in fixing the error might lead to data loss. Before you head to the steps, it is suggested that you back up your data. If your drive is inaccessible and you're wondering how to back up data, there's a quick solution you can try.
Download the Remo Recover software and recover the data from the inaccessible drive since the tool locates your drive easily.
- Download Remo Recover Software and install it on your computer.
- Launch the tool, and on the home screen, choose the drive from which you encountered the "no boot disk detected" error.
- Click on the "Scan" button to initiate the scanning process and wait for it to complete.
- After the scanning process, you will find all the recovered files under the "Lost and Found" folder and the "Lost Partition" folder.
- Select the files you want to recover from the no boot disk detected or the disk has failed error and hit the “Recover” button to complete the data recovery process.
Ensure you save the recovered files in a secure location to prevent accidental data loss. By saving the recovered files from the unbootable hard drive, you safeguard your data in case any troubleshooting steps lead to further complications. Once your data is safe, you can focus on resolving the boot disk error using appropriate troubleshooting methods.
Part 2: Methods to Fix the No Boot Disk Detected or the Disk Has Failed Error
To resolve the 'No Boot Disk Detected or the Disk has Failed' error, follow these troubleshooting steps:
Fix 1: Check the Physical Connections
First, ensure that all physical connections between the hard disk and the motherboard are secure. Power off the computer, unplug it from the power source and then open the case. Verify that the SATA or IDE cables are firmly connected to the hard disk and the motherboard. You may need professional assistance to check internal connections if you have a laptop. Sometimes, faulty cables connecting your hard drive can result in the hard drive not being detected by the computer.
Fix 2: Verify Boot Order in BIOS/UEFI
Access your computer's BIOS or UEFI settings during startup (usually by pressing F2, F10, or Delete key). Navigate to the "Boot" or "Boot Order" section and ensure the primary boot device is set to the correct hard disk where the Operating System is installed.
Fix 3: Run Disk Check and Repair
If the boot disk has corrupted or missing files, you can run a disk check and repair utility from the Windows Recovery Environment or use a bootable USB/DVD with a repair tool.
- Restart your computer after inserting the Windows 10 installation DVD.
- When requested to select a key to boot from a CD or DVD, select any key to proceed.
- Click Next after selecting your language options. In the bottom-left corner, click Repair your system.
- Select Troubleshoot on the Choose an Option screen.
- Click the Advanced option on the Troubleshoot screen.
- Choose Automatic Repair or Startup Repair on the Advanced Settings screen.
- Await the completion of the Windows Automatic/Startup Repairs.
- Restart your computer, and you should be able to fix No Boot Disk Has Been Found.
- Go back to the Advanced settings panel and pick 10.
In cmd, type the following command and press enter: sfc /scannow /offbootdir=c: /offwindir=c: sfc /scannow /offbootdir=c: /offwindir=c:windows - Be patient while the system file checker runs.
- Restart your computer after you've finished.
Fix 4: See If The Drive Is Failing
This error could be due to a failing SSD or hard drive, as the error states that the boot disk has failed. To check this, connect the drive to another already-booted computer, and see if you can access the contents.
Fix 5: Reinstall or Update Operating System
If the above methods listed are not working, then the computer’s boot disk has not failed, but the Operating System or the boot information that the boot disk contained could be erased.
If this is the case, cleaning and installing Windows from scratch is the best solution. However, be careful that clean installing Windows will lead to data loss.
Conclusion
Encountering the 'No Boot Disk Detected or the Disk Has Failed' error can be alarming, but with the right troubleshooting steps, data recovery options, and preventive measures, you can address the issue effectively. Always prioritize data backups and maintain disk health to safeguard against potential future disk failures. In case of unexpected data loss, you can always depend on the best hard drive data recovery tool like Remo Recover to retrieve your valuable data.
