A bootable device is any storage device, such as a hard drive, solid-state drive, USB drive, or CD/DVD, that contains an operating system or other bootable software. When a computer is turned on, it searches for a bootable device to load the operating system from. If the computer cannot find a bootable device, it will display an error message such as "No bootable device found" or "Operating system not found".
There are several types of bootable devices that can be used for Windows, including:
USB flash drive: This is a very common bootable device for Windows. You can create a bootable USB drive using the Windows Media Creation Tool or other third-party software.
CD/DVD: You can also create a bootable CD or DVD using the Windows installation disc or other software. However, many modern laptops and desktops don't have a built-in CD/DVD drive.
External hard drive: You can use an external hard drive to create a bootable Windows installation. This is a good option if you have a large external drive and want to save the installation files.
Network boot: Some computers can be set up to boot from a network location, which can be useful in enterprise environments.
In general, a USB flash drive is the most convenient and widely used bootable device for Windows.
To make a device bootable, it must be properly formatted and contain a boot loader, which is a small program that loads the operating system into memory. For example, a USB drive can be made bootable by creating a bootable image of an operating system or by using software to create a bootable USB drive.
When installing a new operating system, it's important to set the boot order in the BIOS/UEFI settings so that the computer will look for a bootable device first. This ensures that the operating system can be loaded from the correct device and that the computer will start up properly.
The "No bootable device" error message indicates that your computer is unable to find a device to boot from, which means that it cannot start up properly. This error can occur for a variety of reasons, including problems with your computer's hard drive, operating system, or boot order.
The "No bootable device" error message can be frustrating and often prevents your computer from starting up properly. Here are some troubleshooting steps you can take to fix this issue in Windows:
Check the boot order in BIOS/UEFI: If your computer is unable to boot from the hard drive or other storage media, it may be necessary to check the boot order in your BIOS/UEFI settings. Make sure that the hard drive or storage media is set as the first boot option.
Check the storage device connections: Ensure that all cables are properly connected and that the storage device is correctly installed. If you have a laptop, make sure the hard drive is seated properly.
Check for USB drives, DVDs, or other media: Remove any USB drives, DVDs, or other media from your computer before attempting to boot.
Run a startup repair: You can try to repair startup errors by booting from the Windows installation media and choosing the repair option.
Check for hardware failures: If the issue persists, it may be a hardware failure. Check the hard drive using disk check utilities such as CHKDSK or the manufacturer's diagnostic tool.
Reinstall Windows: If all else fails, reinstall Windows to fix any software-related issues that may be causing the "No bootable device" error.
In summary, troubleshooting the "No bootable device" error involves checking the boot order, verifying storage device connections, removing external media, attempting a startup repair, checking for hardware failures, and finally reinstalling Windows.