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If you're encountering the 'Operating system not found' error, there's no need to panic. Your important data is still safe on your computer and not lost. Here are 6 methods to troubleshoot the 'Operating system not found' error.
Resolving the 'Operating System Not Found' Error
1. Check Your BIOS Settings
Firstly, you need to check two things in the BIOS. Firstly, ensure that your computer recognizes the hard drive. Secondly, ensure that the drive where you've installed Windows is listed as the boot drive.
Depending on your computer manufacturer, to access the BIOS, you typically use keys like Escape, Delete, or one of the function keys. The screen will display a prompt indicating which key to press to enter BIOS.
The BIOS menu layout varies between devices. Essentially, you need to locate the Boot tab at the top of the screen. Use the arrow keys to navigate the BIOS menu.
In the Boot tab, select Hard Drive and then press Enter.
Next, ensure that the Hard Drive is listed under USB Storage, CDDVDBD-ROM, Removable Devices, and Network Boot. You can adjust the order using the + and - keys.
If everything in the BIOS is fine, proceed to the third section. If not, refer to the second section below.
2. Reset BIOS Settings
If your computer doesn't recognize the hard drive, several reasons could be at play. For less tech-savvy users, adjusting the BIOS can be challenging. The simplest solution is to reset the entire BIOS menu to its default values.
At the bottom of the menu, you'll see the Setup Defaults or Reset BIOS key. In this example, it's F9, but on other computers, it may be different.
Confirm your selection when prompted and restart your computer.
If the operating system still doesn't recognize the hard drive, chances are you'll need to take your computer to repair shops or computer service centers for assistance.
3. Fixing Boot Record Errors
Windows primarily relies on 3 records to boot your computer, including Master Boot Record (MBR), DOS Boot Record (DBR), and Boot Configuration Database (BCD).
If any of these records are corrupted or damaged, you're likely to encounter the 'Operating system not found' error.
Fortunately, fixing these records isn't as complicated as you might think. Use Microsoft's Media Creation Tool to create Windows 10 installation media.
Once your tool is ready, use it to boot up your computer. Depending on your device, simply press any key during the boot process or you can change the boot order in the BIOS menu.
Finally, you'll see the Windows Setup window. Enter the language, keyboard, and date/time format you prefer, then click Next. On the next window, select Repair your computer at the bottom left corner.
Next, navigate to Troubleshoot =>Advanced Options =>Command Prompt. In the Command Prompt window, enter each of the following commands and press Enter:
Each command may take a few minutes to complete. Once the process is finished, restart your computer and check if it boots up successfully.
4. Activate or Disable UEFI Secure Boot
bootrec.exe /fixmbr
bootrec.exe /fixboot
bootrec.exe /rebuildbcd
Most Windows computers are equipped with UEFI firmware and Secure Boot enabled. However, in some cases, it may not function as expected.
For example, if Windows is installed on a GUID Partition Table (GPT) volume, it can only boot in UEFI mode. Conversely, if Windows 10 runs on an MBR drive, it cannot boot in UEFI mode.
You can make adjustments like enabling or disabling Secure Boot in the BIOS menu. Typically, this option is referred to as Secure Boot, and you can find it under the Security tab.
5. Activate Windows Partition
It's possible that the Windows installation partition has been disabled. You can fix this issue using the Windows diskpart tool.
To follow the steps below, you'll need a Windows installation USB drive.
Firstly, boot up your computer and launch the tool. Similar to step 3, you'll need to input language, time format, etc., then click Next and choose Repair your computer. Next, access Troubleshoot => Advanced Options => Command Prompt.
In the Command Prompt window, type diskpart and press Enter, then type list disk and press Enter. You'll see a list of all connected drives on your computer. Remember to note down the disk number you need, typically the one with the largest size.
Next, type select disk [number] and press Enter, replacing [number] with the disk number you noted earlier.
Then type list volume and press Enter. This command will display all volumes on the selected disk. Identify the volume where Windows is installed and note down its number. Then type select volume [number] and press Enter, replacing [number] with the volume number you noted earlier.
Finally, type active and press Enter.
Check if the process was successful by restarting your computer.
6. Utilize Easy Recovery Professional
Easy Recovery Professional is a third-party application specialized in resolving boot-related errors and issues. If the previous 5 methods don't work, you can use Easy Recovery Professional to fix the problem.
In addition to fixing the “Operating system not found” error, Easy Recovery Essentials can also repair other boot issues such as “INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE”, “INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_VOLUME”, “UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME”, “BOOTMGR is missing”, “The Boot Configuration Data for your PC is missing or contains errors”, “An error occurred while attempting to read the boot configuration data”, “boot.ini not found”, and several others.
Simply download the application, burn the ISO file to a CD or DVD, and use the disk to boot up your computer. Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed with fixing the Operating system not found error or any system-related issues.
Hope these 6 methods will help you fix the Operating system not found. If you've tried all methods but to no avail, you may need to visit computer repair centers or stores for assistance.
