Troubleshooting “No Bootable Devices” Error After Installing a New HDD

Recently, I encountered a frustrating problem after upgrading my laptop with a new hard drive. Upon startup, instead of the familiar Windows boot screen, I was greeted with a message stating “No bootable devices”. If you find yourself in a similar situation, don’t worry; this blog post outlines the steps to rectify the issue and successfully install Windows.

Understanding the Problem

When you replace or add a hard drive to your laptop, the system may fail to recognize it as a bootable device due to incorrect settings or partition configurations. This can lead to the error message that leaves you stuck.

Step-by-Step Solutions

If you’re faced with this issue, below are the steps I took to resolve it:

1. Access BIOS/UEFI Settings: Power on your laptop and repeatedly press the designated key (often F2, Delete, or Esc) to enter the BIOS or UEFI firmware settings.

2. Adjust Secure Boot Settings: In the BIOS menu, navigate to the ‘Security’ tab. Here, you may find an option labeled ‘Secure Boot’. Disable this feature. Secure Boot can sometimes prevent new hardware from being recognized correctly.

3. Enable Legacy Boot Option: Still within the BIOS, look for the option to enable ‘Legacy Boot’ or ‘CSM (Compatibility Support Module)’. Activating this can help the system recognize your new hard drive properly.

4. Save Changes and Exit: After adjusting these settings, make sure to save your changes and exit the BIOS. Your laptop should restart.

5. Windows Installation: Boot from your Windows installation media (USB/DVD). When you reach the setup screen, you may need to format or delete existing partitions on the new HDD to prepare it for the Windows installation.

6. Select the New Drive for Installation: After managing the partitions, select your newly formatted drive as the installation target and proceed with the installation.

Conclusion

Thanks to the support of the online community, I was able to troubleshoot and fix my laptop’s boot issue in no time. By disabling Secure Boot and enabling Legacy Boot, then correctly setting up the partitions, I was able to successfully install Windows on my new hard drive.

If you find yourself dealing with a similar problem, I hope this guide helps you navigate through the process smoothly! Feel free to share your experiences or ask questions in the comments below. Happy