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Question

"Boot Device" error message when booting

by Jun 8, 2018 5:45AM PDT

Yesterday, my PC kept constantly turning itself off randomly. I would turn it back off only for it to happen a minute or two later.

I conducted a quick Google search and found that overheating was the most likely issue so I proceeded to open up my PC and clean it.

I used a vacuum cleaner, small brush and paper towels but I also used some dettol multi-purpose wipes until I found out with a Google search halfway through that they weren't meant to be used.

Now I have just reconnected all the plugs and cables and turned my PC on but it has a message saying "Reboot and Select proper Boot device or Insert Boot Media in selected Boot device and press a key".

I'm really worried I may have just lost all my data and am really not sure what to do!? I feel like shooting myself in the leg because I was just thinking of backing up my PC a few days ago and didn't get round to it.

Discussion is locked

6 Posts
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Answer
Re: boot device error
by Forum moderator Jun 8, 2018 5:51AM PDT

Seems your PC can't find the hard disk. Check if the power cable and the data cable are connected correctly.

If no luck, get the disk out, put it in an external enclosure and see (on another PC) if everything is still on it. If it is, consider to make a backup of everything you don't want to lose to another external disk., before tackling the issue with your PC again.
It's likely the contents of the disk are still fine after what you did. To destroy a disk takes something more than paper towels and a multi-purpose wipe.

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Anything else I can try?
by Skred300 Jun 8, 2018 9:40AM PDT

No luck, they're both connected fine but I also don't have another computer lying around. Is there anything else I can try?

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Re: anything else
by Kees_B Forum moderator Jun 8, 2018 11:45AM PDT

Surely. You can go to a friend with your disk in an external enclosure.
Or you can boot from a Linux disc or stick (free to make on any PC or laptop) and use its file manager to look at that hard disk. Booting doesn't require a hard disk if there's another bootable medium.

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Answer
For those that read after this post.
by Forum moderator Jun 8, 2018 11:17AM PDT

The method to clean looks flawed. For decades I've used canned air to vents, fans and heatsinks but for laptops we start with NO DISASSEMBLY CLEANING first as if you open it up you could run into deeper troubles.

My bet is the hdd or a cable is unplugged. Find a service manual if needed to see what connections and cables are used in this unknown laptop.

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Answer
Cleaning
by Jun 8, 2018 12:43PM PDT

You don't use a vac inside a pc.

Think esd/static.

A small brush and some compressed air is what you want.

Power on and enter the bios.

Does the bios see this hdd?

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Just a thought.
by Dafydd Jun 8, 2018 12:53PM PDT

If you use a brush with a metal band around the bristles, put some insulating tape around it.
Dafydd.

Post was last edited on June 8, 2018 12:54 PM PDT

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