No bootable device --insert boot disk and press any key

Hello, I dropped my HP laptop and must have busted the hard drive which had Windows 7 on it. I placed a different hard drive in that was also compatable, but it has windows 8. The problem that is occurring is when I start it up, it says: "No bootable device --insert boot disk and press any key".

I do not have a boot disk. How do I get the laptop to work with this windows 8 hard drive, when the default factory settings have it as windows 7?

hard drive and memory test come bak OK.
(I do not have a boot disk, or know what that is)

Can someone please help me out here? Thank you!

If WIn7 is the licensed OS which came with the PC, and it's Product Key is readable on the COA sticker, then do a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. The installation media is provided in the tutorial along with tool to burn to DVD or write to bootable Flash Stick.

Retail Win8 can be moved to any other PC, and if not originally installed in UEFI mode can be adjusted to boot on the hardware using Paragon Adaptive Restore CD. But you're much better off with Win7, especially the vastly superior Clean Reinstall without the factory bloatware.

gregrocker said:

If WIn7 is the licensed OS which came with the PC, and it's Product Key is readable on the COA sticker, then do a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. The installation media is provided in the tutorial along with tool to burn to DVD or write to bootable Flash Stick.

Retail Win8 can be moved to any other PC, and if not originally installed in UEFI mode can be adjusted to boot on the hardware using Paragon Adaptive Restore CD. But you're much better off with Win7, especially the vastly superior Clean Reinstall without the factory bloatware.

Hello, thank you for your response. I load Paragon Adaptive Restore CD, and I get 3 options:

1. Adjust OS. Make an OS bootable on different hardware.
When I follow through with this one, I get a error message thats says: Sorry the wizard cannot continue. Please note, the wizard can only work with Microsoft Windows 2000 and later.


2. Restore: Restore your system and/or data from a backup image.
With this one I am taken to a section with Archives. But I am unsure what to change.

3. Boot Corrector: Fix boot problems related to Windows operating system.
With this one I have 4 options:

1. Windows installation to correct: View the list of all windows installations and correct boot parameters.
- When I follow through with this, it says: Congratulations, you have successfully completed the Boot Correction Wizard! So I restart the laptop, but it doesn't change anything.


2. Correct the master boot record (MBR): View the lists of all Hard Disks and correct MBR excecutive code on some of them.
- When I follow through with this one, it says please choose a hard disk to correct their master boot records, and the hard disk shows up below with a tick square next to it. Unfortunatelly I am unable to tick the box to continue.


3. Edit/View Sectors: View, edit backup and restore sectors or a group of sectors on the hard disk or partition of your choice.
With this section I am unsure what to change becase it has a list of sections. My Computer, and the Hard Disk.

4.Correct boot parameters (boot .ini. BCD): Automatically correct boot .ini and BCD on all hard disks in system.
This one goes through and says; Completing the boot correction wizard, then does it. Then says congratulations completed.

Anyhow, after changing the things I have mentioned, I restart the computer and it still says: No bootable device -- insert boot disk and press any key. So I enter the disc again, and again, I am usnsure how to boot the computer.

Thank you for your help, much appreciated!

whs said:

How was this Windows 8 disk created - BIOS or UEFI ??

I am unsure.. I bought the computer with windows 8 on it, then that computer broke, so I took the hard drive out, and am now trying to place it in my factory windows 7 hp computer. But it won't boot.

If you bought a Win8 PC then it is installed in UEFI mode which as I said will not work with PAR.

Your best choice is to reinstall the licensed version which came with the laptop and is listed on the COA sticker, as long as you can read the Product Key on the sticker needed to Activate it.

Everything you need is here to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

gregrocker said:

If you bought a Win8 PC then it is installed in UEFI mode which as I said in my post will not work with PAR.

Your best choice is to reinstall the licensed version which came with the laptop and is listed on the COA sticker, as long as you can read the Product Key on the sticker needed to Activate it.

Everything you need is here to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

Thank you. I can see a product key on the back. So I am able to use this hard drive with windows 8 on it, and turn it into windows 7 with following the directions on that link? Is that what oyu mean?

froggers said:

Hello, I dropped my HP laptop and must have busted the hard drive which had Windows 7 on it. I placed a different hard drive in that was also compatable, but it has windows 8. The problem that is occurring is when I start it up, it says: "No bootable device --insert boot disk and press any key".

I do not have a boot disk. How do I get the laptop to work with this windows 8 hard drive, when the default factory settings have it as windows 7?

hard drive and memory test come bak OK.
(I do not have a boot disk, or know what that is)

Can someone please help me out here? Thank you!

Hi there

I'd start first with ensuring the laptop has the UEFI disabled if possible - set to "Boot in legacy mode" or similar option.

Now also on another computer download something like a bootable copy of GPARTED (it's a partition manager) and then check that there is an ACTIVE BOOT partition on the HDD.

(actually dropping a laptop is more likely to cause a problem with the SCREEN rather than the HDD --laptop HDD's are often more rugged than you think. - If you've got a SATA ==>USB connector check the old HDD on another machine). Pic of adapter cable shown - these are very cheap and quite useful too. _ Use old laptop HDD's for backup images etc. !!

The other way to get the laptop running is to download the FREE 90 day evaluation copy of W8 ENTERPRISE -- at least that gives you 90 days to figure out how to either restore your W7 system or how to get W8 working.

I'd still disable the UEFI though while testing if it's do-able in the BIOS.

Cheers
jimbo