Windows failing to start/install- no hardrive showing

Basically, a friend came to me asking for help. He has an Aspire one d260 netbook and it randomly stopped working. I took a look at it and whenever I try and turn it on it says No bootable device- insert boot disk and press any key.

I've tried installing windows from a USB, and it doesn't show up the hardrive when selecting where to install windows.

I've tried accessing the bios too, but it's password protected (and my fool friend can't remember the password).

Also under the boot order options it only shows the USB that I'm trying to install windows off and "Network Boot: Atheros Boot agent". No signs of it showing the hardrive.

Any ideas on what to do?

Atm, I'm thinking the hardrive is somehow damaged. I tried doing chkdsk from repair command prompt but no luck

You can try to reinstall the HD to see if you can get it to make contact to be detected in BIOS. Otherwise you'll need to replace it, found easily enough by googling the model+ hard drive replacement. There should even be a video showing how to disassemble it to get to the hard drive.


Why someone would establish the extremely rare BIOS password and then forget it is baffling. Surely if one would know enough to create a BIOS password they would know that the PC would be worthless if it was forgotten. It could also be a stolen PC locked down by a business. Either way it will have to be reflashed if there's no password.