Solved "OS not found" for every boot device

[TheDeerDude]

Every time I start my laptop in the morning, it says "Operating System not found" - I tried restarting it several ways with the same result.

However, when I press CTRL+ALT+DEL to make it restart from that screen - it boots fine!
It's like this with any device I try to boot from - the hard drive, cd drive and even usb flash drives I try to boot from - "OS Not Found" - CTRL+ALT+DEL = boots fine.

The hard drive is working and visible in BIOS, right at the top and enabled. I've restored the setup defaults too, didn't help.

I tried removing the battery, holding the power switch, re-inserting the hard drive after cleaning the connections - same resut. Seems like the BIOS is at fault, but considering what I've heard on Toshiba's forums, I'm more likely to brick it instead of fixing it.

I'm open for any suggestions and would appreciate any help, I'm seriously tired of this...

 

[mitchell65]

First off, have you any data on the hard drive that you wish to save? If so do that first. Then post a screenshot of your Disk Management. Expand the DM window to show all the details.

 

[Brds7t7]

Have you tried running a startup repair? Either from a startup repair disc or install disc? As Mitchell said, is your data backed up? What advice did you read about your BIOS?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/668-system-recovery-options.html

Download Windows 7 ISOs, Legally and for Free | PCsteps.com

 

[mitchell65]

Looks like you had the self same problems way back in May! Did you resolve the issue then? See here:
http://www.sevenforums.com/general-...want-boot-hard-drive-but-network-instead.html

 

[TheDeerDude]

Hello, and pardon me for my late response.

Yes, I'm having the same problem as back then, I thought it went away, but it didn't...
I tried using Startup repair, I've even re-installed windows, it seems to me like it's to do with the BIOS. I've been told, and seen that it's not worth updating, as I'm 90% likely to brick my laptop completely, and I would like to avoid doing that as it is my only computer.

I've attached a copy of diskmgmt as requested c:

 

[paul1149]

How does the machine do with a bootable optical disk? If necessary pull the hard drive to run the test.

Or burn a Linux distro to a bootable USB stick. You can use a utility like Yumi to do that. I recommend LinuxLite, but anything will do. You can even use a repair disk like Ultimate Boot Disk.

Then pull the hard drive and let the machine boot from the USB stick. This will implicate or exonerate the hard drive.

It does sound like BIOS though. Not sure why flashing it would be exceptionally risky (there always is some risk).

 

[TheDeerDude]

Hello again and please excuse me for not getting back to you sooner.

I'm a student and as I use this laptop for my work, I didn't have time to take it apart until now.
It does the same thing when I try to boot from a bootable USB or CD, without the two hard drives

For me it's risky because if anything goes wrong (which apparently is 80% likely, from what people on Toshiba forums said) then I'll have no laptop to do my work on. I can't afford a new one. I can't afford to brick this laptop if something goes wrong...

 

[paul1149]

Try a complete power down. Battery and AC out, peripherals off, hold power button for 20 sec.

 

[TheDeerDude]

Tried that before, tried that again today.
The issue turned out to be a faulty keyboard, surprisingly - removed it - boots fine, installed it again - same thing happens with the NO OS FOUND.

Some of the keys on it weren't working. Didn't think it could be something so unrelated...

 

[mitchell65]

So is this problem resolved now? Your post doesn't make it that clear?

 

[TheDeerDude]

Yes, the problem has been solved. The issue was a faulty keyboard - some keys must've been shorted out, constantly pressed, I don't see how they could create a situation like this, but they surely did. I removed the keyboard and I'm using an external one, it boots fine every time now. Thank you all for your help