Resolution for Surface Error: Could Not Find a Bootable Operating System
Numerous Surface users have experienced the Couldn’t find a bootable operating system error upon powering on their Surface laptops. This boot error may arise due to a malfunctioning hard drive or incorrect boot settings. If you’re facing this issue when starting your Surface device, follow the solutions provided in this article to resolve the error.
The complete error message reads:
Couldn’t find a bootable operating system. Check the Boot configuration to try to fix this.
Solving the Couldn’t Find a Bootable Operating System Error on Surface
If you see the “Couldn’t find a bootable operating system” error while starting your Surface laptop, utilize these troubleshooting steps to address the issue.
- Check if your SSD is recognized
- Inspect the Boot Configuration
- Force restart your Surface device
- Reset your Surface device
- Contact Microsoft support
Let’s get started.
1] Check if your SSD is recognized
This error may occur if your Surface laptop fails to recognize the SSD. There can be several reasons for this: the SSD may not be installed correctly, the connection cable could be damaged, or the SSD itself may be defective.
To access the Surface UEFI, press and hold the Volume up button and simultaneously press and release the Power button. Continue holding the Volume up button until the UEFI screen appears. Tap on the section that displays storage devices. If your SSD is not listed, power off your Surface laptop, open it, and verify proper installation. If you’re uncertain about this process, consider seeking professional assistance.
2] Inspect the Boot Configuration
The next step is to inspect the Boot Configuration settings. Check if the boot configuration selects the appropriate disk as the boot device. Enter the UEFI and select the Boot Configuration option from the left menu. Verify which device is marked as the boot device. If the incorrect boot device is selected, adjust it by selecting the correct one and moving it to the top of the list.
From the left menu, choose Exit and then tap on Restart. Check if the error persists.
3] Force restart your Surface device
If the Boot Configuration settings appear to be correct but the error continues, try force-restarting your Surface device. Press and hold the power button until the Surface device restarts, releasing the button once the Windows logo is visible on the screen.
4] Reset your Surface device
If the issue still exists, reset your Surface device by creating a USB Recovery Drive. This process will erase all installed apps and programs, restoring your device to its factory settings.
To create the Recovery Drive, download the recovery image for your Surface device on a working computer from the official Microsoft website. Be sure to input your Surface laptop model number to obtain the correct recovery image. Once downloaded, connect a USB flash drive to your computer. Open Windows Search, type Recovery Drive, and select Recovery Drive from the results list. Click Yes in the UAC prompt.
The Recovery Drive tool will open, converting your USB flash drive into a recovery drive for your Surface device. In the tool, uncheck the Back up system files to the recovery drive option and click Next. Choose the USB flash drive and click Next again. Finally, click Create. Remember, this action will format your USB flash drive, so back up any important data prior to proceeding.
Next, locate the folder containing the recovery image you downloaded from Microsoft. Copy all contents from that folder to the USB flash drive. If prompted, approve any file replacement.
Take your faulty Surface device and connect the USB flash drive to a USB port. Press and hold the Volume down button, then press the power button once. Keep the Volume Down button pressed until you see the Windows logo along with spinning dots on the screen. If prompted, select the keyboard layout. Then choose Troubleshoot > Recover from a drive > Just remove my files and click Recover. Your Surface device will restart to initiate the recovery process, and you can complete the setup by following the on-screen instructions.
5] Contact Microsoft support
If the issue persists, it’s advisable to seek professional assistance. Contact Microsoft support to have your Surface laptop repaired.
How do I fix No bootable device on Surface?
The “No Bootable Device” error is commonly seen on Microsoft Surface Go devices. To resolve this, you must recover your Surface Go by utilizing a USB flash storage device with the necessary USB solution file. You can download the USB solution file from the official Microsoft website.
How do I access boot options on Surface?
To access the Boot options on your Surface device, you need to enter UEFI. Press and hold the Volume up button while pressing the power button once. Continue holding the Volume Up button until the UEFI screen appears. Then select Boot Configuration from the left menu to view the boot options.
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