Reboot And Select Proper Boot Device

The error message “Reboot and Select Proper Boot Device” often appears on computer screens during startup when the system encounters issues with its boot process. It indicates the computer’s inability to locate a valid operating system or bootable device.

This error can occur due to various reasons, such as incorrect boot order settings, faulty hard drives or SSDs, disconnected cables, or corrupt boot files. It can also arise from recent hardware changes or a corrupted operating system.

To resolve the “Reboot and Select Proper Boot Device” error, it is crucial to address the issue promptly. Troubleshooting steps include checking connections, ensuring the correct boot order, repairing or reinstalling the operating system, or replacing faulty hardware.

By understanding the meaning behind this error message and taking appropriate measures, you can effectively resolve the issue and regain access to your computer’s operating system and data. If you want to Fix the Inaccessible Boot Device to check the article. 

Reboot and Choose Appropriate Boot Medium

Have you ever encountered the vexing message “Reboot and Choose Appropriate Boot Medium” on your computer display? This issue is a commonplace experience for numerous computer users and can be conveniently resolved with a few troubleshooting measures. In this piece, we shall delve into the causes of this issue and guide you on rectifying it.

Understanding Boot Mediums

Before we delve into the solutions, let us first comprehend the concept of a boot medium. When you commence the operation of your computer, it necessitates loading the operating system from a particular location. This specific location is referred to as the boot medium. It can be the hard drive of your computer, a solid-state drive (SSD), a USB flash drive, or even a CD/DVD drive.

Types of Boot Devices

There are several types of boot devices commonly used in computers. The most common ones include:

• Hard Disk Drive (HDDs): These are the traditional storage device found in most computers, it uses magnetic disks to store data.
• Solid-State Drive (SSD): These are newer and faster storage devices similar to HDD that use flash memory for storage instead of magnetic disks.
• USB Flash Drive: It is a  portable storage device that connects to your computer’s USB port and can be used to boot an operating system or transfer files.
• CD/DVD Drive: We all know older computers may still have CD/DVD drives, which can be used to boot from installation discs or recovery media.

Now that we have a basic understanding of boot devices, let’s explore the causes of the “Reboot and Select Proper Boot Device” error.

Causes of the “Reboot and Select Proper Boot Device” Error

Encountering the error message “Reboot and Select Proper Boot Device” can stem from various reasons. Let’s explore some common factors contributing to this issue:

Boot Settings Corruption or Misconfiguration

On certain occasions, the boot settings within the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) of your computer can become corrupted or misconfigured. This occurrence may arise from events like sudden power loss or erroneous modifications to the settings. When the BIOS fails to locate a suitable boot device, it triggers the display of this error message.

Hardware Challenges

The “Reboot and Select Proper Boot Device” error can also arise due to malfunctioning hardware components. For instance, a loose or defective hard drive cable, a faulty hard drive, or an unplugged power supply connected to the drive can impede the system from booting properly.

Issues with Bootable Media

If you have connected a USB flash drive or inserted a CD/DVD into your system. Then it fails to be recognized, you may encounter this error. Problems associated with this media, such as a corrupted or incomplete bootable image, can also trigger the appearance of the error message.

Now that we have delved into the potential causes, let us proceed to the steps for troubleshooting and resolving the “Reboot and Select Proper Boot Device” error.

Fix the Reboot and Select Proper Boot Device Error

Method 1: Check the Power Cable Connecting Your Hard Drive Disk

Most computers normally use the hard disk drive as the primary boot device. Therefore, if there is an issue with boot device selection, the cable providing the Hard Drive with power should be the first thing to check. Follow the steps given below to do this safely:

• Shut down your computer and open its casing to expose the hard drive. This could be the rear cover for a laptop or the side plate of a cabinet in case of a desktop.
• Inspect the power cable entering your hard disk. Try removing and reinserting it.
• Try to boot up again and if you get the same error, then try out the same cable on another computer. Alternatively, you could try out a different power cable.

If the power cable is causing this issue, the above steps will resolve the problem, and your computer will boot normally again.

Method 2: Clean Your RAM

Dust is an old enemy of electronic components. In case you are not someone that regularly cleans the internal components of your computer, then cleaning the RAM should be the next thing on the list. RAM Test is one of the essential boot up tests that are performed by the BIOS. Hence, any interruption in the RAM’s connectivity may cause this issue.

To clean your RAM, follow the steps given below:

• Shut off your computer and remove the side plate or backplate to expose the RAM.
• The RAM stick is usually fixed into grooves without any screws. Wiggle it out slowly.
• Clean the RAM using a microfiber cloth. Focus on the pins at the end of the RAM as these actually form the connection.
• Insert the RAM back into the slot. Make sure you insert it in the original direction. Do not apply too much force at any point.
• Reboot your computer to see if this fixes the problem.

Method 3: Check if Boot Drive is Detected in BIOS

BIOS or Basic Input Output System is a firmware that is responsible for the boot up process and loading the operating system. The BIOS settings also govern which boot device is selected and with what priority. If Boot Drive is not selected, then it will lead to the “Reboot and Select Proper Boot Device” Error.

To check your computer’s selected boot device in the BIOS settings menu, follow the steps given below:

• Check what key has been designed by your motherboard manufacturer to enter into BIOS. Usually, this key has to be kept held down or pressed repeatedly as soon as the computer starts. Once you know this, reboot the computer.
• As soon as the computer starts again, start pressing the key to enter into BIOS menu.
• Inside the BIOS menu, you should find a list of all the connected devices. This list should include your Hard Drive.
• If you don’t find your hard drive listed, turn off your computer and change your hard drive’s SATA slot or SATA cable and try all the steps again.

Method 4: Check Boot Order in BIOS

Sometimes tinkering with the BIOS settings or changing boot devices may mess up the Boot Sequence. The Boot Sequence is what determines which boot device has what priority. The BIOS will try to load the OS from whichever device has the highest priority first. It is imperative to ensure that the correct boot device is marked with the highest priority. To check this, follow the steps below:

• Use the designated key to enter the BIOS menu just as your computer starts.
• In the BIOS menu, look for Boot Device Sequence.
• In this list, your primary boot device should be selected as the highest priority. If not, make the change.
• Save and exit BIOS. The computer will restart automatically.

Method 5: Disable/Enable Legacy Boot.

Some motherboards provide a feature known as “Legacy Boot”. If this feature is enabled in your BIOS settings, then you will require to disable it. Follow the steps given below to achieve this:

• Enter your BIOS settings by pressing the designated key.
• Look for the Legacy Boot option and check to see if it is enabled. If it is enabled, then disable it.
• Save the settings and exit BIOS. Your compute will restart automatically.

Method 6: Set BIOS to Best Defaults

In case none of the other BIOS settings are working, you should reset all the BIOS settings to default. Open your BIOS settings and look for an option like load optimal defaults. Save and exit the BIOS after the default settings have been loaded.

Method 7: Use Command Prompt to Activate an Inactive Partition

Sometimes, the boot partition of your hard drive may be inactive. Even when your computer does not boot, you can access the command prompt. However, you will require a USB recovery drive. Then, using the command prompt, you can activate the inactive boot partition. The following steps will show you how to do this:

• Create a USB recovery drive from Microsoft’s official tool for this purpose.
• From the BIOS settings of your computer, select USB boot device as the highest priority for booting. Save and exit BIOS settings.
• The on-screen instructions will guide you henceforth. Choose any option out of repair, recovery, or restore.
• After choosing an option, you will see System Recovery Options. Select it and chose command prompt.
• Type the command list disk to get a list of the available disks.
• Select the disk that has the inactive partition using the select <disk name> command and press enter.
• To select the inactive partition, type list <partition name>.
• Type the command active and press enter. Diskpart will now activate this partition and notify you.
• Exit command prompt and restart to check if the issue has been fixed.

Method 8: Fix Windows Boot Files

If none of the above methods have worked for you, then the problem may not lie with your Hard Disk or BIOS settings. It could be possible that some missing or corrupted boot files are causing this issue. In that case, you will need to repair Windows. Follow these steps to repair Windows:

• Insert a windows repair disc or USB recovery drive and restart your PC. It is may require you to change the boot order priority from the BIOS settings.
• You should find an option called Repair Your Computer on the Windows installation screen. Select it.
• Run command prompt.
• For old BIOS users, type the below commands and hit enter after entering each command: bootrec /fixmbr, bootrec /fixboot, and bootrec /rebuildBCD.
• UEFI BIOS users should use the following commands: bcdboot C:\windows (Assuming that ‘C’ is the drive with the boot partition)
• Exit the command prompt and reboot your system to see if this method works.

Conclusion

In worst-case scenarios, a dead Hard Drive may be the cause of this problem. In that case, none of the above-listed methods will work. But, chances are that the fix is easy and will require only a few minutes of your time. It is also a good idea to always keep a recovery USB drive or repair Disc handy for such situations.

Reboot And Select Proper Boot Device – FAQS