Have you ever turned on your computer one day and suddenly got that scary message: “No Windows installed on hard drive” or “No bootable device found”? That happened to me recently after a failed update, and I honestly thought I had lost my system for good.
After trying every “repair” option that didn’t work, I decided to reinstall Windows manually using a USB flash drive. Surprisingly, it worked perfectly — and I learned a lot in the process. Here’s exactly how I did it step by step.
What You’ll Need
- Another working laptop or PC
- A USB flash drive (at least 8GB)
- Internet connection
- Windows ISO file (Windows 10 or 11)
- Windows product key (optional — you can skip during install)
Step 1: Download the Windows ISO
You can download a clean and official Windows ISO file from:
- Microsoft’s official site — recommended for safety and updates.
- GetIntoPC — alternative option (not officially supported).
Make sure you download the right version (Windows 10 or 11) that your PC supports.
Step 2: Prepare the USB Installer
- Plug your empty USB drive into the working computer.
- Go to rufus.ie and download Rufus.
- Open Rufus — it should detect your USB automatically.
- Under Boot selection, click SELECT and choose your downloaded Windows ISO.
- Set the following:
- Partition scheme: GPT (for modern UEFI systems) or MBR (for older BIOS systems)
- Target system: UEFI (for GPT) or BIOS (for MBR)
- Leave other settings as default and click START.
- Wait for Rufus to finish creating the bootable USB.
Step 3: Boot from the USB on the Broken PC
Insert your bootable USB into the computer that said “No Windows installed.” Then power it on and quickly press the boot menu key.
| Brand | Boot Menu Key | BIOS Key |
|---|---|---|
| HP | F9 | Esc or F10 |
| Dell | F12 | F2 |
| Lenovo | F12 | F1 or Fn + F2 |
| Acer | F12 | Del |
| ASUS | Esc or F8 | F2 |
| Toshiba | F12 | F2 |
| MSI | F11 | Del |
If the computer doesn’t detect your USB:
- Try a different USB port.
- Recreate the USB with Rufus using MBR instead of GPT.
- Disable Secure Boot in BIOS temporarily.
Step 4: Install Windows
- When setup loads, choose your language and click Install Now.
- Enter your product key or skip it (you can activate later).
- Select Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).
- Delete all old partitions on your main drive (careful — this erases everything).
- Select the unallocated space and click Next.
Windows will create the needed partitions automatically and begin installation.
Step 5: If Windows Installer Doesn’t Detect Your Drive
Open Command Prompt during installation:
Repair your computer → Troubleshoot → Command Prompt
diskpart
list disk
select disk 0 ← (replace 0 with your disk number)
clean
convert gpt ← (or use convert mbr for legacy BIOS)
exit
Close Command Prompt and continue with installation — your disk should now appear.
Step 6: Finishing Up
- Wait for setup to finish — it may restart several times.
- Remove the USB after the first restart to avoid reinstall loop.
- Follow on-screen setup for your region, name, and password.
Step 7: After Installation
- Connect to the internet and run Windows Update for drivers.
- If something doesn’t work (like Wi-Fi or sound), download drivers from your PC manufacturer’s site.
- Activate Windows if you skipped earlier.
Common Errors and Fixes
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| “Windows can’t be installed to this disk (MBR/GPT error)” | Wrong partition format | Use diskpart → clean → convert gpt (for UEFI) |
| No bootable device found | Wrong boot order | Set USB or SSD as first boot in BIOS |
| Setup stuck on logo | Corrupt ISO | Recreate USB or redownload ISO |
| Drive not showing up | Missing driver or disconnected cable | Use “Load Driver” option or check connection |
| Keeps restarting after install | USB still plugged in | Remove USB after first restart |
Step 8: Repair Boot Issues (Optional)
If Windows installs but won’t boot, open Command Prompt again and run:
bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /scanos
bootrec /rebuildbcd
bcdboot C:\Windows
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I install Windows without a product key?
Yes, just skip it during setup. Windows will still install, but a small “Activate Windows” watermark will show until you activate it later.
2. Which version should I install — Windows 10 or 11?
If your PC is older than 2018, use Windows 10. Newer systems with TPM 2.0 can run Windows 11 smoothly.
3. My USB isn’t booting. What do I do?
Try another port, recreate the USB using Rufus, or disable Secure Boot temporarily.
4. It still says “No bootable device” after install.
Go to BIOS → Boot tab → set your SSD/HDD as the first boot device.
5. Can I use the same USB for multiple computers?
Yes, as long as it remains bootable, you can use it for several PCs.
6. Should I format the drive before installing?
If your old Windows is corrupted, yes. Use diskpart clean for a full reset.
7. Is GetIntoPC safe?
It works, but it’s not an official Microsoft source. Download from Microsoft if you want full updates and support.
Final Thoughts
That’s exactly how I reinstalled my Windows after seeing “No Windows installed on hard drive.” It took me some trial and error, but once I figured out the right steps, it was surprisingly easy.
If this guide helps you, feel free to share it — someone else might be stuck in the same situation!
