Troubleshoot Terminal OS/Boot issue

If your terminal isn’t finding an operating system to start from. Here’s how to fix it:

 Step 1: Check if the drive is detected in BIOS/UEFI

1. Power off the computer completely.

2. Turn it back on and press the BIOS key repeatedly during startup. Common keys are:

   • Del, F2, F10, or Esc (depends on board).

3. Once in BIOS, look for:

   • A list of connected drives (often under “Boot” or “Storage”).

   • Make sure your hard drive or SSD appears there.

4. If the drive is not listed, it may be disconnected or failed.

Step 2: Check physical connections

If it’s a desktop or all-in-one:

• Power off and unplug it.

• Open the back cover (if possible).

• Reseat the SATA or NVMe drive connection — unplug and replug it.

• Ensure cables are firmly seated and power is connected to the drive.

If it’s a laptop, you may need a technician to check the drive connection.

Step 3: Adjust boot order

If the drive is detected in BIOS, but the computer still won’t boot:

1. In BIOS, go to Boot Order or Boot Priority.

2. Ensure the drive with your OS (e.g. “Windows Boot Manager” or your SSD name) is listed first.

3. Save changes and restart.

Step 4: Repair or reinstall Windows (if needed)

If your drive is detected but Windows still won’t boot:

1. Create a Windows 10/11 installation USB using another computer and Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool.

2. Plug it into the affected computer.

3. Boot from the USB (you may need to press F12 or Esc to select it).

4. Choose “Repair your computer” → “Startup Repair”.

If that fails, you may need to reinstall Windows.

Step 5: If the drive isn’t detected at all

That usually means:

• The drive has failed and may need replacing.

• Or, rarely, the motherboard’s SATA/NVMe controller is faulty.

If the data is important, don’t reinstall yet — remove the drive and connect it to another computer or use a USB-to-SATA/NVMe adapter to recover files.