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An Operating System Wasn

This document provides instructions to resolve the "An operating system wasn't found" error that can occur on Windows 10 or Windows 8.1 computers after an upgrade, BIOS update, or hard drive cloning. There are two methods detailed: performing a startup repair using a Windows boot media, or configuring and repairing the boot files. The boot files method involves using the boot media to access the command prompt, checking the disk partition type (MBR or GPT), and then following specific steps to recreate the boot files and mark the system partition active for that type. Rebooting should then allow booting to Windows without the error.

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Girijesh Saini
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80 views

An Operating System Wasn

This document provides instructions to resolve the "An operating system wasn't found" error that can occur on Windows 10 or Windows 8.1 computers after an upgrade, BIOS update, or hard drive cloning. There are two methods detailed: performing a startup repair using a Windows boot media, or configuring and repairing the boot files. The boot files method involves using the boot media to access the command prompt, checking the disk partition type (MBR or GPT), and then following specific steps to recreate the boot files and mark the system partition active for that type. Rebooting should then allow booting to Windows without the error.

Uploaded by

Girijesh Saini
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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An operating system wasn't found on Windows 10 or

Windows 8.1 (Solved)


Last updated on August 1st, 2017

The following error may appeared on Windows 10 or 8.1 computer during boot
process "An operating system wasn’t found. Try disconnecting any drives that
don’t contain an operating system. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart". 
The "An operating system wasn’t found"  error can be displayed on Windows 10
or Windows 8.1 computers, after a Windows upgrade (e.g. from Windows 8.1 to
Windows 10), a BIOS update, or after you have cloned your hard drive to
another disk.

In this tutorial you can find detailed instructions on how to resolve the ""An
operating system wasn’t found. Try disconnecting any drives that don’t contain
an operating system. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart" on Windows 10 or Windows
8 or 8.1 OS.
 

How to fix: "An operating system wasn’t found"


error on Windows 10 & Windows 8.1
– In order to fix the "An operating system wasn’t found" problem on
Windows 10 you need a Windows 10 (or 8, 8.1) Boot USB or DVD Media
(Installation Media). – If you don't own a Windows 10 Boot Media, then
(from another computer) you can create one, by following the instructions
mentioned on these articles:
 How to create a Windows 10 USB boot media.
 How to create a Windows 10 DVD boot media.
Important: Before you  continue to troubleshoot the problem by following the
steps below, try to boot into Windows after you have:
A. Set your internal hard drive (with the installed OS) as the first boot device on the BIOS
Setup settings (or the  Windows Boot Manager if you own an UEFI System).
B. Disconnected any other USB drives (or devices) connected on your computer.
 

Method 1: Perform a Windows Startup Repair.


Method 2. Configure and Repair the Boot files.
 

Method 1: Perform a Windows Startup Repair


1. Place the Windows Boot Media on the computer and boot from it.
2. At the first setup screen, choose your Language, Time – Currency and your
keyboard input method and click Next.

3. At the next screen select Repair your computer.


 

4. Then click Troubleshoot –> Advanced options –> Startup Repair.

5. Wait while Windows diagnosing and fix problems.


6. When the Startup Repair is completed try to boot in Windows normally.
– If your still receive the "operating system wasn’t found" error or if the Startup
Repair couldn't repair your PC, continue at Method 2 below.
 

Method 2. Configure and Repair the Boot Files (Options).


1. Place the Windows Boot Media on the computer and boot from it.
2. At the first setup screen, choose your Language, Time – Currency and your
keyboard input method and click Next.

3. At the next screen simultaneously press the SHIFT + F10 keys to open the


command prompt.
 

4. At the command prompt window, type the following command to open
DISKPART utility and press Enter:
 diskpart

 
5. Then give the following command to find out if your disk is set to GPT or MBR
partition table and press Enter:
 list disk
Look at the GPT column to see if it has an asterisk (*).

– If you see an asterisk (*), that means that your disk's Partition Table is GPT.

– If you don't see an asterisk, that means that your disk's Partition Table is
MBR.

(In this screenshot the partition table is  MBR)

(In this screenshot the partition table is  GPT)


 

6. Type exit and press Enter.
7. If the partition table is MBR then read and apply Part's 1 instructions to
resolve the "Operating system wasn’t found"  problem, otherwise – if the
partition table is GPT – read and apply Part's 2 instructions.
 

PART 1. Fix Boot Files on MBR Partition Table


 

1. First, find out on which disk Windows were installed. To do that, in the
command prompt window, give the following command: *
 dir C:
* Note: If the Windows directory is displayed, then continue to the next step,
otherwise continue by typing the next alphabet letter until you find which drive
contains the Windows folder (e.g. dir d: , dir e:. dir f:, etc.).
(In this example the Windows folder is located at drive  D:)
 

2. When you find out which drive contains the Windows folder, (in this example
on the drive "D:"), give the following command to create the boot files on that
drive and press Enter. *
* Note: If Windows are located on a different drive, change the letter D with
that drive letter.
 bcdboot D:\Windows /S D:
The System should return this message:
"Boot files successfully created "

3. After the Boot files creation, open DISKPART utility again by typing:
 diskpart
4. In DISKPART prompt type:
 list disk

5. Now type the following command and then press Enter:


 select disk  X    (Where “X  “means the number of disk that contains the
Operating System – e.g. “0”)

6. Then give the following commands in order (press Enter after typing each


one of them)
1. list volume

2. select volume X (Where “X “means the number of Volume that contains


the Windows folder. In this example is the Volume “3”)
3. active

7. Type exit to close the DISKPART tool.


8. Close all Windows and reboot your computer.
9. Remove the Windows 10 Boot Media and boot to Windows normally.
You 're done! Let me know if this guide has helped you by leaving your
comment about your experience. Please like and share this guide to help others.

PART 2: Fix Boot Files on GPT Partition Table


1. At first, find out on which disk Windows are installed: To do that, in the
command prompt window give the following command: *
 dir C:
* Note: If the Windows directory is displayed then continue to the next step.
otherwise continue by typing the next alphabet letter until you found which
drive contains the Windows folder (e.g. dir d: , dir e:. dir f:, etc.).
(In this example the Windows folder is located at drive  C: )
2. Then open the DISKPART utility by typing the following command and
press Enter:
 diskpart
3. At DISKPART prompt type:
 list disk

4. Now type the following command and then press Enter:


 select disk  X    (Where “X  “means the number of disk that contains the
Operating System – e.g. “0”).
5.  Then type the following command and press Enter.
 list partition
6. Find out which Partition is labeled as System.
(In this screenshot the Partition 4 is labeled as System)

6. Select the System partition by typing:


 select partition X  (Where “X  “is the number of the partition labeled  as
System.  e.g. “4”).
 

7. Assign a drive letter (e.g. the letter "S") to the System partition by typing
the following command and press Enter: *
 assign letter=S:
* Note: If the drive letter "S" is already used, then give the next drive letter in
alphabet.

8. Type exit and press Enter to close DISKPART tool.


9. Then give the following commands in order (press Enter after typing each
one of them).
1. cd /d S:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\
2. ren BCD BCD.bak
3. bcdboot C:\Windows /l en-us /s S: /f UEFI
Notes:
1. Change the letter "S" if you have assigned a different drive letter to the System partition.
2. If Windows is located on a different drive then use that drive letter instead of "C".
3. The "/l en-us" part of the above command sets the Windows language to English. If you
want to set a different language, then replace the "en-us" with the appropriate  language
code  (e.g. "fr-FR" for France).
10. Close all Windows and reboot your computer.
11. Remove the Windows 10 Boot Media and boot to Windows normally.
You 're done! Let me know if this guide has helped you by leaving your
comment about your experience. Please like and share this guide to help others.

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