My old SSD stopped working, so I installed a replacement SSD in my older HP Pavilion. The computer detects the new SSD, but it displays "Boot device not found—please install an operating system on the hard disk." I have a USB drive advertised as a bootable Windows 11/10/8.1/7 installer, but it does not appear in the boot menu. I'm not very experienced with BIOS settings and need clear, step-by-step guidance on starting the installer and installing Windows on the new SSD. I'm also unsure whether the USB was created correctly or whether I need to change a boot setting.
3 Answers
A USB labeled “bootable” is not necessarily prepared correctly. It should be created with Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool, or with a Windows ISO using a tool such as Rufus; simply copying an ISO file onto the USB will not work. If possible, recreate the installer on another computer using an official Microsoft download, then try the Esc → F9 boot-menu method again. The USB may also need to be plugged into a different USB port, preferably a basic USB-A port directly on the computer.
The replacement SSD is expected to be listed as not bootable until Windows is installed. On most HP Pavilion systems, plug in the installer USB, power on or restart the computer, and repeatedly tap Esc as soon as it starts. When the startup menu appears, press F9 for Boot Device Options and select the USB drive. After the installer loads, choose Custom installation, select the empty SSD, and let Windows create the required partitions. Be careful not to delete anything from another drive if one is still connected.
If the USB does not appear in the F9 list, the computer probably is not recognizing it as valid boot media rather than the SSD being the problem.
If the USB still does not show up, enter BIOS Setup from the Esc startup menu, usually with F10, and check that USB boot is enabled. Use UEFI mode if the system supports it. Secure Boot can sometimes prevent questionable third-party media from appearing, so recreating the USB with the official Microsoft tool is preferable to changing several BIOS settings. You can also test the USB on another computer to confirm whether it actually boots.
The advertised drive may contain an unofficial or outdated installer. Recreating it yourself is safer and makes it easier to choose the correct UEFI installation settings.