The error message “Non-system disk or disk error. Replace and strike any key when ready” is another type of boot error that can occur on Windows 11, 10, and 8. If you are experiencing this error, continue reading this article for some effective methods to permanently resolve it.
Encountering boot errors can be frustrating, as they prevent your computer’s operating system from starting up properly. The “Non-system disk or disk error” message is a common issue that many Windows users face. In this article, we will explore various methods to fix this error and provide you with a permanent solution.
What is Non-system disk error and why it appears?
The “Non-system disk or disk error” message typically appears when your computer is attempting to boot from a disk that is not a valid system disk. This error suggests that you replace the current disk and strike any key to continue the boot process. However, the error may persist even after following these instructions.
How to Fix “Non-system disk or disk error. Replace and strike any key when ready” error on Windows 11, 10 and 8
You can apply the following methods to repair your computer against the Non-system disk error.
Fix using the PC Repair Tool
These are just some common reasons behind the Non-system disk or disk error error, and there can be other factors that can trigger this type of error. That’s why it is recommended to keep optimized your PC using the PC Repair Tool.
Solution 1: Remove all the external storage media except the primary hard drive.
When the Windows boot loader malfunctions and multiple storage media are connected to your computer, it can become confused in locating the correct boot file, resulting in the “Non-system disk” error.
Remove all external storage media from your computer, including USB flash drives, network drives, memory cards, portable hard drives, or extended hard drives.
After removing the external storage media, reboot your computer and check if the error persists.
Solution 2: Repair Boot Sequence.
If your primary boot device is set to a non-bootable device such as a USB flash drive, CD/DVD drive, or network drive, you may encounter the “Non-system disk” error. To resolve this, you can check and change the boot order in the BIOS using the following steps:
Solution 3: Repair Master Boot Record file.
The most suitable way to fix this error code is, to repair/restore the Boot Configuration Data.
Boot configuration data is like a database that stores information on boot-related settings. If the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) gets corrupted, damaged, or inaccessible, the windows can’t read the boot settings and display the message Bootmgr is missing.
There is a way to rebuild or restore Boot configuration data. Just follow the steps mentioned below and restore BCD.
bootrec /FixMbr
bootrec /FixBoot
bootrec /ScanOs
bootrec /rebuildbcd
Solution 4: Replace faulty hard drive/SSD
Most commonly, this error occurs due the faulty hard drive or SSD drive. In such cases, it is important to replace the faulty hard drive with new one and install fresh version of Windows OS.
Solution 5: Perform startup repair.
This is a kind of startup problem so you can fix it by doing startup repair. Startup repair is an advanced and automated mechanism that removes startup bugs and lets you log in to your Windows account. You can perform Startup repair as follows:
Solution 6: Run CHKDSK, SFC, and DISM command to Repair bad sectors in hard drive, file system and whole Windows.
SFC (System File Checker), DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management), and CHKDSK (Check Disk) are all built-in Windows utilities that can help repair issues related to the file system. Each tool serves a specific purpose in diagnosing and fixing file system problems.
sfc /scannow
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
chkdsk C: / f / x / r
Summary
Getting Non-system disk or disk error. Replace and strike any key when ready is frustrating but you can fix it by removing external storage device, performing startup repair, repairing MBR file, etc.