Find out why a workstation shows a “No Boot Device Found” error after a power outage, even when the SSD is detected in BIOS, as required for the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1101 exam. Learn how a corrupted bootloader can prevent system startup and the steps to resolve it.
Table of Contents
Question
A workstation displays a “No Boot Device Found” error after a power outage. The BIOS detects the SSD. What is the most likely cause?
A. Loose SATA cable
B. Failed power supply
C. Incorrect BIOS settings
D. Corrupted bootloader
E. Faulty SSD firmware
Answer
D. Corrupted bootloader
Explanation
A power outage can corrupt the bootloader on the SSD, preventing the system from locating the operating system, even though the BIOS detects the drive.
A “No Boot Device Found” error after a power outage, with the SSD still visible in the BIOS, is most often caused by bootloader corruption. Sudden loss of power can interrupt critical write operations or SSD mapping table updates, especially if the system was writing to the boot sector or moving boot-related data at the time of the outage. This can leave the bootloader (such as the Master Boot Record or EFI partition) in an incomplete or inconsistent state, preventing the BIOS from finding a valid operating system to load, even though the drive itself is recognized.
Other hardware issues—like loose cables or drive failure—would typically result in the SSD not appearing in BIOS at all. Since the BIOS detects the SSD, the physical connection and drive hardware are likely intact. The next step is to repair the bootloader using recovery tools or installation media, which can rewrite or restore the necessary boot files and allow the system to start normally.
Power outages are a well-known risk for bootloader corruption on both SSDs and HDDs, and restoring the bootloader is the standard resolution in this scenario.
CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1101 certification exam practice question and answer (Q&A) dump with detail explanation and reference available free, helpful to pass the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1101 exam and earn CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1101 certification.