Please help! Operating system not found after changing boot menu order.

chrishewetson

Hi - after following advice from my company's IT department to enable me to work from home, I changed the order of the boot menu so that it was looking for a USB device rather than the laptop's hard drive.

 

Now when I try to use the laptop it won't do anything!  Screenshot......

 

 I then get the error message (Operating System Not Found).  Pressing F2 does nothing, doesn't open up the boot menu, and I've got hundreds of holiday photos on there that I really don't want to lose - can anything be done?  Thanks in advance.

IronFly

F2 is for BIOS
F12 is for boot menu

Try to press it before powering on and tap it a few times

chrishewetson

Hi - and thanks - I've tried all the function keys but I still get taken back to the screenshot (if that makes sense).

sathya0403

Hi,

If its Desektop then to get to BIOS you need to use DELETE, not F2

IronFly

if you don't have it already, i would create a windows 8.x recovery media, boot from that

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media

 

and choose troubleshoot, advanced options, UEFI firmware settings

chrishewetson

Thanks - do you know if that will lose all of my files that are on the hard drive?  I'm really quite keen to keep them.

sathya0403

Hi,
Using the Recovery media, you would get 2 options(Reset - Wipe Hard Drive or to Refresh - which does not remove your data but your applications will be removed). Cheers

chrishewetson

Hi, thanks for your reply - no, I've just tried 'del' as well but it just takes me through to 'operating system not found'.

chrishewetson

Thanks, that sounds promising - I can easily reinstall applications but the photos are a different matter!
Sorry if this sounds like a stupid question, but how do I access that link if the laptop won't get past the 'Operating System Not Found' message? 

IronFly

You need another notebook or PC, there are no other ways......even to recover data from your HDD.

chrishewetson

Ah right - OK - thanks - I will give that a try.

Thanks for your assistance.

laurent_14

For information:

 

To enter in the bios setup utility, there is three options according models:

DEL - F2 - m (often forgotten)

chrishewetson

Hi, thanks for that - I've tried pressing all of those as soon as the laptop comes on (if that's the way I should do it) but nothing happens. 

sathya0403

Hi,

As its a Laptop, Try to remove the Battery & the Charger (If removeable) hold the Power button down for about 5-10 seconds & then try to get to BIOS, if the Battery is in-built(Non-removable), unplug the charger & you will find a Battery reset pin hole to the Bottom of the computer, using a paper clip press & hold it down for 5-10 seconds & try to get to BIOS, that Could help you too. Cheers