Nitro ANV15-51 boot failure after BIOS update (inaccessible boot device)

I have an issue I never met with, and which leaves me stranded..

Last night, NitroSense downloaded a BIOS update, which installed successfully. Since I restarted the computer, Windows 11 gives a BSOD with the message "inaccessible boot device." The built-in recovery options are ineffective, disabling secure boot does not help, and I cannot see the SATA settings in the BIOS (they are not there at all). There is only a UEFI boot option, no legacy, or at least I assume so because I cannot make this setting changeable. The BIOS sees the hard drive, but in the command prompt, it says there is no volume when I try to list it. What could be the solution? Is it possible to somehow boot from the hard drive again, or should I forget about it, back up the hard drive's contents, and reinstall Windows? The local Acer support did not understand the above, they just told me to reinstall...

I cannot update Windows using a USB, as the installer does not allow it at all. The automatic repair does not work, it does not see the SSD (which the BIOS does see), so I cannot restore it either. At the moment, I have no other idea than to back up the data, quickly sell the laptop, and avoid the brand in the future, but I would be glad if someone could help. :(

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StevenGen

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/708887/nitro-anv15-51-boot-failure-after-bios-update-inaccessible-boot-device

What is the Nitro model laptop that you are having this problem with? As you never ever allow any software to update your bios as what you are experiencing is what happens, a bios update should only be updated from the official Acer support site for your Nitro laptop model. Have a look at this guide “How to Fix the Inaccessible Boot Device Error in Windows” and see if any of these steps will recover the boot drive for your Nitro laptop.

If the above doesn’t fix the boot drive recognition, and seeing that you have attempted to recover the drive in a few ways, I suggest that you back up the data on the drive and try and do a clean install of windows 11 by constructing an installation USB with Rufus 4.5 and then putting the Win-11 OS 23H2 ,ISO on this USB and insert the USB into the laptops port and reboot the laptop so that the Win-11 installation starts, and you can reinstall Win-11 onto this laptop. Good luck and hope this helps you out and let us know how you go.

If this answers your question and solved your query please "Click on Yes" or "Click on Like" if you find my answer useful👍

Garmacor

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1285645#Comment_1285645

Hello there!

Thank you for your answer, I will try it. The model is the one in the name of the topic. For the update. I not updated with a random bios, BTW shy should I update anything without need?, I have not been asked to update. NitroSense downloaded it and asked me to restart after the update. I think this is an official software. since it named Acer NitroSense. What can be more official?

Garmacor

I found the solution:

My laptop has an NVMe SSD installed by default, so I can confirm that the following solution works with this type of drive.

Steps:

Set Supervisor Password:
- I set a supervisor password in the BIOS.
Disable Secure Boot:
- I disabled the Secure Boot option.
Access Hidden BIOS Settings:
- Pressing the Ctrl + S key combination made additional BIOS settings available.
Disable Intel VMD:
- I disabled Intel VMD.

Voilà, the problem was resolved, and the operating system booted up.

Note:

I regret that I couldn't find this information all in one place anywhere. Performing the above steps effectively solves the problem.

Erop

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1286571#Comment_1286571

Thank you very much, I encountered the same problem myself and with the help of your answer I was able to solve it

byjamesmars

It served for me too! thanks mate!

HackLoad

Hey Garmacor,

you underestimate how much of a lifesaver this was - and i casually ended up here by searching "bios" on the acer community search bar to try some last solutions.
My acer nitro was not booting up my ssd and it wasn't being shown on the diskpart either - literally spent hours and hours with so many different posts telling their solutions, which some included how to disable Intel VMD. Because this wasn't show on the bios by default (just like so many other different options) i just figured the bios didn't offer that feature and therefore that wasn't a feasable solution.

But with your CTRL + S info (which weirdly nobody mentioned on the hundred of pages and blogs i visited) i finally got my sdd being shown and working. Just so grateful for your info, genuinely saved me hundreds of dollars of reparation or SSD change, thank you so much

RafaelSWR

I have this inaccessible boot device problem, but the VMD is already disabled, and the laptop boots normaly, I use windows normally, but randomly this BSOD appears

Can someone help me? It's an ACER NITRO V ANV15-51-7037

Can it be a hardware problem? This acer is brand new, not a week of use and this problem happened

in the event log of windows there are the critical error code 41, is it important?

Sinan_ktpm

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1286571#Comment_1286571

Hi, Thanks for that. I ran into the same problem and this got it fixed, partially.
I have the same laptop with windows 11 pro and ubuntu 24.04 dual booted. When I did all of the above including disabling Intel VMD, then clicked 'Save and Shutdown' and Powering on again, the laptop itself booted into windows. Normally it boots into a menu where I can select windows or ubuntu to boot into. Now it automatically boots into windows. I use both OS quite often. When I tried re-enabling Intel VMD again, I ran into that previous blue screen INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE problem, so I had to disable it to at least access my laptop. Since I use both Windows and Ubuntu frequently, I need that boot menu, but now it is not showing.
Any help will be much appreciated.