Installed Windows 10 "Operating system not found"

Hello Josh,

Thank you for visiting Microsoft Community and providing us with the detailed description about the issue.

As per the description, I understand that you are experiencing issue with error message: Installed Windows 10 “Operating system not found” in the system.

I certainly understand your concern and will try my best to help you.

I really appreciate all your efforts in trying to fix the issue.

Let's perform a “Startup Repair” using Windows 10 bootable DVD or USB drive and check if that helps. Initiating repair from CD/DVD may have different results than earlier since the source of boot is different now. So, I would suggest to perform the repair again and check if it helps.

If you don’t have the bootable DVD or USB drive, please refer to the steps in the article given below to create one and then follow the steps given below.

Create installation media for Windows 10

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Once you have made the bootable USB or DVD drive, please follow the steps.

1. Insert the installation DVD or USB and boot Windows 10 from it.

2. In the ‘Windows setup’ page, select the ‘language to install’, ‘Time and currency format’ and the ‘keyboard or input method’ and click on ‘next’.

3. Click on ‘Repair your computer’ and select ‘Troubleshoot’.

4. Click on ‘Advanced options’ and select ‘Automatic Repair’ and select the operating system.

You might also require to change the boot priority in BIOS in order to allow the computer to boot from CD/DVD.

Important: While scanning the hard drive if any bad sectors are found, the scanner tries to repair that sector, any data available on that might be lost.

Note: Modifying BIOS/ complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) settings incorrectly can cause serious problems that may prevent your computer from booting properly. Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the configuring of BIOS/CMOS settings can be solved. Modifications of the settings are at your own risk.

 

I hope this information is helpful.

Please do let us know if you need any further assistance, we will be glad to assist you.

Thank you.

So with this answer it is very cookie cutter and unhelpful.

1) Installed driver get to put on a USB and it says I don't have one plugged in.

2) Please dont just say lets do a "startup repair". I said there is no OS found. Running the USB all I received was 2 PXE errors, and OS not found.  I cannot get to any screen other than BIOS and startup options. Diagnostics said PC tests successful. 

I ran into this problem on my first install on the 2nd day using W10. My C:\ changed to X:\, so the PC was looking in the wrong place to boot. I put W7 back on the PC. Last weekend I reinstalled W10, and it did it again today. I used Dells Diagnostics in BIOS, and it magically changed the X:\ back to C:\ and I could have my laptop again. This needs fixed!

My dad has the same problem.  How do you fix this when the computer doesn't respond to any inputs on the keyboard (a DOS screen is displayed with a lot of gibberish and the phrase "operating system not found")?  He has a Windows 7 machine but is being forced to install Windows 10.  What can he do?  Neither of us are good with computers.

Hi Josh, I have exactly the same problem, how did you manage computar to boost to the X drive?? 

Reset bios settings back to factory (I personally never touched anything in bios prior to this problem). Worked for me.  Windows 10 is to glitchy  in my opinion. 

What do I do if I do not have the product key? I purchased windows 8 about 2 years ago and upgraded to windows 10 last year. I do not have the box or product key anywhere ( I just tore my house apart looking for it) and I have to perform a clean install of windows 10 now. I was resetting my pc because I wanted to start fresh. During the reset, an error screen said there was an issue with resetting and prompted me to exit the reset and return to windows or troubleshoot the problem. I selected the option to return to windows. When my pc rebooted it said there was no OS found and that I need to remove any drives that don't contain an OS and reboot. I have only one HDD installed so i just hit crtl+alt+del to restart. Same no OS found screen which lead me here. Am I screwed? Do I need to go purchase windows 10 install disks just to fix this? Any help or guidance will be greatly appreciated.

I am a loyal windows user, but I am having this issue too. i am using the media creation tool to create a bootable usb. In order to get it to work, you have to go in Bios to make sure all the USB feature is enabled, incl. USB emulation, etc. Mac OS won't have this issue since their network boot really allows you to connect to some central Apple server somewhere to re-install. Microsoft has to rethink its strategy.

you need to use a ps2 keyboard, not the usb type

had the same issue and had to go dig out my old purple ended keyboard

Similar situation. I believe after an update (no other "event" occurred), I received error message stating OS not found. Huh I thought.  As above author stated, tried every offered and known "solution", and ALL failed. In addition, told had no use able disks, no restore points (which I've manually set  several times because several times because I receive that message before on this computer), had backup, system restore image and a flash drive back up. All failed. Why??? Why??? Why?  why do the solutions to these multiple why do the solutions to these multiple problems constantly fail?

Finally, I was somehow able to reload an online Windows 10 program. Got it working-kind of til last two weeks. Sluggish, no restore points, similar error messages, all attempts to restore again failed.