Reboot and Select Proper Boot Device Error Fixed

Rick Akura on
Have you been getting the "Reboot and select proper Boot Device" error? This article will show you how to fix the issue in minutes.
Reboot and select proper boot device error

Have you ever encountered an error message that reads, “Reboot and select proper Boot Device”? This is a common problem on Windows 10 and 11 that can be quite frustrating to work through. Fortunately, there are some useful troubleshooting tips you can follow to help get your computer back up and running again. Let's take a look at how to fix this issue. 

The "Reboot and select proper Boot Device" error is a common issue that can affect Windows computers. This error occurs when your computer is attempting to boot from an incorrect device or drive, resulting in the system being unable to start properly.

In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the process of resolving the "Reboot and select proper Boot Device" error, and getting your computer back up and running again.

What Causes the Reboot and Select Proper Boot Device Error?

Just like other Windows 10 and Windows 11 problems, this error has several possible sources. You might be encountering it for one of the following reasons:

  • Your system's boot order is not properly configured.
  • Legacy mode is either activated or disabled.
  • An HDD malfunction has occurred.
  • The system partition has been deactivated.
  • An issue with the Windows Registry.

If you're dealing with the issues mentioned above, resolving the "Reboot and select proper Boot Device" error requires some patience and technical know-how. Let's take a look at how to fix this issue step-by-step.

How to Fix the Reboot and Select Proper Boot Device Error

Fortunately, there are several methods you can use to fix the "Reboot and select proper Boot Device" error. Depending on your system setup, one of the following methods should help you resolve this issue:

1. Check and Adjust the Boot Order

The first thing to do is check the boot order in your BIOS. All you have to do is make sure that your computer’s booting order correctly lists your hard disk as the first option. Here's how to do it:

  1. Reboot your computer.
  2. Before your system boots, access the BIOS menu by pressing the key indicated on the first screen. It can be one of these keys: Esc, Del, F2, F8, F10, or F12. If you see multiple keys listed, use the one assigned to open BIOS, setup, or BIOS menu.
    Check and adjust boot order
  3. Using the arrow keys on your keyboard, navigate to the Boot tab. Here, ensure that your HDD or SSD with Windows installed is the first on the list.
    Check and adjust boot order
  4. After moving your system disk to be the first in the boot order, save your settings and restart your computer again.

You should immediately see if this resolved the "Reboot and select proper Boot Device" error. If the problem persists, continue with the next method listed below!

2. Check for Hard Disk Failure

To discover if your hard disk is malfunctioning or has already gone kaput, use the Automated Repair tool in Easy Recovery Essentials. The app will report any difficulty with your hard drive and RAM memory for you to remedy.

  1. Download the Easy Recovery Essentials application.
  2. You have two choices to create a recovery media. You either have to burn a bootable ISO image or create a recovery USB boot device.
  3. Restart your computer, and then boot from the media that contains Easy Recovery Essentials.
  4. Select the Automated Repair tool. Click the Continue button and wait for the process to finish working on your system. When done, you’ll see a report of any issues found with your hard disk.
    Check for hard disk failure

After running this tool and verifying the status of your HDD or SSD, you can assess the situation and decide whether or not you need to replace the hardware.

3. Disable Legacy Boot (UEFI)

If your computer runs on UEFI instead of BIOS and you've been experiencing the "Reboot and select proper Boot Device" error, then deactivating Legacy Boot mode could fix your problem.

  1. Reboot your computer.
  2. Before your system boots, access the UEFI menu by pressing the key indicated on the first screen. It can be one of these keys: Del, F2, F8, or F12.
  3. Look through your menus and find the Legacy boot option. Usually, you'll find it in Security > Legacy Support.
    Disable legacy boot (EUFI)
  4. Using the controls on the screen, ensure that Legacy is disabled. After turning it off, save your settings and exit the UEFI menu.
  5. Restart your computer and see if the error still occurs on your device.

4. Use the Diskpart Tool

If the "Reboot and select proper Boot Device" error appears, it's likely because your primary partition is no longer active. Fortunately, you can use diskpart to resolve this issue. As long as you set that partition as active again, everything should be back in working order.

  1. Insert your Windows installation disc, and then boot from the media. Navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Command Prompt.
    Diskpart tool
  2. Type in “diskpart” without quotation marks, and press Enter on your keyboard to execute the command. This is going to initiate the diskpart tool.
    Diskpart tool
  3. Continue by executing the select disk 0 command. Before you press Enter, it’s important that you replace “0” with the number that corresponds to the disk Windows is installed on.
  4. Input the following commands:
    • list partition
    • select partition 1
    • active
      Diskpart tool
  5. After performing the steps above, you can reboot your system and see if the "Reboot and select proper Boot Device" error still pops up.

5. Fix Your Registry

Leftover Registry files from uninstalled applications can cause plenty of problems on your PC, including the "Reboot and select proper Boot Device" error. If this is the situation, cleaning your Windows Registry may fix the issue.

Note: Prior to making any modifications to your Registry, creating a System Restore point is highly recommended in case of any unforeseen problems.

You can use a free tool to get the job done like CCleaner or Auslogics Registry Cleaner. All you have to do is install the applications from the official website, and run the specialized Registry cleanup tools to set everything in order.

Conclusion

Fixing the "Reboot and select proper Boot Device" error on Windows 10 or 11 can be a frustrating experience. However, with the help of this guide, you should now know how to resolve this issue quickly and efficiently.

If you have any other questions about resolving this error, feel free to reach out to our support team here at SoftwareKeep. Good luck!

One More Thing

We’re glad you’ve read this article :) Thank you for reading.

If you have a second, please share this article on your socials; someone else may benefit too. 

Subscribe to our newsletter and be the first to read our future articles, reviews, and blog post right from your inbox. We also offer deals, promotions, and updates on our products and share them via email. You won’t miss one.

Related Articles 

» How to Change Your Computer’s Boot Order
» How to Fix Inaccessible Boot Device Error in Windows 10
» Solution for No Boot Device Found on Windows 10

Tags: Troubleshooting