[Fixed] No Device Found AHCI BIOS Not Installed in Windows

Error: No Device Found AHCI BIOS Not Installed

When your computer can’t start Windows properly, you might see different error messages that stop you from using the system normally. One common issue is the “AHCI BIOS Not Installed” error. This problem often appears during startup on Windows 10 or 11 and is widely discussed in tech forums and online communities.

Many users report seeing this error on computers from brands like Dell and HP. The message might look like this:

"No device found AHCI BIOS not installed No boot device available – strike F1 to retry reboot, F2 for setup utility Press F5 to run onboard diagnostics"

You may also see a slightly different version, such as: "No supported device found AHCI BIOS not installed." This error usually means the system can’t detect a hard drive to boot from, which stops Windows from loading.

Why does the error AHCI BIOS Not Installed occur?

Not sure why you’re seeing the “AHCI BIOS Not Installed” error on your PC? Let’s break it down in simple terms. AHCI stands for Advanced Host Controller Interface. It’s a standard that helps your computer talk to SATA devices like hard drives and SSDs. The AHCI BIOS controls this communication, so it must be set up correctly for your system to work well.

If this error shows up, it usually means something is wrong. Based on reports, the main causes include:

How to fix the problem when you see it? The following section will share several solutions.

How to fix the No Device Found AHCI BIOS Not Installed issue

Generally, you will have 6 choices to fix AHCI BIOS Not Installed error in Windows PCs. The detailed steps are listed below:

Fix 1. Check Hardware Connections

If the cables connecting your hard drive to the motherboard are loose, it may lead to the AHCI BIOS problem. Make sure all these cables are firmly connected, and if you notice any damaged cables, replace them.

Fix 2. Change Some Settings in BIOS (Only for Dell)

If you're getting the "AHCI BIOS Not Installed" error on a Dell OptiPlex, adjusting a few BIOS settings may help. Many users have found this solution effective. Follow these steps:

Step 1. When you see the error message, press F2 to enter the BIOS setup. Go to General > Date/Time and make sure the date and time are set correctly.

Step 2. Under Drives > Diskette Drive, set it to Disabled. Still under Drives, check the boxes to enable SATA-0, SATA-1, and External SATA.

Step 3. Go to General > Boot Sequence and uncheck Onboard or USB Floppy Drive. Save and apply the changes. Then press F2 again to enter BIOS, set your primary boot device, and restart your PC. It should now boot without showing the AHCI BIOS error.

Fix 3. Change to AHCI Mode

Another method to fix the "AHCI BIOS Not Installed" error is by changing the SATA mode to AHCI.

Step 1. Restart your computer and press the key (like F2, Del, or Esc) that opens the BIOS setup. This key may vary depending on your PC brand. In the BIOS menu, find the option for SATA Configuration or SATA Mode, usually under the Storage or Advanced section.

Step 2. If the current setting is IDE or RAID, change it to AHCI. Save the changes, exit BIOS, and restart your computer. This should help resolve the AHCI BIOS error.

Note: According to Microsoft Community, changing from IDE to AHCI after Windows has been installed can give rise to system errors or a boot loop as the system has drivers loaded for the old storage mode (IDE) and it cannot load the new drivers for AHCI. To prevent this situation, try to boot into Safe Mode.

In Windows 11/10, force reboot the PC three times until it enters the automatic repair interface. Then, click Advanced options to enter Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart, and press F5 to enable Safe Mode with Networking. In Safe Mode, Windows should automatically install the correct AHCI drivers. Then reboot the machine, it should run normally.

Alternatively, you can enable AHCI by using the ways in the given guide.

Fix 4. Run Startup Repair

Windows 11 and 10 come with a feature, namely Startup Repair which detects issues that prevent Windows from loading and fixes them. Run this tool now via these steps:

Step 1: In WinRE, visit Troubleshoot > Advanced options.

Step 2: Tap on Startup Repair and then perform the repair operation according to the prompts on the screen.

Fix 5. Check Your Hard Drive

The "AHCI BIOS Not Installed" error might be linked to hardware problems, like issues with your hard drive. So, it's a good idea to check the health of your disk.

Step 1. In the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.

Step 2. In the Command Prompt window, type chkdsk c: /f /r and press Enter. This command will scan your disk for errors and try to fix them. Make sure you let the process finish without stopping it.

If your hard drive has bad sectors or errors, you can run AOMEI Partition Assistant to remove bad sectors from hard disk.

AOMEI Partition Assistant

The Best Windows Disk Partition Manager and PC Optimizer

Free Download
Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7

Fix 6. Perform SFC & DISM Scans

When there are damaged system files, you likely encounter many system issues such as no device found AHCI BIOS not installed. By repairing the corruption in the system files, you may start up Windows normally.

Step 1. Launch Command Prompt. Perform the DISM scan by executing the following commands one by one:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Step 2. Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.

Further reading: What to do when Windows still fails to boot after fixing?

The error "No Device Found. AHCI BIOS Not Installed" typically appears before Windows starts loading — during the BIOS/UEFI initialization. This suggests the issue is related to hardware or firmware. Once your BIOS detects the disk but Windows still fails to boot, you might consider performing a boot repair. In this situation, you can use AOMEI Partition Assistant to help fix the issue.

It offers a Boot Repair feature that can detect and fix various startup problems. The tool is user-friendly, making it easy to go through the repair process on your own without needing technical support. Another great advantage is that it works even when Windows won’t start, so it’s useful if your computer can’t boot up properly.

AOMEI Partition Assistant

The Best Windows Disk Partition Manager and PC Optimizer

Free Download
Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7

Step 1. Prepare a blank USB and connect it to a working PC that has installed AOMEI Partition Assistant, click "Recover" >"Boot Repair" and then click the "create a bootable disk" option to create a WinPE "Boot Repair" disk.

Step 2. Boot the PC that cannot boot into WinPE. It will automatically load the Boot Repair tool and start the boot entries scan process. All boot entries will be displayed.

Step 3. Select the repairable boot entries you want to repair and click the "Repair" button to start the repair.

Step 4. Once the repair is repaired successfully, you can remove the bootable disk and boot the PC from the original system drive.

After performing the boot repair with AOMEI Partition Assistant, attempt to boot your Windows PC normally.

Conclusion

The “No Device Found AHCI BIOS Not Installed” error typically indicates that your system is having trouble detecting the hard drive, often due to incorrect BIOS settings, faulty hardware connections, or issues with Windows. Fortunately, several effective solutions are available—from checking physical connections and adjusting BIOS settings to using repair tools like AOMEI Partition Assistant. By following the appropriate steps based on the root cause, you can usually resolve the problem and restore normal system startup.