7 Ways to Fix Windows Boot Manager Missing from BIOS on Dell

Common causes of Windows Boot Manager missing from BIOS on Dell PC

The Windows Boot Manager is a critical component that initiates the booting process and allows you to select the operating system to load. It presents a boot menu to the user, allowing them to choose the operating system they want to load. If it goes missing from the BIOS, you won't be able to boot into your Windows operating system.

1. Boot the computer from the external USB flash drive and there is no boot file

2. Boot sector or MBR damaged or missing

3. BIOS is outdated

4. Hardware upgrade issues.

How to solve Windows Boot Manager missing from BIOS on Dell

Encountering Windows Boot Manager not showing in BIOS on Dell issues with our Dell computers can be frustrating, especially when it prevents us from accessing our operating system. From this part, we will explore reliable ways to solve this problem and get your Dell computer up and running again.

Way 1. Remove all external media

Removable media like USB flash drives or external hard drives can sometimes confuse the system during startup, causing the boot options to disappear. To troubleshoot this problem, disconnect all removable media from your computer and restart it. If the issue persists, you can permanently disconnect the USB main cables from the PC motherboard. This step will ensure that the system only focuses on the internal drives during the boot process.

Way 2. Restart Power and Data Cables

A missing boot manager error can also occur if the power and data cables connected to your hard drive are not properly seated. To resolve this, open your computer case and carefully unplug and replug all the power and data cables. This action will address any glitches caused by improper connections and restore the visibility of the boot manager on the startup screens.

Way 3. Check Boot Sequence in BIOS

Different computers have varying BIOS settings, but they typically offer similar boot options. To modify the boot sequence, you need to access the BIOS menu by pressing the F2 or Delete key during startup. Once inside the BIOS, navigate to the "Boot" or "Boot Sequence" settings.

Here, you will find a list of bootable devices/methods and their sequencing. Ensure that the sequence aligns with the way you used to install Windows.

If you used a flash drive, set it as the primary boot drive. Save the changes and restart your computer to resolve the issue and access the Boot Manager.

Way 4. Repair boot sector

If there is corruption or boot damage in your partition, particularly the Windows partition, it can result in a missing boot manager error. Such corruption may occur due to factors like an outdated hard drive, a virus, or a malware attack. In such cases, it is advisable to create a new boot sector. Follow these steps to do it:

Step 1. You need to insert your Windows installation device (DVD or USB) to boot your computer. Don't forget to change the boot order in the BIOS. After you boot successfully, you’ll see a Windows Server setup window on the screen, please press “Next”.

Step 2. Click “Repair your computer”, choose “Troubleshoot”, and select “Command Prompt” in the “Advanced options” window.

Step 3. Then choose the account “Administrator”, and type your password to open the Command Prompt.

Step 4. In the command prompt window, insert the following commands, and don’t forget to press “Enter” to execute the command:

bootrec/fixboot

Step 5. Look for the message "Operation completed successfully." Restart your computer using "Ctrl+Alt+Del" and the restart key.

Way 5. Rebuild BCD (Boot Configuration Data) in Windows

If your boot configuration data (BCD) is corrupted or misconfigured, it can cause the boot manager to go missing. The BCD is essential for accessing the boot manager and viewing available options. To rebuild the BCD, follow these steps:

Step 1. Follow the steps in the Way 4 to open Command Prompt window.

Step 2. Type "bootrec /rebuildbcd" and press Enter. Wait for the installation process to complete.

Step 3. To adjust the attribute files, type "attrib c:\boot\bcd -h -r -s" in the same command prompt and press Enter. This command removes the read-only and hidden attributes from the Windows BCD.

Step 4. Execute another command, "ren c:\boot\bcd bcd.old" to rename the stored BCD.

Step 5. Finally, type "bootrec /rebuildbcd" and press Enter again.

This time, you will be prompted to add a boot to the list.

Step 6. Type "Y" and press Enter. Wait for the "Operation successful" message to appear on the screen. Restart your computer, and you should be able to access the boot manager.

Way 6. Enable the boot menu

The boot menu is a vital component of the BIOS that allows access to important functions, including the boot manager. It is not visible or accessible by default. However, you can enable it using simple Command Prompt commands.

Step 1. Follow the steps in the Way 4 to open Command Prompt window.

Step 2. In the command prompt window, type "bcdedit /set {bootmgr} displaybootmenu yes" and press Enter.

Step 3. Look for the "Operation successful" message on the screen.

Way 7. Manually create boot path file for UEFI

This way only suits for UEFI Windows OS to solve Windows Boot Manager missing.

Step 1. Boot your Dell computer, and press F12 when Dell logo shows.

Step 2. Select BIOS setup and navigate to Settings > General > Boot Sequence. Make sure UEFI is selected.

Step 3. Then find “Secure Boot” in the left menu, click it, and select disable under “Secure Boot Enable” in the right window.

Step 4. Now, expand the “General” option and go to “Boot Sequence” again. Click “Add Boot Option” in the right window under the “Boot List Option” column.

Step 5. Name the entry “Windows Boot Manager” in the pop window.

Step 6. Select the path \EFI\BOOTX64, and then click “Enter”.

Step 7. Click “OK” to save changes. Press “Exit” to restart the system.

Further reading: Use third-party UEFI boot manager to manage boot settings

In the above, we’ve offered you 7 ways to fix Windows Boot Manager missing from BIOS on Dell PC. In fact, you can prevent this error during your daily management.

AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional is a disk and computer manager for Windows 11/10/8/8.1/7. The “UEFI BIOS Boot Options Manager” is a shortcut for daily BIOS management.

You can easily and quickly change the boot sequence, delete, backup, restore, and refresh your EFI/UEFI BIOS Boot Options without manual entry into BIOS and complicated modification of startup entries. It will significantly save your time and your data via quickly managing the boot options.

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant. Click the "Tools" main tab and select "UEFI BIOS Boot Options Manager".

Step 2. The UEFI Boot Options Manager will pop up. In this interface, all UEFI boot orders on your computer will be displayed and you can manage them.

To prevent boot failure and data loss caused by Windows Boot Manager missing error, you can create backup of boot options, if there’s problem, you can one-key restore to the original boot settings.

Step 1. Click a boot option you want to backup to make a backup so that you can recover if necessary.

Step 2. Select a location on your PC and click "Save" to save the backup.

Step 3. Finally, the backup will create a .PAUB file.

If you need the backup when your PC meets trouble, you can quickly restore the backup files.

Step 1. Click to restore the boot option you just backed up if the partition or boot files gets lost or corrupted.

Step 2. Locate the .PAUB FILE you backed up and select it to restore.

Note: If you have a backup of your boot entries with Partition Assistant and your system cannot boot, you can also create a bootable media with Partition Assistant and restore the boot entries under WinPE.

Conclusion

Encountering the issue of the Windows Boot Manager missing from BIOS on Dell PC can be frustrating, but there are various solutions available to address the problem. Besides the solution on the above, AOMEI Partition Assistant also provides disk clone services, so you can save your data via booting into this tool. What’s more, this tool also has the Server Edition for Windows Server users.