Aran Pitter, our Commercial Director says:
"The error message 'No operating system found' can be a disconcerting sight for any computer user. It indicates that the system cannot locate a functioning operating system (OS) on the device's primary storage drive, rendering the machine unable to boot. It's one of the most common error messages reported by our clients. Here we examine the types of malicious software that damages operating systems "
Causes of the Error
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Corrupted Boot Records: The Master Boot Record (MBR) or GUID Partition Table (GPT), which contains critical data to start the OS, may be damaged.
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Disconnected or Failing Drives: A loose or failing hard drive/SSD connection can prevent the system from detecting the OS.
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Incorrect BIOS/UEFI Settings: The boot sequence in the BIOS/UEFI may not be configured to prioritize the drive containing the OS.
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Accidental Deletion of the OS: A user or software error could have removed or corrupted the operating system files.
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Malware: Certain types of malicious software can damage boot files, making the OS inaccessible.
Types of Malware Targeting Boot Files
Bootkits
Bootkits are a form of rootkit malware designed to infect the Master Boot Record (MBR) or the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI). By compromising these boot components, bootkits can load themselves before the OS, evading traditional antivirus software.
Ransomware
Some ransomware variants encrypt or overwrite boot files, making the system inaccessible until a ransom is paid. Notorious examples include malware like Petya, which directly targets the MBR.
Wipers
Wipers are destructive malware designed to damage or erase boot files and other critical data. Their primary goal is to sabotage systems, often as part of a broader cyberattack.
Trojan Horses
Disguised as legitimate software, Trojans can corrupt or replace boot files to install additional malware or create backdoors for cybercriminals.
Viruses
Boot sector viruses specifically target the area of a disk that holds boot information. They propagate by infecting storage devices and can render systems unbootable.
Implications of Boot File Damage
Damage to boot files can have severe consequences:
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System Inaccessibility: Without functional boot files, the OS cannot load, leaving the system unusable.
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Data Loss: Users may lose access to their files unless backups exist.
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Increased Downtime: For businesses, compromised systems can result in productivity loss and financial setbacks.
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Security Breach: Malware that targets boot files can enable further infiltration into the system.
Protecting Against Boot File Malware
Use Secure Boot
Enable Secure Boot in UEFI to ensure only trusted operating systems and drivers are loaded.
Regular Updates
Keep the OS, firmware, and software up to date to patch vulnerabilities exploited by malware.
Install Antivirus Software
Use reputable antivirus programs that include boot-time scanning capabilities to detect threats early.
Backup Critical Data
Regularly back up important files to prevent permanent data loss.
Beware of Suspicious Links and Attachments
Avoid downloading files or clicking links from untrusted sources, as they may carry malware.
Enable Disk Encryption
Tools like BitLocker or similar can add an additional layer of security, making unauthorized changes to boot files more challenging.
Responding to a Malware Attack
If malware compromises boot files, use these steps to recover:
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Boot from a clean installation media to access recovery tools.
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Repair the MBR or UEFI using commands like bootrec on Windows or equivalent tools for other operating systems.
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Reinstall the OS if repair efforts fail, ensuring that malware is eradicated beforehand.
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Author:
Aran Pitter, Commercial Director
Further reading
How to fix "Boot Device Not Found" error
Error Code 49153
Considerations following a ransomware attack