Fatal No Bootable Medium Found VirtualBox Windows 7 Error: Causes and Fixes

The 'fatal no bootable medium found' error is a common issue that occurs when trying to boot into VirtualBox with Windows 7 installed. This error message typically appears on the screen after the computer has failed to recognize a bootable device, which could be due to various reasons.

In this article, we will explore the possible causes of this error and provide some effective solutions to resolve it.

Cause 1: Damaged Partition Table

The partition table is a crucial component of any disk drive that helps the operating system identify the available partitions on the disk. If the partition table becomes damaged or corrupted, it can lead to errors like 'fatal no bootable medium found.' This issue can occur due to various factors such as virus infections, software malfunctions, or physical damage to the hard disk.

Symptom 1: No Bootable Medium Found Error Screen

When you encounter this error, your computer will display a screen with an error message that reads 'no bootable medium found.' This means that the operating system has failed to recognize any bootable device on the disk drive. The screen may also display some additional information or options that allow you to try and resolve the issue.

Fixing No Bootable Medium Found Error

There are several ways to fix the 'fatal no bootable medium found' error in VirtualBox with Windows 7 installed. Here are a few effective solutions:

1. Rebuild the MBR using Easy Recovery Essentials

Easy Recovery Essentials is a powerful tool that can help you rebuild the Master Boot Record (MBR) of your hard disk drive. This process can resolve issues like damaged partition tables or corrupted boot sectors.

To use this method, follow these steps:

* Download and create a bootable USB drive with Easy Recovery Essentials.

* Restart your computer and enter the BIOS settings by pressing F2, F12, or Del (depending on your computer's manufacturer).

* Set the USB drive as the first boot device and save the changes.

* Your computer will now boot into Easy Recovery Essentials. Select the 'Rebuild MBR' option from the main menu.

* Follow the prompts to complete the process.

After rebuilding the MBR, restart your computer and try booting into VirtualBox again. If you still encounter the error, proceed with the next solution.

2. Fix No Bootable Medium Found on Windows

If rebuilding the MBR does not resolve the issue, you can try fixing the 'no bootable medium found' error on Windows itself. Here's how:

* Restart your computer and enter the BIOS settings by pressing F2, F12, or Del (depending on your computer's manufacturer).

* Set the USB drive as the first boot device and save the changes.

* Your computer will now boot into Windows. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.

* Type 'bootrec /fixmbr' in the command line and press Enter. This command will rebuild the MBR of your hard disk drive.

After fixing the MBR, restart your computer and try booting into VirtualBox again.

In conclusion, the 'fatal no bootable medium found' error is a common issue that can occur when trying to boot into VirtualBox with Windows 7 installed. The causes of this error can be varied, ranging from damaged partition tables to software malfunctions. However, by following the solutions outlined in this article, you should be able to resolve the issue and get back to using VirtualBox as usual.

Fatal no bootable medium found virtualbox windows 7