"No bootable device -- insert boot disk and press any key"

Hi LoneStrider,

In case you didn't find solution yet, I wanted to help you out with this proposal:

First step, turn on your Imac and hold option key. Startup Manager should appear offering at least one choice or more to click on. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1310

Second step, Choose OS X partition or disc and it should boot up your OS X.

Third step, once your system is on (hopefully), go to System Preferences and chose Startup disk. It must be unlocked.

It will be written above, Select the system you want to use to start up your computer

click on your IMac OS X and click restart button on right side.

This restart would help your OS X to return its default mode without interfering with other Boot Camp / Windows partition/s.

I had that pop up on my macbook air. Whilst the laptop is turning on and the screen is white hold down OPTION and then select a Wifi connection. Press the arrow and it should load. Hope this helped 🙂

EASY FIX: have the windows USB media or DVD installed by bootcamp (If DVD , have ISO info burned onto disk.)

When you get the error no bootable device , insert media.... turn off computer and wait for it to read media... worked for me every time .

Just press both (option+command) together , and while u r pressing on them , press respectively r,t,y,u,i,o,p

Then your mac will open normally

In my case, I use COMMAND +R to recovery the hard drive since I have backup my file already.

I try all below answer that does not work. I believe it use partition on your hard drive will damage the storage system, then it could not come back any way. Recovery is a good solution if you could not find any good solutions. Suggest system files should have a back up, and it will save your money and your life. Thank you for reading. Welcome to comment.

Are you really running OS 10.4, as is shown in your profile? If yes, do you have the system disks? Or do you have any other OS disks?

Your computer is running, right?

Go to Apple Menu / About This Mac (could be About This Computer, if it is really old.) and that will tell you what version of Mac OS X is running.

This is important to know - the procedures for erasing can vary from one OS version to the next.

You mentioned a DVD that came with the computer. What is the OS on it? That info should be written on the face of the DVD.

Try this: put the DVD into the computer and restart it while holding the C key down.

If the computre boots, run the OS installer and select a clean installation - i.e. erase the drive and install.

OK - square one:

Do you hear a chime when the computer starts up?

If there is a chime, try resetting the PRAM:

Restart the computer and hold down the command, option, p and r keys = all four at the same time. Keep holding the keys down till the computer has gone through 3 sets of chimes. Release the keys.

Insert the DVD and restart, while hold down the C key.

Try this:

First, put the OS DVD into the computer. Then do the following:

1. Press the power button to turn on your computer.
2. Press and hold the D key before the gray startup screen appears.
3. It takes a minute or so for AHT to start up and inspect your hardware configuration. While this is taking place, an icon appears on the screen:
   
4. When the process is complete, select your language and click the right arrow. If you aren't using a mouse, you can use the up and down arrows to select a language and then press the Return key.
5. The AHT console appears. You can choose which sort of test or tests to perform:
   • To perform all of the basic tests, click the Test button or press the "T" key or the Return key.
   • To perform a more thorough diagnostic test, select the "Perform extended testing" checkbox under the Test button before you click the Test button.
6. Note: Your test results will appear in the window in the bottom-right of the console.
7. To exit AHT, click Restart or Shut Down at the bottom of the window.

(This is the Apple Hardware Test. The above is from this article: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1509)

Do you have access to an external DVD drive? I am wondering if your drive is acting up.