A user's workstation is failing to load. An analyst inspects the workstation and sees a message that states there is no bootable device. Which of the following should the analyst do first?

Reimaging the machine should be a last resort after extensive troubleshooting, as it erases data and is premature when the boot drive itself might not even be detected.

The 'no bootable device' error indicates that the system's BIOS or UEFI firmware cannot find an operating system to load. The most immediate and fundamental check is to enter the BIOS/UEFI settings to ensure that the hard drive or SSD is detected and listed as a bootable device, as this can reveal hardware connection issues or drive failures before attempting more complex software-based troubleshooting.

Selecting safe mode requires the operating system to begin loading, which is not possible if the system cannot even find a bootable device.

Booting to a Linux live image can be a diagnostic step later, but the most fundamental first step is to check if the hardware (the drive) is even recognized by the system's firmware, which is done in the BIOS/UEFI.