No boot device found

I have the same problem that everyone has experienced for the last 8 years.  There was an update yesterday and then my computer just comes up with the same message.  I have tried doing the diagnostics - short and long tests - which pass but do not solve the problem.  Pressing F8 does nothing to get into safe mode; F2 and F12 to change boot does not work either.  I have now exhausted all advice on all threads and it appears that for the last 8 years Dell have continued to sell laptops with a hard drive issues and never got around to solving them ever.  Should have bought an HP