Laptop goes to a black screen that says "No bootable device -- Insert boot disk and press any key"?

Thanks for NOT telling us the Make and Model number of the PC. Assuming it's a brand name PC, RTFM. Before you try to do anything else, and, assuming you haven't already formatted your hard drive and destroyed the manufacturer's hidden Recovery Partition, read the PC's User Manual to learn: 1.

How to burn your very own Windows Recovery disks. 2. How to do a Back Up, and, How to return your PC to "Factory New" condition.

TIP: If you already formatted your hard drive, order replacement Recovery disks from the PC manufacturer, by Model Number, and Windows version.

In this case disc can also mean hard disc. Or hard drive. Make sure you hard drive is plugged in and not corrupted.

It can't find an oppertating system.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.