Microsoft introduced the Preboot Execution Environment (PXE) along with Windows 10. This client-server interface reboots the computer without obtaining the PC image. PXE booting allows the users to boot the system over an IPv4 based network. It helped the PC boot on a LAN network when the other bootable devices stopped working. This results in the “start PXE over IPv4” error in the Windows 10 devices.
Usually, it occurs due to the incorrect BIOS configuration. A damaged hard disk drive can be a reason behind this booting issue. Did you change the computer’s setting recently? Then, you might have disabled the default boot devices. This is why the “start PXE over IPv4” message is popping up after restarting the PC.
After showing this error, Windows shows a black screen and takes around 2-3 minutes to restart. Change the BIOS settings to eliminate this booting error from the Windows 10 or 11 PCs.
Easy Solutions to Fix “Start PXE over IPv4” Error
Many Windows device users turn off the device to fix this issue. But, you should never consider doing that in the first place. Because it can generate technical issues, and even the computer might stop responding. Instead, configure the LAN settings to overcome this booting issue. Replace the corrupted or damaged bootable devices immediately.
Check the optical drivers and the LAN cables before resetting the BIOS. Ensure the USB ports and the power cables are working properly. If you find any wear and tear in these computer units, fix them at the earliest possible. Don’t contact an expert beforehand to resolve the “start PXE over IPv4” error. There are several ways to solve this PXE network problem.
Here are a few solutions to fix this rebooting issue from Windows devices:
Enable the Boot Devices
This error message can reset certain settings to correct the booting order. After that, the Windows users might need to add the bootable devices, like hard disks. Setting the HDD or solid-state drives as the default boot device can fix this issue.
This process includes changing the essential device settings. Thus, you need to be extremely careful while following this troubleshooting method. First, turn on the PC and search for the setup keys to boot the device.
F1, F2 and F10 are the setup keys of the latest and old computer models. But, this might vary from one Windows device to another. Not aware of the computer’s setup keys? Check the manual to get detailed information about the keys and their functions.
Once you find that, press this button repeatedly until the “Computer Setup Utility” window opens. Check whether you can see the “Press_ to Run Setup” message. Tap the F1 or F2 key again to navigate to the Security menu.
What else needs to be Done?
Use the arrow keys to select the “Secure Boot Configuration” option and hit “Enter”. Press F10 when the warning message appears while changing the secure boot settings. Then, the secure boot configuration menu will open within a few seconds. Tap on the “Secure Boot” option and select “Disable” using the up and down keys. Head to the “Legacy Support” section to choose the “Enable” option.
Hold the F10 key for a while to save these security boot settings. Now, use the left arrow keys to open the “File” menu and click on “Save Changes”. Then, press the “Enter” key select “Yes” from the pop-up message. It will also close the computer’s BIOS setup utility. Wait for a few minutes and restart the PC afterwards. Press the “Power” button to shut down the PC when it reboots. The device will automatically turn on and fix the ‘start PXE over IPv4” error.
How to boot the Hard Drive?
It might be difficult to enable the boot devices like hard drives. It is important to know which option to choose when the boot menu opens. Choose “hard drive” from the list as the boot device to restart the computer.
Here’s how Windows users can boot the device from the hard drive:
- Press the “Power” key when the PC turns on and wait until the “boot mode change” message appears.
- There will be a four-digit code in this message that can complete the process.
- Note down and enter it when the next page opens. Now, press the “Enter” key and turn off the device using the “Power” button.
- Turn on the device immediately and hold the “Esc” key a few times until the Startup menu pops up.
- Use the down and up arrow keys, and choose “hard drive” from the boot menu.
- Press the “Enter” key to confirm the changes and restart the PC to check whether the error is resolved.
Disable the Wake-on-LAN Option
Wake-on-LAN allows the Windows devices to be turned on by a network message. But, sometimes, this feature can prevent the devices from rebooting. As a result, the “start PXE over IPv4” error message appears after restarting the PC.
Disable WOL to resolve this booting problem immediately. Moreover, it takes less than a minute to disable this opinion from the BIOS. Start with pressing the “Power” key to turn off the Windows PC.
Then, turn on the device and press the BIOS keys to get the BIOS menu. Don’t know which one is the BIOS key? It will be either F1, F2, Del or the Esc key. Besides, F10 can also be the BIOS key for advanced Windows 11 PCs.
You can know about the BIOS keys when the boot screen opens. Find the right BIOS key and when the BIOS setup utility appears, search for “Wake-on-LAN”. Use the up and down arrow keys to disable this feature. Press the Esc key to close the BIOS setup menu. Restart the computer and the booting error message won’t further display.
Lastly, Update the Computer’s BIOS…
If the above troubleshooting methods didn’t work, update the BIOS immediately. But, find out the BIOS’s version before doing that. Open the System Information tool by writing “msinfo” in the Windows scratch box. In this application, you can get the current BIOS version. Now, head to the manufacturer website and download the latest BIOS.
Turn off the computer and when it reboots, press the button to enter the UEFI BIOS. Use the arrow keys to select the “Update BIOS” option. Windows might take 3-4 minutes to complete the BIOS update. Restart the device and the “start PXE over IPv4” message won’t be there. A failed BIOS update can lead to data loss events. So, restore the essential data to avoid further inconvenience.