Network boot (PXE) failure

What is NETWORK-BOOT-FAIL?

The system is attempting to boot from the network via PXE (Preboot Execution Environment) and failing, resulting in delays or 'BOOTMGR is missing' errors. This occurs when the network adapter is set as the first boot device and no PXE server is available, or when the DHCP server fails to provide a boot file path.

Common Causes

• Network boot set as primary boot option incorrectly
• No PXE server configured
• Faulty NIC preventing normal boot

Step-by-Step Fix Guide

• 1
  Change boot order in BIOS to prioritize SSD/HDD over network

  Simply changing the boot order in BIOS to place your storage drive first resolves the vast majority of unintended PXE boot attempts.

• 2
  Disable PXE boot in BIOS if not needed

  Disable 'Network Stack' or 'PXE Boot' in BIOS if you never boot from network.

• 3
  Check NIC firmware for corruption