What is NETWORK-BOOT-FAIL?
Network boot (PXE) failure ranks as a medium-severity network adapter issue in our database. 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. See the troubleshooting steps below for the fix.
Common Causes
- Network boot set as primary boot option incorrectly
- No PXE server configured
- Faulty NIC preventing normal boot
Step-by-Step Fix Guide
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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.
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2
Disable PXE boot in BIOS if not needed
Disable 'Network Stack' or 'PXE Boot' in BIOS if you never boot from network.
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3
Check NIC firmware for corruption
"Check NIC firmware for corruption" is the next step worth ruling out for NETWORK-BOOT-FAIL.
Commands & Diagnostics
No specific commands required for this error. Follow the step-by-step guide above.
Frequently Asked Questions
NETWORK-BOOT-FAIL is most often triggered by network boot set as primary boot option incorrectly. Other reports point to no PXE server configured and faulty NIC preventing normal boot as contributing factors.
The fastest fix is "Change boot order in BIOS to prioritize SSD/HDD over network". Only move on to the later steps if NETWORK-BOOT-FAIL keeps coming back.
NETWORK-BOOT-FAIL is a medium-severity issue. It can affect system stability, but the fix steps above typically resolve it without lasting damage.
Usually. NETWORK-BOOT-FAIL is fixable with the steps above; a full Windows reinstall is rarely necessary unless everything else has failed.
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