What is a DHCP or PXE Error?
Preboot Execution Environment (PXE) errors occur when the system BIOS cannot boot to the system's hard disk drive or a network boot environment. The following examples are some of the most common PXE error messages you might encounter:
- PXE-E61: Media test failure, check cable.
- PXE-M0F: Exiting PXE.
- PXE-E52: No IP address received from DHCP or BOOTP.
Why am I Getting this Error?
This error occurs when a system has failed to boot to a network. Most system designs can boot to a network to allow the system to be imaged with a standardized image. Most systems outside a corporate domain do not use this capability and when these errors are present they indicate a failure to boot to the local hard disk drive. This failure may be an indication of a hard drive failure.
If you are trying to boot to a network, ensure that the network cable is firmly connected at the system and the network jack. You might also try a different network cable or network jack in the building. Try a system that you know will boot to the network at this jack and cable to rule out other hardware issues outside the system.
What Can I do to Resolve the Error?
If you encounter this error, attempt the following troubleshooting steps:
- Reseat the hard drive (if a portable system) or reseat the hard drive data and power cable connections (Desktop or Minitower) then restart the system.
- Reset the BIOS defaults of the system in the system setup.
- First boot to the system setup by pressing F2 when prompted at the Dell Screen during startup.
- Check to see the current setting for the SATA Controller in the system setup and make a note of what it is for later reference.
- Select the load BIOS defaults option, and Select "Yes" to acknowledge that you are loading the defaults.
- Save settings and reboot the system to see if the problem is resolved.
- If no change, continue troubleshooting below.
- Run the enhanced Preboot System Assessment (ePSA) diagnostics and see if there is a hardware failure in the system. If you encounter a failure code during the diagnostic, you can look up the failure at this link: ePSA Error Codes
- If a failure is detected, contact Dell Technical Support
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