PXE-E61: Media test failed, check cable [Solved]

The "PXE-E61: Media test failure, check cable" is a common black screen boot error that you might encounter on an Acer/Lenovo/HP/Dell laptop. This error message appears when your computer attempts to boot from the network but fails to find a bootable drive or disk. Annoying as it may be, the good news is that you can fix this error with relative ease.

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PXE stands for Preboot Execution Environment. In computing, the PXE specification outlines a methodical client-server ecosystem that enables software components to be booted over a network on a PXE-enabled client. This requires a network interface controller (NIC) on the client that supports PXE and takes advantage of a small set of industry-standard network protocols, such as TFTP and DHCP.

You might be wondering what causes the "PXE-E61: Media test failure" error. Here are the primary reasons:

• The boot sector is corrupted.
• You have a power issue with your computer.
• Your system or network drive is physically damaged, damaged, or has crashed.
• The Ethernet cable is not connected properly or is damaged.

Although they cause the issue, we have gathered some effective solutions for it. Let's proceed with the troubleshooting steps below!

Recovering Data When Encountering the "PXE-E61: Media test failure, check cable" Error

Since Windows is usually installed on the C drive, most people choose to reinstall the system there, which will delete everything on the hard drive. To ensure the safety of your data, you need to retrieve any important files from the C drive first. As your computer fails to boot up, you have to use a top-notch file recovery tool to perform a C drive recovery.

The Data Recovery Wizard is a useful tool that finds deleted data on storage devices and helps locate existing items on a drive.

This high-end software has a bootable version that enables you to retrieve files from unbootable laptops. If you are eager to purchase the software, then you should know about its top-notch features as mentioned below:

• ✅ Supports various file system types, including NTFS recovery, FAT, HFS+, and more.
• ✅ Recovers unlimited amounts of data lost due to formatting, unbootable or damaged systems, USB drives, SD cards, lost partitions, and camera issues.
• ✅ Retrieves deleted files from hard drives with no storage space limitations.

Step 1. Create a Bootable Disk

Launch the Data Recovery Wizard, select “Crashed PC Recovery” and click “Start Recovery”.

Select a blank USB drive to create the bootable drive, then click “Create.”

Warning: The Data Recovery Wizard will erase all data saved on the USB flash drive when creating a bootable disk. Back up important data in advance.

Create a bootable USB

Step 2: Boot your computer from the USB drive

Connect the bootable disk to the unbootable computer, and change the computer's boot order in the BIOS. For most users, this will involve restarting the computer and pressing F2 as it boots up to enter the BIOS.

Set your computer to boot from “Removable Devices” (your bootable USB drive) instead of the hard drive. Press “F10” to save and exit.

Restart from bootable USB

Step 3: Recover data from a crashed system/computer

After booting from the Data Recovery Wizard Bootable Media, select the disk where you want to scan for all lost files. Preview and recover the needed files to a secure location.

Download this professional data recovery software right now! If you like this article, please share it with your friends on social media.

Fix 1: Solve the "PXE-E61: Media test failure, check cable" issue in BIOS

If your computer's BIOS is incorrectly configured with USB boot having the highest priority in the boot order, your system will attempt to boot from a USB device first. This can certainly lead to booting issues, and you might encounter the error PXE-E61: Media Test Failure, Check Cable. Additionally, to increase the chances of success, it's advisable to remove any non-system disks from your computer. Here's a step-by-step guide: 1. **Restart your computer**: First, turn off your computer completely and then restart it. 2. **Enter BIOS settings**: As your computer is starting up, press the key indicated on the screen to enter the BIOS settings. Common keys are F2, F10, F12, or Del, but it may vary depending on your computer's manufacturer. 3. **Navigate to Boot options**: Once inside the BIOS, use the arrow keys to navigate to the "Boot" or "Startup" section. 4. **Change Boot Priority**: Look for an option like "Boot Order," "Boot Priority," or "Boot Sequence." Use the arrow keys to highlight this option and press Enter to modify it. 5. **Adjust the Boot Order**: Move your system hard drive (usually labeled as HDD, SSD, or SATA) to the top of the list, making it the first boot device. USB devices should be below this in the order. 6. **Save and Exit**: After making the changes, navigate to the "Save & Exit" or "Exit" menu and select "Save Changes and Exit" or "Exit Saving Changes." Confirm any prompts that appear to save the new settings. 7. **Remove non-system disks**: Before restarting, ensure that any external drives, CDs, or DVDs are removed from your computer, as they could interfere with the boot process. 8. **Reboot**: Your computer will now restart with the updated boot order. It should boot from the internal hard drive as expected, bypassing any potential USB or other media issues. If the issue persists, there might be other underlying problems, such as hardware failure or damaged operating system files. In such cases, further troubleshooting or professional assistance might be required.

Step 1: Unplug any USB and 1394 (Firewire) devices connected to your computer.

Step 2: Remove the CD from your computer's drive.

If you have a floppy disk drive, remove any disks from it.

Step 4. Press the Power button for 5 seconds to turn off the computer. Then, press it again to turn it back on.

If you want to boot from a network drive, it must be first in the boot order. If it isn't, adjust your BIOS settings to prioritize it. Here's how:

Step 1. Enter your BIOS settings. Restart your computer and press the key to enter BIOS as it boots up. This is usually the F2 key.

Step 2: Go to the Boot menu to change the boot order.

Step 3. Use the keys indicated on the list to set the network drive as the highest priority boot device. The device at the top of the list has the highest boot priority.

Solution 2: Remove Boot Devices to Fix the PXE-E61 Error

Upon booting, the operating system attempts to access a bootable network drive. If you encounter the PXE-E61: Media Test Failure message, it typically indicates a hardware interface error or failure that prevents the system from initializing. In this case, you should carefully inspect your network drive, ensuring that power cables are correctly connected and not damaged.

If the boot order is incorrect and USB boot has the highest priority, the BIOS will immediately attempt to boot from USB. If the connected USB flash drive is unbootable, it will search for a bootable drive over the network, which could result in a "Media Test Failure" error. Thus, removing any bootable devices is crucial to skip booting from USB.

Please remove the bootable USB device.

Solution 3: Fix this media test failure by disconnecting network drives

Since you have Windows installed on your HDD and the network drive is set to boot first in the boot order, but doesn't have Windows installed, your computer attempts to boot from the network drive, which might fail, leading to the "PXE-E61: Media test failure, check cable" error.

To resolve this error, check for any network cable faults, and disconnect the network drive by unplugging the network cable.

Solution 4: Reset the BIOS to Fix the "PXE-E61: Media test failure, check cable" Issue If none of the above solutions work, you can try resetting your BIOS settings. This might resolve issues related to boot devices or hardware configurations. Here's how to reset the BIOS: 1. Restart your computer and press the BIOS entry key repeatedly during the startup process. This is usually F2, Delete, Esc, or F10, but it may vary depending on your computer model. The key will typically be displayed on the screen when the brand logo appears. 2. Once in the BIOS, locate the "Load Default Settings" or "Factory Defaults" option. This can usually be found in the "Exit" or "Load" menu. 3. Press Enter to select this option, then confirm that you want to reset the BIOS settings. You may need to press F10 or Enter again to confirm the changes. 4. Save the changes and exit the BIOS. Your system will automatically restart using the default settings. Please note that resetting the BIOS will clear all custom settings, including passwords and performance adjustments. If your issue is resolved, this method was likely effective. If you still encounter the "PXE-E61: Media test failure, check cable" error, further hardware connection checks or professional assistance may be necessary.

You can also reset your BIOS to its default settings, which may help the system boot from the internal HDD. Refer to this guide for instructions on how to reset your BIOS:

Step 1: Boot into your computer's BIOS.

Step 2: Press the "Delete" key on your keyboard.

Step 3: Highlight “Advanced settings” and press Enter.

Step 4. Select Load Optimal Defaults to reset the BIOS.

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Fix 5: Contact professional data recovery services to address media test failed issue

If none of these fixes work, you should not attempt any random steps. Instead, contact a professional data recovery service to prevent any loss of information, because at the end of the day, your data is more important.

If you are unable to fix the "PXE-E61: Media test failure" boot error, you first need to get your files. To prevent irreversible data loss, you should use a data recovery service tool like the Data Recovery Service Data Recovery Service to retrieve your data.

Tool experts provide comprehensive recovery and repair services in case of complex recovery scenarios that you can't handle, such as lost partitions, formatted drives, system boot errors, damaged virtual disks, and more. Contact Tool Expert now!

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Tool Data Recovery Services

Contact our experts for a free assessment.

Consult with Tool Data Recovery specialists for one-on-one manual recovery services. After a free diagnosis, we offer the following services:

• Repair damaged RAID structures, unbootable Windows OS, and corrupted virtual disk files
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Conclusions

After reading this article, you should be able to resolve the PXE-E61 Media Test Failure Check Cable issue by applying a few techniques. Whether you have a Dell, Acer, HP, Lenovo, or any other manufacturer's laptop, you'll find a viable solution here.

We deliberated on the possible causes of the hard drive issue and various remedies. We also emphasized the significance of engaging professional data recovery services to address such errors. In such scenarios, opting for data recovery experts like Data Recovery Wizard is always the most effective choice.

PXE-E61: Media test failed, check cable - FAQ

These are some of the questions that need to be considered to better understand what is at stake:

How to fix the PXE-E61: Media test failure issue?

Several solutions to the PXE-E61 Media Test Failure include removing external USB drives, resetting the BIOS boot order, or disconnecting wireless network drivers.

Why do I get the PXE-E61 error on my laptop?

This error occurs when the "Boot from LAN" option is enabled in the BIOS settings. To resolve this issue, you need to change the "Boot from LAN" option in the BIOS settings to "Disabled."

How do I disable PXE boot in the BIOS?

In this case, you need to enter "setup" after powering on the computer > click the "Advanced" tab > find the "Integrated Devices" option > locate the "Network Interface Controller" > switch it to "Enabled" instead of "PXE Boot Enabled" to disable PXE.