Fix “Start PXE Over IPv4” Error in Windows
Seeing “Start PXE over IPv4” when you turn on your Windows PC can be confusing, especially if you have never changed anything in your computer’s BIOS or UEFI settings. In many cases, this message does not mean that Windows itself is damaged. Instead, it usually means your computer is trying to boot from the network instead of starting Windows from the internal SSD or hard drive.
PXE stands for Preboot Execution Environment. It is a technology that allows a computer to start an operating system or installation environment from a network server. Businesses and IT departments commonly use PXE for deploying Windows to multiple computers.
For a regular home computer, however, seeing “Start PXE over IPv4” usually indicates a problem with the boot order, a disconnected storage drive, an incorrect UEFI setting, or a drive that the computer cannot detect.
Fortunately, you can usually fix the problem by checking your boot settings and making sure your Windows drive is detected correctly.
Fix “Start PXE Over IPv4” Error in Windows
Before making changes, disconnect unnecessary USB drives, external hard drives, memory cards, and other bootable devices from your computer. Then restart the PC and check whether Windows starts normally.
If the Start PXE Over IPv4 message continues to appear, work through the following steps in order.
1. Restart Your Computer and Remove External Devices
Start with the simplest solution. Shut down your computer completely and disconnect any unnecessary USB storage devices, external hard drives, memory cards, and USB flash drives.
A computer can sometimes attempt to boot from a connected device instead of the internal Windows drive. If that device is not bootable, the system may eventually try PXE network booting.
After disconnecting the devices, turn on your computer again. If Windows loads normally, reconnect your devices one at a time to determine which one was interfering with the startup process.
If the same PXE message appears, continue to the next step.
2. Check Whether Your SSD or Hard Drive Is Detected
The next thing to check is whether your computer can actually see the drive containing Windows.
Restart your PC and repeatedly press the appropriate BIOS or UEFI key while it starts. Depending on your computer manufacturer, this may be F2, F10, F12, Delete, or Esc.
Once you enter the firmware settings, look for sections such as Storage, System Information, Boot, Drives, or NVMe Configuration.
You should see your internal SSD or hard drive listed there.
If the drive is not listed, the problem may not be related to Windows at all. The SSD or hard drive could be loose, disconnected, disabled, or failing. On a desktop computer, you can check the storage and power connections. On a laptop, opening the device may require more care, so it is better to consult the manufacturer’s service instructions if you are unfamiliar with internal hardware.
If your Windows drive is detected, move to the next step.
3. Set Windows Boot Manager as the First Boot Option
One of the most common causes of the Start PXE Over IPv4 error is an incorrect boot order.
Enter your computer’s BIOS or UEFI settings again and open the Boot section. Look for an option called Windows Boot Manager.
If you see Windows Boot Manager, move it to the top of the boot priority list. The exact method varies between computers. Some systems allow you to drag the option, while others require you to use the F5 and F6 keys, arrow keys, or another on-screen control.
Make sure the Windows boot option is placed before PXE, IPv4 Network Boot, Network Boot, or similar network-related options.
Save your changes and exit the firmware settings. Your computer should then restart and attempt to load Windows from the internal drive.
4. Disable PXE or Network Boot
If your computer keeps attempting to start through IPv4, you can disable network boot if you do not need it.
Enter BIOS or UEFI and open the Boot, Advanced, or Network section. Look for an option such as PXE Boot, Network Boot, IPv4 Network Boot, UEFI Network Stack, or Boot from Network.
If you find a PXE or network boot option, disable it.
The exact name and location can vary significantly between manufacturers. Do not change unrelated firmware settings simply because they appear unfamiliar.
After disabling network boot, save the changes and restart the computer. If Windows Boot Manager is correctly configured and your storage drive is working, the computer should now attempt to boot Windows normally.
5. Check the UEFI and Legacy Boot Mode
Another possible cause is an incorrect boot mode.
Modern Windows installations generally use UEFI rather than the older Legacy or BIOS compatibility mode. If the boot mode has been changed, your computer may no longer recognize the Windows installation correctly.
Enter your firmware settings and look for Boot Mode, UEFI/Legacy Boot, CSM, or Compatibility Support Module.
If Windows was installed using UEFI, make sure the system is configured to use UEFI mode. Avoid randomly switching between UEFI and Legacy modes because changing this setting can sometimes prevent an existing Windows installation from booting.
If you recently changed BIOS settings before the PXE error appeared, restoring the previous boot configuration may resolve the problem.
6. Load the BIOS or UEFI Default Settings
If you are unsure which firmware setting was changed, restoring the manufacturer’s default BIOS or UEFI settings can help.
Enter BIOS or UEFI and look for an option such as Load Setup Defaults, Load Optimized Defaults, Restore Defaults, or Reset to Default Settings.
Select the appropriate option and confirm the change. Then save the settings and restart the computer.
After resetting the settings, check whether Windows Boot Manager is available and selected as the primary boot option.
Keep in mind that resetting firmware settings can also change other configurations, such as virtualization, fan settings, or custom hardware options. If you previously configured special settings, you may need to restore them afterward.
7. Use Windows Startup Repair
If the SSD is detected and the boot settings look correct, the problem could be related to the Windows boot files.
You can use the Windows Recovery Environment to run Startup Repair. If Windows fails to start several times, the recovery environment may appear automatically.
You can also access the Windows Recovery Environment from a compatible Windows installation or recovery media.
Once you reach the recovery screen, select Troubleshoot, followed by Advanced options, and then choose Startup Repair.
Windows will check common startup problems and attempt to repair the files required to boot the operating system.
Allow the process to finish and restart the computer. If the issue was caused by damaged or incorrectly configured boot files, Windows may start normally afterward.
8. Check the Boot Configuration
If Startup Repair does not solve the problem, the Windows boot configuration may need to be repaired.
Open Windows Recovery Environment, select Troubleshoot, and then choose Advanced options. Depending on your Windows version and recovery environment, you may have access to Command Prompt.
Advanced boot repair commands can modify important system configuration, so they should only be used when you understand what you are changing.
If your computer’s drive is detected but Windows Boot Manager is missing, this can indicate that the boot configuration needs repair. In this situation, using Microsoft’s recommended Windows recovery procedures is safer than randomly entering commands found online.
9. Check the SSD or Hard Drive for Failure
If the computer cannot detect the internal drive, the problem could be hardware-related.
A failing SSD or hard drive can cause Windows to disappear from the boot menu. When the firmware cannot find a valid operating system, it may move to another available boot method, including network booting.
If possible, check the drive using your computer manufacturer’s hardware diagnostics. Many computers provide built-in storage tests through their startup or diagnostic menus.
If the storage test reports an error, back up your important data as soon as possible if the drive is still accessible. A failing storage device may need to be replaced.
10. Update the BIOS or UEFI Firmware
If the storage drive works correctly but the computer still behaves unexpectedly during startup, check whether your computer manufacturer provides a newer BIOS or UEFI firmware update.
Firmware updates can resolve hardware compatibility and boot-related problems, but they should be performed carefully. Download the update only from the official manufacturer’s support website and follow its instructions exactly.
Do not turn off the computer while a BIOS update is in progress. Interrupting the update can cause serious startup problems.
FAQs
Why does my computer say “Start PXE Over IPv4”?
The message usually means your computer is attempting to boot from a network connection using PXE. This often happens when the normal Windows boot option cannot be found or another boot method has higher priority.
Is “Start PXE Over IPv4” a Windows error?
Not exactly. PXE is a firmware-level network boot feature, so the message normally appears before Windows starts. The underlying problem may be related to boot order, UEFI settings, storage detection, or damaged boot files.
Can I disable PXE boot?
Yes. If you do not use network booting, you can generally disable PXE or Network Boot in BIOS or UEFI. Make sure Windows Boot Manager is selected as the primary boot option first.
Why is Windows Boot Manager missing?
Windows Boot Manager may be missing because the internal drive is not detected, the boot configuration has been damaged, the firmware boot mode has changed, or the Windows installation is no longer accessible.
Will resetting BIOS settings delete Windows?
Normally, restoring BIOS or UEFI defaults does not delete your Windows files. However, it can change firmware settings that Windows depends on for booting, so you may need to adjust the boot mode or boot priority afterward.
What if my SSD is not showing in the BIOS?
If the SSD does not appear in BIOS or UEFI, Windows cannot boot from it. Check the hardware connection where appropriate and run the manufacturer’s storage diagnostics. If the drive has failed, it may need to be replaced.
Summary
The “Start PXE Over IPv4” message usually appears because your computer is trying to boot from the network instead of the Windows installation on your internal storage drive. The most common solutions are checking whether the SSD or hard drive is detected, setting Windows Boot Manager as the first boot option, and disabling unnecessary PXE or Network Boot settings.
If those changes do not work, check the UEFI boot mode, restore appropriate firmware defaults, run Windows Startup Repair, and test the health of your storage device. If the drive is missing from BIOS or UEFI entirely, focus on the hardware rather than Windows.
For most home users, correctly configuring Windows Boot Manager as the primary boot option is the first and most important thing to check.