PXE-E61 Error On Boot

 

When trying to boot to Windows you receive..
PXE-E61: Media test failure
Check cable: followed by something similar ( as it varies) to PXE-MOF: Existing Intel Boot Agent 1962: No operating system found.

PXE means Pre-Boot Execution and is displayed because the laptop is trying to boot from a remote destination via the network card, usually because the boot process has changed or the hard drive cannot be seen (if set to boot first in BIOS).

I've been surprised at other answers regarding this on some reputable sites stating that a windows repair from the original CD will fix?! COME ON PLEASE!!!!!!!!!.
Now, before taking your laptop to bits ( and realising when it's too late that you don't know how to put it back together, so break a ribbon cable in the panicking process and then say to the PC repair guy "Well, it wasn't me") I suggest resetting the boot order. To do this boot into BIOS and reset the boot order or manually change the order making HDD first priority. Information on how to boot into BIOS is beyond the scope of this article so click here for help.

In all honesty this has never worked for me but worth a try.

If the above failed then I'm afraid it's the screwdriver approach but please be careful and if you do not know what you're doing then consult a qualified technician such as myself :-)....ok now the safety talk is out of the way lets crack on....

Remove your hard drive from the laptop and re-insert it firmly, then boot up and see if the hard drive is recognised now. Sometimes it can work itself loose so before you contemplate the expensive option of buying a new hard drive this is always worth a try.

If your reading this I guess that didn't work either :-( Well to be honest I didn't think any of the above would but they're always worth a try. It is highly likely that the hard drive has failed and a new one will be needed to replace it.

Now you need to re-install Windows and the laptops drivers...

Good luck!