Boot Failure

[Sean]

I have a server-type machine running win2k pro sp3. On
some reboots I get the error.

PXE-E61 Media Test Failure Check Cable
PXE-M0F Exiting Intel PXE ROM

the screen then clears and goes to the

BOOT FAILURE
INSERT BOOT DISK
PRESS ANY KEY WHEN READY

screen.

Immediate rebooting mostly results in the same error. If I
power down the unit and let it sit for several minutes it
will sometimes then boot normally.

This error has occured on several different systems that
we have purchased. The systems consist of:

MSI 845GE MAX-L mainboards
Intel P4 CPUs (1.8Ghz - 2.4Ghz)
Windows 2000 Pro SP3
256MB Crucial RAM (some have 512MB)
120GB IBM DeskStar Boot Drive


What could be causing this error and how can I go about
fixing. Please feel free to email me for any other
information that might be needed to solve this problem.

Thank you in advance for any help.

Sincerely,

Sean

 

[Ken Simmons [MSFT]]

Hi Sean,

Check you disk configuration in the ROM BIOS. Check your disk cables to
ensure that they are seated properly. The error is a ROM BIOS error message
that tells us that the boot sector on the hard drive is not being read. If
it boots occasionally, then this tells us that you have an intermittent
hardware failure.

Regards,

Ken Simmons

Microsoft Technical Support for Platforms and Business Applications