How to Fix Checking Media Fail on Windows Startup On Lenovo/HP/Dell?

Getting an error message like “Checking Media Fail” when Windows starts up can be very annoying, especially if you use your computer a lot for work or for fun. If you make this mistake, it’s likely that there is something wrong with your network settings, the BIOS or UEFI settings for starting, or the order in which your devices boot. You need to figure out what’s wrong and fix it so your system can work fine again.

This guide will look at a lot of different ways to fix the “Checking Media Fail” problem on Lenovo, HP, and Dell computers. Pay close attention to these steps to make sure that the boot process on your device goes more easily and reliably.

What Causes The Error Checking Media Fail on Windows Startup?

It gives you the “Checking Media Fail” error when it tries to boot from a network location instead of its own storage (hard drive or SSD). More often than not, this is because the BIOS or UEFI has network boot settings turned on or the boot order is set incorrectly.

The error could also be caused by broken start configuration data or hardware issues, like a hard drive that doesn’t work right or network settings that aren’t set up right. The first thing that needs to be done to fix the mistake and make sure it doesn’t happen again is to figure out these possible causes.

When you get a “Checking Media Fail” error, there are a few things that could be wrong. Here are some of them:

• It first says “Checking Media,” then either “No Media Present” or “Checking Media Fail.”
• The computer won’t start up into Windows, and it might restart itself many times to see if that helps.
• You may hear beeping sounds when it starts up. What this means is that the hardware or BIOS is broken and needs to be fixed. Quickly figure out what’s wrong and fix it if you notice these signs right away. This will get your computer back to normal as soon as possible.

Preliminary Checks

You should do these easy checks first to see if there are any simple issues that could be causing the error. If there are, you should fix them before moving on to more difficult fixes.

It’s common for the “Checking Media Fail” error to happen when the boot order is set up wrong in the BIOS or UEFI. Make sure that your hard drive or SSD is set as the main boot device. This will stop the system from trying to boot from a network device. Most of the time, this simple check can fix the issue without having to do more complicated steps to figure it out.

Check the network links. If the problem is also happening on the network, make sure that the settings or links are correct. If your computer is trying to boot from a network, make sure that all of the network wires are connected correctly. You may need to disable this feature in the BIOS or UEFI settings if you don’t want to boot from a network. It might help to check and change your network links to stop the mistake from happening.

How to Fix Checking Media Fail on Windows Startup?

If the first checks don’t fix the issue, it’s time for more targeted fixes that get to the bottom of the “Checking Media Fail” error.

Change Boot Order in BIOS/UEFI

Setting the boot order in the BIOS or UEFI is often the best way to fix the “Checking Media Fail” error. Do these things to change the boot order:

• Restart your machine and press the “” key when it starts up to get into BIOS/UEFI. The key that does this is often F2, F10, F12, or Del.
• Make your way to the Boot Settings page: The arrow keys will take you to the “Boot” or “Boot Order” part.
• First, make sure that your hard drive or SSD is the first gadget that starts up. This makes sure the system starts up from the right device.
• Don’t forget to save and exit after making changes. Check to see if the problem goes away by turning your computer off and on again.

Disable Network Boot

If changing the order of the boots doesn’t help, you may need to disable network boot options in the BIOS or UEFI settings. Do these things:

• Restart your computer and go to the BIOS/UEFI settings to get into BIOS/UEFI.
• Get to the “Boot” or “Boot Options” part to get to Boot Options.
• Find “Network Boot” or “PXE Boot” and turn it off. It will no longer try to start up from a network location.
• Take a break and save what you’ve done. After that, turn your machine back on. The warning “Checking Media Fail” should no longer show up after doing this.

Reset BIOS/UEFI to Default Settings

If the issues still happen after doing what was said above, putting the BIOS or UEFI back to the way it was before might help. Do these things:

• Once you’re in BIOS/UEFI, follow the steps above to get to you.
• To go back to the original settings, look for the “Load Default Settings” or “Restore Factory Settings” option. Any choices that aren’t right and could be the cause of the problem can be fixed this way.
• Save and Hide: Please close the window and log in again after making changes. When you get a “Checking Media Fail” problem, going back to the original settings can often fix it.

Update BIOS/UEFI Firmware

You can also get rid of the “Checking Media Fail” error by bringing up to date the BIOS or UEFI software. Do these things:

• Read the new stuff here: Get the most up-to-date BIOS or UEFI software for your model from the company that made it (Lenovo, HP, Dell, etc.).
• Make a Bootable USB: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to make a bootable USB drive that has the software update.
• Fix BIOS/UEFI: To fix BIOS/UEFI, start up from the USB drive and follow the steps shown on the screen. The mistake could be caused by a problem that can be fixed by updating the software.
• These are more difficult steps to take if the easy fixes don’t work to fix the “Checking Media Fail” error that is caused by longer-term problems.

Repair Boot Configuration Data (BCD)

If the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) is broken, it can lead to problems with the boot process, which could be what went wrong. Do these things:

• You can start your computer from a USB drive or DVD that has Windows on it by going to “Advanced Startup.” Click on “Repair your computer” > “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Command Prompt” .
• To run the BCD Repair steps, type the lines below into the Command Prompt and press Enter after each one:
• It can fix the mbr, the scanos, the boot sector, and the resume boot sector.
• They fix the master boot record and make the data for the start-up again.
• Start up your computer again: Shut down your machine and open the Command Prompt again. Things should be fine with the boot setup files after this.

Check Hard Drive Health

If you check the health of your hard drive, you can find and fix any physical issues that could be causing the error. Do these things:

• Make use of the tools that come with the software: If you want to get to the Command Prompt from Advanced Startup, do what was said above. Type chkdsk /f /r and press Enter to check and fix your hard drive.
• Use Third-Party Tools: You could use CrystalDiskInfo or another third-party tool to check the health of your hard drive. You can learn a lot about your hard drive’s health and state with these tools.

Run Automatic Repair

The Windows Automatic Repair tool is another way to fix the “Checking Media Fail” error. Do these things:

• Head over to Advanced Startup: To fix your machine, start up from the Windows disc and choose “Repair,”
• Click “Startup Repair” under “Advanced options” in “Troubleshoot” to start Automatic Repair. Just follow the steps on the screen to use the fix tool. There are a lot of common starting problems that this tool can fix on its own.

Conclusion

Seeing the message “Checking Media Fail” can be scary, but it’s easy to fix if you know what to do. Do some simple checks first to make sure there aren’t any big issues. Then, if you need to, change the settings in the BIOS or UEFI and do more complicated repairs. You can avoid these kinds of mistakes in the future by making sure your BIOS and UEFI firmware are always up to date and giving your machine regular maintenance.

If you follow these detailed steps and know what’s going on, you can fix the “Checking Media Fail” error on your Lenovo, HP, or Dell laptop. If you do regular maintenance and take preventative steps, your system will work well and mistakes will not happen again.

For more updates, please bookmark our channel. You can also share it with your friends family or groups. If you have any queries, suggestions, or comments about our content or channel, please comment in the comment box below.

Moreover, you can also check out our detailed guide on How to Set Password in Windows macOS or Linux? or How to Update Audio Drivers In Windows 10? or How to Check How Much RAM You Have on Windows, Mac, and Linux?