How to Fix Checking Media Presence Error in 2022 [Expert Guide]

You are trying to boot your computer but it gives you a “Checking Media Presence Error”. Although you have your booting device installed on the computer. Then, why this error occurs? In the next few minutes, you will understand why this happens and how to solve it.

Checking media presence issues require some type of troubleshooting, from easy re-ordering the boot priority to the involved restoration of a boot file, depending on the BIOS settings. To fix it you can, Enable the boot device you want to use, Turn off Wake on LAN in the BIOS and lastly, update the BIOS.

Why is Checking Media Fails on Windows Startup?

We know that a computer has options of devices to boot from. It can be boot from the following devices:

  • Hard Drives
  • CD ROM
  • USB
  • Network Boot
  • SSD

This error occurs when a computer is not detecting any bootable device or boot file is missing from the drive. However, it can be solved either by just rearranging the boot menu order or by recovering the boot file.

When you read the “Checking Media Presence” on the screen after startup. Then, there are two cases for the next step. Either you will see “Media present” or “No Media Present”. Each case has different solutions.

Media Present No Media Present
Rearrange Boot MenuCheck Boot Menu
Disable Network BootCheck Drive Health
Update BIOSBoot Files Missing
Solutions

How to Fix Checking Media Presence Error: No Media Present

1. Check Boot Menu

As we have discussed earlier, there are many options available to boot from. Sometimes, this error occurs when a computer is trying to boot from the wrong device. The computer boot from devices on a priority basis.

For instance, if hard drive is on the top in the boot menu, then computer will try to boot from it firstly. Now, if the drive containing operating system is on the bottom of the list, then it can throw this error.

To rearrange the Boot menu, you have to go to BIOS setup to update it. For this, follow the given steps:

  1. During the bootup process, repeatedly press the BIOS setup button.
  2. In this setup, go to the Boot menu tab. Here, you will see the list of bootable devices and their order.
  3. Keep the drive, you want to boot from, at the top.
  4. Save these settings and exit.
  5. Restart your computer to check if it works or not.
checking media presence
Credits: ReviewsGarage Media Team
BrandBIOS Setup key
HPESC or F10
AcerF2 or DEL
ToshibaF2
LenovoF2
DellF2 or F12

2. Recover Boot files

If rearranging the boot menu does not work for you, then there may be some other problem with it. Sometimes the boot files got corrupted or missing. In this case, you have to reinstall Windows.

For this, firstly, you have to prepare a bootable disk to install the windows. This disk can either be a CD or a pendrive USB. Then, you need to go to the boot menu during the startup process. Here, there will be a list of bootable devices.

Also Read: How to Fix League of Legends Stuttering

Select the CD or USB, containing Windows files. From now on, go with the procedure to install windows on a hard drive.

If you are stuck at some stage or do not know how to install Windows, then you should take your computer to some professional. He/she will help you in troubleshooting your issue and get rid of checking media.

3. Check Drive Health

If the above solutions do not work for you to fix checking media, then your system may have a serious problem. Firstly, check if your hard drive is connected properly to your CPU or not. In this case, try disconnecting and reconnecting your hard drive.

Sometimes dust causes disturbance in the connector of the hard drive. To clean it, use a soft brush.

If this error occurs after you have dropped your computer, then you may have damaged your hard drive. If the hard drive faced serious impact, then its internals may get damaged.

We know that hard drives are made up of spindles. A spindle is a collection of disks and it rotates for its working. When it faces impact, this mechanical phenomenon can get disturbed. As these disks contain data, so, due to damage data can be lost.

In this case, the computer can not locate boot files to boot into Windows. To fix this, you need to replace your hard drive. Firstly, restore your data by connecting it externally if available. And prevent it from damage for next time.

How to Fix Checking Media Presence Error: Media Present

If your system shows Media as Present after “Checking media Presence”, then it will surely show the next line “Start PXE over IP4”. In this case, your problem can be solved either by rearranging the boot menu from Windows Boot Manager or by updating your BIOS.

This error mostly occurs if you have enabled Network boot. This error appears if the computer is trying to boot from the network instead of the hard drive. This type of error comes to those computers which are connected to LAN connections.

In LAN, the computers of a building or department are connected to one main computer via LAN cable. In this scenario, the admin does not have to boot each computer individually. Rather, one computer is enough to pass instructions to all other computers of the department.

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In this way, one operating system is enough to all computers of building. The applications are also needed to be installed only on admin computer. The admin computer acts as server for all other computers.

Now, all computers other than admin computer uses network boot feature to inherit data from admin computer. Therefore, this checking media type of error mostly comes in such computers that are modified to work in network boot.

1. Rearrange Boot Menu

The most common solution is rearranging the boot menu. For this, keep hard drive at top of the boot menu and Network boot at last.

To rearrange the Boot menu, you have to go to BIOS setup to update it. For this, follow the given steps:

  1. During the bootup process, repeatedly press the BIOS setup button.
  2. In this setup, go to the Boot menu tab. Here, you will see the list of bootable devices and their order.
  3. Keep the drive, you want to boot from, at the top.
  4. Save these settings and exit.
  5. Restart your computer to check if it works or not.

2. Disable Network Boot

If the problem does not solve by the above fix, then you should disable network boot in the BIOS setup. For this, follow the given steps:

  1. During the bootup process, repeatedly press the BIOS setup button.
  2. In this setup, go to Security settings. Here you will see an option of Secure Boot. Disable it.
checking media presence

3. After disabling Secure Boot, change UEFI mode to Legacy.

checking media presence

4. You can also see an option of Network Boot in BIOS settings. Disable it.
5. After applying the above settings, save it and restart your computer.
6. With this quick fix, hopefully your problem will be solved.

3. Update BIOS

If both solutions did not work for you, then you may consider updating the BIOS of your computer. For updating BIOS you need to keep some things in your mind. It is a very crucial step as an error in this can cause permanent damage to your system.

Make Sure the following things before updating BIOS:

  • Back up your data as errors in updating can cause permanent damage to your data.
  • Do not turn off or restart your computer during updates.
  • Try to keep your computer in a stable environment which prevents power breakdown. For this try to connect your PC with UPS.
  • In the case of the laptop, update it after connecting the laptop to the charger and do not unplug it during an update.

After taking all above steps into consideration, you are ready to update BIOS. Now,

  1. Download the latest BIOS file from the manufacturer’s website.
  2. The .exe file will be downloaded. Run it
  3. Wait for complete installation and do not interfere with installation.

This is a critical procedure. So, if you are are not confident about it don’t try it. Take it to some professional who can solve it.

How do I fix the Toshiba Media check failure?

In Toshiba computers, you can rectify the media presence error either by changing the boot menu order or by enabling Legacy mode in the BIOS setup.

For this purpose, follow the given steps:

  1. Press F2 repeatedly during the booting process of the computer.
  2. Go to the BOOT tab in the settings by using the right or left arrow keys.
  3. Here, you will see a list of drives. Select your device by navigating through the up or down arrow key.
  4. Now, press F6 to move up the device or F5 for moving down.
  5. Press F10 to save and exit.

If your issue does not resolve after this, then again go to BIOS settings and enable Legacy mode. For this, repeat first two steps as given above and then in the BOOT menu locate for BIOS boot mode.

Here, select Legacy mode. Press F10 and restart your computer to see the effect.

How do I fix the check media error on Lenovo’s laptop?

In Lenovo laptops, the procedure for rectifying checking media presence problem is quite similar to Toshiba computers. The error can be resolved by repositioning the boot order or by disabling the network mode.

To change the boot order menu, follow the below steps:

  1. Press F2 repeatedly during the booting process of the computer.
  2. Go to the BOOT tab in the settings by using the right or left arrow keys.
  3. Here, you will see a list of drives. Select your device by navigating through the up or down arrow key.
  4. Now, press F6 to move up the device or F5 for moving down.
  5. Press F10 to save and exit.

If this works, then well and good. But if it does not work, then repeat the first two steps and enter into the Boot tab. Here, if you see “PXE Boot to LAN”, disable it. Also, change Boot Mode to “LEGACY” in this menu.


What is Checking Media Fail on Windows Startup?

When checking media presence fails, your computer does not detect any drive to boot from, then this error occurs. It can also come in a situation when a computer is trying to boot from Network instead of drives present in computer. In most cases, it can be solved by just rearranging devices in boot menu.

How do I get into the BIOS in Windows 10?

You can configure various BIOS settings in Windows 10. For this,

  • Go to Settings.
  • Click on the Update and Security tile.
  • In the next window, click on the Recovery button in the side menu.
  • Now, click on Restart Now Button in Advanced Startup.
  • After restart, a blue screen will appear having different options. Click on Troubleshoot.
  • Then select Advanced options.
Credits: ReviewsGarage
  • On the next window, click on UEFI Firmware Settings. Restart your computer.
  • After restart, your system will be entered in the BIOS setup.

What are BIOS settings?

BIOS stands for Basic Input/ Output System. It is software that is stored in the processor memory. It is responsible for booting up your computer and performs basic input or output functions. BIOS software is non-volatile in that its settings remain saved even after turning off the system.

How to fix checking media presence no media present in Dell?

To fix this error, you may need to change the boot order menu in the BIOS settings. For this, try to keep the drive, containing windows files, at top of the list. Also, check for the hard drive as if it is properly connected with the motherboard or not.

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed several reasons for the “Checking Media Presence” error. The causes of this error can vary from system to system. But the most common cause is the disorder of the boot menu, which can be solved by just rearranging it.

Hope this article has been proved very helpful to your problem. If not, let me know in the comments below and I’ll try my best to get it resolved for you.

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