Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller failure; Not working

We have noticed two types of Realtek PCIe GBE Controller issues lately. First, during the booting process, the Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller failure screen pops up and doesn’t let us boot into the computer. Or then, we can boot into the system, but the Realtek driver has a Yellow exclamation mark attached to it. This post will discuss this issue and see what you can do if the Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller is not working.

Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller Series
PXE-E61: Media test failure, check cable

Fix Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller failure; Not working

If Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller failure is what you are dealing with and the driver is not working in Windows 11/10, follow the solutions mentioned below.

1. Disable Secure Boot from the BIOS
2. Check your cables
3. Update your BIOS
4. Reset BIOS and clear CMOS
5. Update or reinstall Realtek PCI driver
6. Do not auto disable Gigabit

Let us talk about them in detail.

1] Disable Secure Boot from the BIOS

The Secure Boot protects your system from malicious software and unauthorized changes during the boot process. It ensures that your PC boots using only trusted software from your device manufacturer. However, at times it can interfere with Realtek drivers and cause issues, let us disable it and see if the issue resolves. First of all, boot Windows into UEFI or BIOS firmware. Then, go to the Boot tab and disable the Secure Boot option. Also, make sure that the Fast Startup is enabled. Finally, save and exit. Hopefully, once your system starts up, the issue will be resolved.

2] Check your cables

As mentioned in the error message, you might encounter this issue if the cables are loose. The SATA cables connecting your storage drive to the motherboard should be securely connected. If there are any loose cables, connect them firmly and start the system.

3] Update your BIOS

If your BIOS is older, you may notice this error, as it can trigger compatibility issues. To resolve it, we recommend you update the BIOS to the latest version and then check if the issue persists.

4] Reset BIOS and clear CMOS

Since we are facing an issue when trying to boot the computer, a plausible solution would be to reset the BIOS to its default value. If resetting doesn’t resolve your issue, you can follow the steps mentioned below to clear CMOS.

• Power down and disconnect all peripherals attached to the computer.
• Unplug the power cable from the wall outlet or power strip.
• Open the computer case.
• Locate the battery on the motherboard. It might be secured in a horizontal or vertical holder or connected to the board via a wire to a header.

Alternatively, you can reset CMOS from the BIOS. After doing all this, start your computer and see if it boots up.

5] Update or reinstall Realtek PCI driver

If you are able to boot your computer but see a yellow mark next to Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller in the Device Manager, there are a few things you can try. First, you need to update the driver using either of the methods mentioned below.

• Update the Driver from the Device Manager. Open the Device Manager, right-click on the driver with the yellow exclamation mark, select Update device, and then click on Search automatically for drivers.
• You can install a free driver update software to keep all your devices updated along with the Realtek PCI driver.

Once you have updated the driver, check if the issue is resolved.

If this doesn’t resolve the issue for you, we need you to reinstall the driver. You need to right-click on the driver with the exclamation mark and select Uninstall device. Confirm when the prompt appears. Once the driver is removed, in the Device Manager, click on Scan for hardware changes button. This might install a generic driver, you can restart your computer and see if that installs the Realtek driver, if not, go to the manufacturer’s website, download, and install the latest version of the driver.

6] Do not auto disable Gigabit

There is an option in Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller, Auto Disable Gigabit, to save energy. If enabled, your system will detect when the network is idle and turn off ethernet functionality. However, it can sometimes cause issues such as the one in question. That is why we are going to disable it using the following steps.