If you receive the Unsuccessful EFI Network Start PXE over IPv4 error while installing Windows on VMware Workstation, then this is what you need to do to resolve the issue. Using this suggestion, you can bypass this error message and go ahead with Windows 11/10 on VMware.
Fix Unsuccessful EFI Network Start PXE over IPv4 error
This error message could appear when installing if you have a corrupted Windows ISO. It asks you to press any key to start the installation, but you won’t be able to press any key or access the mouse in the virtual machine window.
- Check the virtual machine setup
- Use the keyboard shortcut
Make sure to use an admin account to fix the solution.
1] Check the virtual machine setup
It is essential to ensure that you are using the correct ISO file. Otherwise, you will waste your time. You also need to ensure that the system’s file is not corrupted.
- Open the VMware app and click the Edit virtual machine settings after selecting the virtual machine.
- After that, switch to the CD/DVD (SATA) section.
- On your right-hand side, select the Use ISO image file option.
- Click the Browse button and choose the ISO image file of your Windows OS.
- After doing this, click the OK button and check whether it solves your problem.
Read: Virtual Machine won’t boot without the ISO file
2] Use the keyboard shortcut
When you see the Press any key to boot from CD or DVD message on your screen, you cannot press any key so that you can use a keyboard shortcut. Press Ctrl+G on that screen to activate the keyboard inside the guest. Afterward, you can press any key on your keyboard to start the installation.
These are two of the working solutions to this problem. I hope they help you.
What does start PXE over IPv4 mean?
This error message appears when your computer cannot boot from the drive, often due to an incorrect BIOS configuration. It typically occurs when no other bootable devices are available.
Read: VirtualBox failed to open/create the internal network
How do I enable PXE boot on my network?
You must enter the BIOS setup to boot your computer from the network (usually by pressing F2 during startup). Once in BIOS, navigate to the Boot Menu and find the Boot Priority or Boot Configuration settings. Here, disable the option that prioritizes booting from network devices. Look for a Network Boot section and enable UEFI PXE and iSCSI options. Finally, choose between Ethernet 1 or 2 for the network boot—press F12 during the Power-On Self Test (POST) to boot directly from the LAN.
