Hello all!

Please help me, I'm on the verge of a breakdown with my laptop. I have a Compaq Presario Notebook Series R3000. I have had no problems with it at all until this morning.

I turned it on; I get the Compaq logo and then the following error message shows on a black screen;

Realtek Ethernet Controller v2.13
PXE-E61 Media test failure, check cable
PXE-MOF Exiting PXE ROM

This screen with the black error message loads again and again.

I have tried disabling the Network adaptor in BIOS Setup in the boot order section; and then all that happens is I get the Compaq logo again and a black screen with a flashing white cursor in the top left of the screen.

I have also tried to run a Hard Drive Test but underneath each test it says : Diagnostics not supported.

I've tried ringing HP but the helpline is apparantly closed on Saturdays, even though on the website, it says it's open. The HP help centres are nowhere near where I live; and I'm a student so can't afford the help anyway!

PLEASE HELP!! I'm absolutely petrified that I'll have to reinstall windows or get a new hard drive; as I have all my work, all my photos, all my music etc on my hard drive.

Can you find your exact model here:

http://h20180.www2.hp.com/apps/Looku...x=4&submit.y=6

The "PXE" errors indicate that your computer is no longer recognizing the the Windows installation on your hard drive, or is no longer recognizing the hard drive itself.

You need to go in to the computer's BIOS, see what information it is reporting (if any) about the hard drive. Is it detected? Is it listed in the Boot Menu?

In a worse case scenario you will be able to extract this hard drive to access your data unless the drive has mechanically failed.

Originally Posted by jephree

Can you find your exact model here:

http://h20180.www2.hp.com/apps/Looku...x=4&submit.y=6

The "PXE" errors indicate that your computer is no longer recognizing the the Windows installation on your hard drive, or is no longer recognizing the hard drive itself.

You need to go in to the computer's BIOS, see what information it is reporting (if any) about the hard drive. Is it detected? Is it listed in the Boot Menu?

In a worse case scenario you will be able to extract this hard drive to access your data unless the drive has mechanically failed.

My exact model isn't in that list - I'm guessing that's not a good thing!

However, good news is that my hard drive is listed in the boot menu and is detected in BIOS.

What is your exact model # ?

What is you order in the Boot Menu?

What type of hard drive diagnostic did you try?

Do you continue to get the black screen with cursor flashing?

Do you have Recovery Disks from HP?

Hey there;

My exact model is;

Compaq Presario R3200 Notebook (R3000 Series)

The order in the boot menu is

Floppy Diskette Drive (even though I don't have one)
CD ROM Drive
Hard Drive
Network Adaptor

I don't know what a hard drive diagnostic is lol.

I have a recovery CD from HP but I think it's only for software. Should I try it anyway?

My boyfriend has had a look today and he thinks my hard drive has burnt out? Is that possible? I've only had it about a year and a half.

You said: "I have also tried to run a Hard Drive Test but underneath each test it says : Diagnostics not supported."
What was this Hard Drive Test? Where did it come from?


Is this the notebook:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/p...&cc=us&y=6&x=7


Try the ideas here:

HP Notebook PCs - Error Message from the System BIOS is Displayed on a Black Screen Referring to 'PXE-E61: Media Test Failure' During Startup or Boot


Although hard drives do fail; a sudden failure is rare. I am gathering that your issue is more of a BIOS fault. The BIOS Boot Menu specifically.