SOLVED Unable to download PXE variable file. Exit code=14 + 0x8004016c

[MJ-Tech]

Hi Team,

We recently bought a few Dell laptops, and the model name is Dell Latitude 5540. The PXE OS deployment is working fine for the models Latitude 5520 and 5530, but not for the latest one - Latitude 5540. When attempting PXE boot, after clicking the IPv4 option, the machine acquires an IP address from the DHCP server and initially loads all the drivers. On the next screen, I expected to see the task sequence window to proceed with the OS installation, but instead, it shows a blank page for a few seconds and then restarts the device. The error message I received from smsts.log is 'Unable to download PXE variable file. Exit code=14 + 0x8004016c'. Additionally, I noticed that I didn't get the IP address from the command line.

Could you please help to assist with this issue, please?

 

[AhmedLS]

Hi Team,

We recently bought a few Dell laptops, and the model name is Dell Latitude 5540. The PXE OS deployment is working fine for the models Latitude 5520 and 5530, but not for the latest one - Latitude 5540. When attempting PXE boot, after clicking the IPv4 option, the machine acquires an IP address from the DHCP server and initially loads all the drivers. On the next screen, I expected to see the task sequence window to proceed with the OS installation, but instead, it shows a blank page for a few seconds and then restarts the device. The error message I received from smsts.log is 'Unable to download PXE variable file. Exit code=14 + 0x8004016c'. Additionally, I noticed that I didn't get the IP address from the command line.

Could you please help to assist with this issue, please?

did you update the boot image with LAN drivers for the new laptop ?

 

[MJ-Tech]

did you update the boot image with LAN drivers for the new laptop ?

Yes, it is already added

 

[MJ-Tech]

Error : Unable to download PXE variable file. Exit code=14



No IP address

I ran the command line manually, but it failed,

 

[Prajwal Desai]

We have a similar thread created long back describing same issue: https://forums.prajwaldesai.com/threads/unable-to-download-pxe-variable-file-exit-code-14.4752/

have you contacted Dell support for this issue?

 

[MJ-Tech]

We have a similar thread created long back describing same issue: https://forums.prajwaldesai.com/threads/unable-to-download-pxe-variable-file-exit-code-14.4752/

have you contacted Dell support for this issue?

Yes, I have contacted Dell technical support, but I have not received a response from them yet. Do you think the issue could be related to the BIOS settings or incompatible network drivers?

 

[Prajwal Desai]

This could be related to driver package for that model. Check with Dell customer service if this problem only affects a specific model of Dell laptop.

 

[AhmedLS]

worst senario try using a USB network card

 

[MJ-Tech]

I deleted all the network drivers for the all models and re-added them to the boot image. It is now working.

I'm not sure why it wasn't working before