PC randomly crashes when going into sleep mode, comes back with ” >>Checking Media Presence……”

Understanding and Resolving Random Sleep Mode Crashes Leading to BIOS Boot on Your PC

Experiencing unexplained crashes when your computer enters sleep mode can be frustrating, especially when it bootstraps directly into the BIOS with messages such as “>>Checking Media Presence……” and prompts related to PXE boot. In this article, we will explore common causes behind these issues and provide practical solutions tailored for users with similar configurations.

Symptoms Overview

Many users report that their PCs, upon waking from sleep, either crash or reboot directly into the motherboard BIOS. Notably, instead of a typical restart, the system displays messages like:

“>>Checking Media Presence……”
“>>Media Present……”
“Start PXE over IPv4 on MAC: (mac address)”

An interesting observation is that the MAC address shown during this PXE boot phase often differs from the one listed under “Physical Address (MAC)” in the system BIOS or network settings. Additionally, the message “Valid offer received” appears briefly before the screen turns black and the system reboots into the BIOS.

Possible Causes

BIOS/UEFI Settings and Boot Order
Network Boot (PXE) Configuration
Faulty or Misconfigured Network Hardware
Power Management and Sleep Settings
Hardware Compatibility and Firmware Updates

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting and Solutions

Check and Adjust BIOS/UEFI Settings
Disable PXE Network Boot:
Enter BIOS settings during startup.
Locate the Boot or Boot Priority menu.
Disable or prioritize the internal SSD over network boot options.
Reset BIOS to Default:
Sometimes, customized settings cause conflicts.
Use the BIOS menu to reset to default or clear CMOS if necessary.
Review Network Hardware and Connections
Verify Ethernet Cable and Port:
Swap Ethernet cables to rule out faulty cables.
Connect to a different port or switch.
Check Network Adapter Settings:
In Windows, disable or reconfigure the network adapter.
Update network drivers to the latest version.
Update BIOS and Firmware
Download the latest BIOS firmware from the ASUS TUF Gaming A520M-PLUS WIFI motherboard support page.
Follow manufacturer instructions carefully to update BIOS.
Firmware updates often fix bugs related to sleep and network boot issues.
Modify Power Management Settings
In Windows:
Access Power Options via Control Panel.
Set the power plan to Balanced or