I think your guesses are pretty good. A DXE is an executable module in the BIOS. Maybe reflashing or switching over to a backup BIOS will fix this. I would also try reseating stuff, maybe some initialisation routine is malfunctioning from some minor hardware problem. Answer from computix on reddit.com
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Tom's Hardware Forum
forums.tomshardware.com › home › cpus
CPU DXE initialization started code? | Tom's Hardware Forum
January 29, 2018 - ... It actually already was turned off. ... Had a question. I built a new computer based around the Gigabyte Z370 Aorus Gaming 7 (rev. 1.0) motherboard. On the LED debug I am getting a 66 error code. In the manual it says 63-67 means CPU DXE initialization started.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/techsupport › pc hangs on code 64 (cpu dxe initialisation)
r/techsupport on Reddit: PC hangs on Code 64 (CPU DXE initialisation)
March 1, 2023 -

Im a little stumped on the issue my PC is presenting me. Booted my PC up this morning but got into Windows and everything took ages to actually show up. I went to reboot it and it just hangs at the POST with code 64 which is the CPU DXE initialisation. It eventually, maybe after about a minute or 2 it finally boots but takes absolutely ages to boot into windows but from there the PC is fine apart of having to load windows specific applications, sometimes they work but other times they stop responding or take ages to load.

Booting the PC up from a full shutdown state presents no issue other than a slow boot.

Is this a sign of a failing CPU or another issue, maybe with BIOS?

Discussions

Q-Code 66 "CPU DXE Initiailzation is started. Self build
Customer: CPU DXE Initialization has started. Technician's Assistant: What is the brand, model, and Operating System (OS) of your computer? Customer: I have a self-built Crosshair Formula-Z. Technician's Assistant: What have you attempted so far with your computer? More on justanswer.com
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0
February 14, 2018
Upgrade to new motherboard has POST halting at System Agent DXE initialization - PCPartPicker
My thinking at the time was that my PSU was struggling to supply the 12v DC power the moment I pressed the power button. The rig did in fact begin booting, but suddenly turned off right after displaying code (ahem) 69, which translates to "System Agent DXE initialization has started." After ... More on pcpartpicker.com
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URGENT! Motherboard errors
I recieved my cable mod extensions and i installed them. My dekstop booted but also gave errors. From cpu to vga to boot. Also the Qcode screen gives a lot of errors. Gets to AE and eventually AO and windows 7 boots. The problem is the booting takes longer, mouse and keyboard dont get activated ... More on forum.level1techs.com
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0
May 30, 2016
Motherboard not lighting up, all other components reset evry 4 seconds after a click - PCPartPicker
E0 S3 Resume is started (called from DXE IPL). E1 Fill boot script data for S3 resume. E2 Initializes VGA for S3 resume. E3 OS S3 wake vector call. ... F0 Recovery mode will be triggered due to invalid firmware volume detection. F1 Recovery mode will be triggered by user decision. F2 Recovery is started. F3 Recovery firmware image is found. F4 Recovery firmware image is loaded. F5~F7 Reserved for future AMI progress codes. ... D0 CPU ... More on pcpartpicker.com
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Asus
rog-forum.asus.com › t5 › x99 › q-code-67-quot-cpu-dxe-initiailzation-is-started-quot › td-p › 627643
Q-Code 67 "CPU DXE Initiailzation is started." - Republic of Gamers Forum - 627643
March 6, 2024 - Intel i7-5960X officially supports ... phase during POST and represented by Qcodes 63-67. The (DXE) phase is where most of the system initialization is performed....
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Linus Tech Tips
linustechtips.com › the workbench › troubleshooting
error code 64 - Troubleshooting - Linus Tech Tips
October 23, 2017 - hello ive build my own pc and turned it of for the first time today and got an error code 64 on an asus rampage 5 x edition can any one tell me what this is and how to fix it
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PCPartPicker
pcpartpicker.com › forums › topic › 398015-upgrade-to-new-motherboard-has-post-halting-at-system-agent-dxe-initialization
Upgrade to new motherboard has POST halting at System Agent DXE initialization - PCPartPicker
My thinking at the time was that my PSU was struggling to supply the 12v DC power the moment I pressed the power button. The rig did in fact begin booting, but suddenly turned off right after displaying code (ahem) 69, which translates to "System Agent DXE initialization has started." After that, I couldn't replicate the behavior (until later, when I started clearing CMOS).
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ServeTheHome
forums.servethehome.com › index.php
Supermicro H11DSi stuck on DXE—CPU Initialization…
September 6, 2023 - Linux Administration help: Issues with listing disks via executable.
Find elsewhere
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UEFI
uefi.org › specs › PI › 1.8 › V2_Overview.html
2. Overview — UEFI Platform Initialization Specification 1.8 documentation
After all of the DXE drivers have been loaded and executed by the DXE Dispatcher, control is handed to the BDS Architectural Protocol that is responsible for implementing a boot policy that is compliant with the UEFI Boot Manager described in the UEFI 2.0 specification. The DXE drivers are required to initialize the processor, chipset, and platform.
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Techiloves
techiloves.com › cpu-dxe-initialization-is-started
CPU DXE Initialization Is Started - Fixing Q-Code Errors!
January 6, 2025 - On Lenovo systems, CPU DXE Initialization helps set up the CPU for use. This process ensures the system’s hardware works together smoothly during boot. If the initialization fails, it may lead to startup issues or crashes, so it’s important for system stability.
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Nzxt
cdn-g.nzxt.com › dl › 1621349145-nzxtn7z390bootcodes.pdf pdf
bios boot codes
CPU DXE initialization is started · 64 · CPU DXE initialization (CPU · module specific) 65 · CPU DXE initialization (CPU module specific) 66 · CPU DXE initialization (CPU module specific) 67 · CPU DXE initialization (CPU module specific) 68 · PCI host bridge initialization ·
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Nutanix
portal.nutanix.com › kb › 19897
Nutanix Support & Insights
September 30, 2025 - We cannot provide a description for this page right now
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Scribd
scribd.com › document › 594755785 › codigo-x99
codigo x99
The document outlines the initialization steps taken during a system boot process, including: 1. Initialization of the CPU, chipset, memory, and PCI host bridge during the pre-memory and DXE phases. 2. Detection and initialization of connected devices like USB, IDE, and SCSI during DXE. 3. Starting the BIOS setup and issuing a ready to boot event before booting to the operating system.Read more
Rating: 5 ​ - ​ 1 votes
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Level1Techs
forum.level1techs.com › hardware hub › motherboards
URGENT! Motherboard errors - Motherboards - Level1Techs Forums
May 30, 2016 - I recieved my cable mod extensions and i installed them. My dekstop booted but also gave errors. From cpu to vga to boot. Also the Qcode screen gives a lot of errors. Gets to AE and eventually AO and windows 7 boots. The problem is the booting takes longer, mouse and keyboard dont get activated ...
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PCPartPicker
pcpartpicker.com › forums › topic › 283423-motherboard-not-lighting-up-all-other-components-reset-evry-4-seconds-after-a-click
Motherboard not lighting up, all other components reset evry 4 seconds after a click - PCPartPicker
E0 S3 Resume is started (called from DXE IPL). E1 Fill boot script data for S3 resume. E2 Initializes VGA for S3 resume. E3 OS S3 wake vector call. ... F0 Recovery mode will be triggered due to invalid firmware volume detection. F1 Recovery mode will be triggered by user decision. F2 Recovery is started. F3 Recovery firmware image is found. F4 Recovery firmware image is loaded. F5~F7 Reserved for future AMI progress codes. ... D0 CPU ...
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Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › UEFI
UEFI - Wikipedia
2 days ago - Handing over to the next stage, DXE. Facilitating the communication of PEIMs called PPI. This component is responsible for invoking PEIMs and managing their dependencies. These are minimal PEI drivers that are responsible for initialization of hardware components, such as permanent memory, CPU, ...
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Dortania
dortania.github.io › OpenCore-Install-Guide › ktext.html
Gathering files | OpenCore Install Guide
This section is for gathering miscellaneous files for booting macOS, we do expect you to know your hardware well before starting and hopefully made a Hackintosh before as we won't be deep diving in here.