🌐
Intel
intel.com › product support › ethernet products
How to Turn Off Intel® Boot Agent (IBA) or Prevent It from Running
The Intel® Boot Agent (IBA) is firmware in the Network Interface Card (NIC). The Intel® Boot Agent (IBA) allows your networked client computer to boot using an image on a remote server.
🌐
Intel
intel.com › content › www › us › en › support › products › 1140 › software › manageability-products › intel-boot-agent.html
Support for Intel® Boot Agent
Description: This download version 31.2 installs UEFI drivers, Intel® Boot Agent, and Intel® iSCSI Remote Boot images to program the PCI option ROM flash image and update flash configuration options.View download options.
Discussions

PC won’t boot up, goes to a intel boot agent screen
The two most likely possibilities here are: PXE (network) boot is set with a higher priority than disk boot in the BIOS, so you have to wait for it to fail before it tries the disk. (The one I think is more likely, unless you're the type to blindly fiddle with BIOS settings) Your computer is failing to detect your hard drive at boot, and falling back to PXE boot. If this is the case, you can check the cable connections from the motherboard to the hard drive to ensure everything's connected properly, but if all the cables are hooked up properly, it's probably time for a new drive. There are other possibilities, like bad hard drive cables or your motherboard failing, but a disk failure is typically far more likely than either of those. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/WindowsHelp
15
8
February 20, 2025
Stuck at «Initializing Intel(R) Boot Agent»
Hi! Im having a issue with my MSI Z77A-GD55. When i boot up the computer, all i get is a screen saying: Initializing Intel(R) Boot Agent GE v1.3.76 PXE 2.1 Build 090 (WfM 2.0) Press Ctrl+S to enter setup Menu I've tryed using F11, F2, F8, F12 to get into another screen but nothing works. When... More on forums.tomshardware.com
🌐 forums.tomshardware.com
8
0
April 6, 2020
Disable Intel boot Agent | Tom's Hardware Forum
Long story short, Dell in home tech came today to fix a video card problem but showed up without the replacement card. He had a new motherboard which was for further troubleshooting if the new video card didn't work. So he replaced the motherboard and kept the exisitng NVidia card and, of... More on forums.tomshardware.com
🌐 forums.tomshardware.com
January 27, 2008
How to resolve Intel(R) Boot Agent PXE ECC initialization issue
Experiencing an issue with the Intel(R) Boot Agent PXE ECC initialization. The system is unresponsive, preventing access to F12 or F2. It consistently boots into the PXE environment. Attempts to resolve the issue include removing USB devices, but the… More on learn.microsoft.com
🌐 learn.microsoft.com
1
0
August 30, 2025
🌐
Intel
edc.intel.com › https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/resources-documentation/developer.html › intel® boot agent
Intel® Boot Agent - 31.2 - ID:705831 | Intel® Ethernet Adapters and Devices User Guide
It is compatible with legacy boot agent environments that use the BOOTP protocol. The Intel Boot Agent software provides configuration options that allow you to customize the behavior of the Intel Boot Agent software.
🌐
University of Waterloo
cs.uwaterloo.ca › ~brecht › servers › docs › PowerEdge-2600 › en › IntelNIC › bootagnt › config.htm
Configuration: Intel® Boot Agent User Guide
Open Intel PROSet by double-clicking the icon on the lower-right corner of the desktop. Select the appropriate adapter and click the Boot Agent tab.
🌐
Intel
intel.com › product support › ethernet products
How to Update Intel® Boot Agent
The Intel® Ethernet Connections boot utility has the latest Intel® Boot Agent code for Intel® Ethernet adapters. Download this archive to update your boot agent.
🌐
University of Waterloo
cs.uwaterloo.ca › ~brecht › servers › docs › PowerEdge-2600 › en › IntelNIC › bootagnt › intro.htm
Introduction: Intel® Boot Agent User Guide
The Intel® Boot Agent is a software product that allows your networked client computer to boot using a program code image supplied by a remote server.
🌐
Reddit
reddit.com › r/windowshelp › pc won’t boot up, goes to a intel boot agent screen
r/WindowsHelp on Reddit: PC won’t boot up, goes to a intel boot agent screen
February 20, 2025 -

Whenever I try turn my PC on it goes to this screen. Before I used to just turn it off and on again until it started up but it gets more and more frequent overtime. Now it won’t start at all without going to this screen. My PC also randomly blue screens. I’ve reinstalled windows multiple times too. I’ve had this issue for 2 years now but didn’t do anything because I don’t use my PC that often as I’m in university and I keep it at home. My RAM is also highly at high % even if I’m just on chrome or Opera GX (if that information is useful), my specs aren’t bad I could run valorant on 150fps before at max graphics and every game over 60fps but those same games now have become really slow. My motherboard is very old though. How can I fix this?

Top answer
1 of 5
5
The two most likely possibilities here are: PXE (network) boot is set with a higher priority than disk boot in the BIOS, so you have to wait for it to fail before it tries the disk. (The one I think is more likely, unless you're the type to blindly fiddle with BIOS settings) Your computer is failing to detect your hard drive at boot, and falling back to PXE boot. If this is the case, you can check the cable connections from the motherboard to the hard drive to ensure everything's connected properly, but if all the cables are hooked up properly, it's probably time for a new drive. There are other possibilities, like bad hard drive cables or your motherboard failing, but a disk failure is typically far more likely than either of those.
2 of 5
1
Hi u/Aromatic-Mention2062 , thanks for posting to r/WindowsHelp ! Don't worry, your post has not been removed. To let us help you better, try to include as much of the following information as possible! Posts with insufficient details might be removed at the moderator's discretion. Model of your computer - For example: "HP Spectre X360 14-EA0023DX" Your Windows and device specifications - You can find them by going to go to Settings > "System" > "About" What troubleshooting steps you have performed - Even sharing little things you tried (like rebooting) can help us find a better solution! Any error messages you have encountered - Those long error codes are not gibberish to us! Any screenshots or logs of the issue - You can upload screenshots other useful information in your post or comment, and use Pastebin for text (such as logs). You can learn how to take screenshots here . All posts must be help/support related. If everything is working without issue, then this probably is not the subreddit for you, so you should also post on a discussion focused subreddit like r/Windows . Lastly, if someone does help and resolves your issue, please don't delete your post! Someone in the future with the same issue may stumble upon this thread, and same solution may help! Good luck! As a reminder, this is a help subreddit, all comments must be a sincere attempt to help the OP or otherwise positively contribute. This is not a subreddit for jokes and satirical advice. These comments may be removed and can result in a ban. I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
🌐
Tom's Hardware Forum
forums.tomshardware.com › home › motherboards
[SOLVED] - Stuck at «Initializing Intel(R) Boot Agent» | Tom's Hardware Forum
April 6, 2020 - Still stuck in boot agent. Will try the dedicated jumper as soon as i get home. Thank you ... Click to expand... You will probably have to adjust bios settings after cmos reset anyway. Is there a particular reason you can’t? ... You will probably have to adjust bios settings after cmos reset anyway. Is there a particular reason you can’t? Click to expand... All that happends when i start the PC is that i Get that message Initializing Intel(R) Boot Agent GE v1.3.76 PXE 2.1 Build 090 (WfM 2.0) Press Ctrl+S to enter setup Menu If i don’t press «Ctrl+S» it just turns black.
Find elsewhere
🌐
SilverPC Blog
blog.silverpc.hu › kezdőlap › what is the intel boot agent and how do you stop it from interrupting your startup?
What Is the Intel Boot Agent and How Do You Stop It From Interrupting Your Startup? - SilverPC Blog
October 31, 2025 - This comprehensive guide aims to shed light on what this mysterious agent is, why it insists on interrupting your computer’s startup sequence, and, most importantly, how you can politely, but firmly, instruct it to stand down, ensuring a swifter, less interrupted boot process. Get ready to reclaim those precious seconds! ⏱️ ... At its core, the Intel Boot Agent is a piece of firmware embedded in your computer’s network adapter (LAN card), designed to facilitate network booting.
🌐
Intel
cdrdv2-public.intel.com › 841778 › Boot_Agent_book_rev_1_9.pdf pdf
318275-009 Revision 1.9 Intel® Boot Agent Application Notes for BIOS Engineers
BootUtil utility and Intel® PROSet. • Monolithic Image — a single image containing all the components of the Boot · Agent (initialization code, UNDI driver, base code, etc.).
🌐
Tom's Hardware Forum
forums.tomshardware.com › home › overclocking
Disable Intel boot Agent | Tom's Hardware Forum
January 27, 2008 - Start the pc when it first starts repeatedly press F2 till you get to BIOS SETUP UTILITY. Press the right arrow the the BOOT menu. In the submenu arrow down to PXE BOOT to LAN. Disable it. That will prevent your pc from booting through that stupid intel agent.
🌐
Intel
intel.com › content › www › us › en › content-details › 841778 › intel-boot-agent-application-notes-for-bios-engineers.html
Intel® Boot Agent Application Notes for BIOS Engineers
The purpose of this document is to assist BIOS developers in the process of integrating the Boot Agent into the BIOS and troubleshooting common problems.
🌐
Netgate Forum
forum.netgate.com › topic › 179311 › disable-intel-boot-agent-boot-messages-quad-port-nic
Disable Intel boot agent boot messages - Quad port NIC | Netgate Forum
April 8, 2023 - Sadly, it only hides the messages from being displayed but the 2 second delay for each of the four messages still exists. In short, this option is worthless. The additional change that can be made is through the Intel boot agent (CTRL+S) setup, where you can change the message delay seconds.
🌐
Emacinc
ftp.emacinc.com › LegacyProducts › SBC › pcm-9550 › Drivers › LAN › 82559 › BOOTAGNT3.0 › GUIDE.PDF pdf
Intel ® Boot Agent User’s Guide February 2000
The Boot · age is embedded in the fboot utility itself. This process takes · ately one minute and then fboot exits to the DOS prompt. administrator to determine if any server updates are necessary. oot Agent software to perform its intended job, there must be a server
🌐
Dell
dell.com › dell community › desktops › optiplex desktops
Initializing Intel(R) Boot Agent GE v1.5.50 PXE 2.1 Build 092 (WfM 2.0) | DELL Technologies
February 14, 2018 - When the machine (in my case it's an OptiPlex 9010) is powered on, the Dell logo screen appears, and I immediately hit (either) F2 for setup or F12 for boot device selection. A message in yellow upper right corner says "Preparing to enter setup..." and then the system screen clears to the Intel Boot agent screen and the system is ABSOLUTELY FROZEN.
🌐
Beronet
beronet.com › wp-content › uploads › downloads › appliance › BNTA2 › MITX_6770 › Driver › LAN › intel -I21 series › 18_5_CD › APPS › BOOTAGNT › DOCS › configdm.htm
Configuration Setup - beroNet
April 24, 2013 - The Intel&#174 Boot Agent software provides configuration options that allow you to customize the behavior of the Intel Boot Agent software.
🌐
University of Waterloo
cs.uwaterloo.ca › ~brecht › servers › docs › PowerEdge-2600 › en › IntelNIC › bootagnt › install.htm
Installation: Intel® Boot Agent User Guide
To do this, make sure that a compatible network adapter is installed and the Boot Agent software image resides within the network adapter's flash ROM. The following topics guide you through the hardware installation process: ... If you have an Intel WfM-compatible adapter installed in your ...
🌐
Intel Community
community.intel.com › t5 › Processors › INTEL-BOOT-AGENT-GE-V1-3-27-ERROR › td-p › 1395185
INTEL BOOT AGENT GE V1.3.27 ERROR - Intel Community
June 28, 2022 - The Intel® Boot Agent (IBA) is firmware in the Network Interface Card (NIC). The Intel® Boot Agent (IBA) allows your networked client computer to boot using an image on a remote server. PC vendors can implement the Intel Boot Agent (IBA) to accommodate various environments and protocols.
🌐
Linus Tech Tips
linustechtips.com › software › operating systems › windows
How do I disable Intel Boot Agent ?? - Windows - Linus Tech Tips
June 10, 2020 - So, since a few weeks, every time I start my pc, it takes a looonnng time to boot because that IBA thing launches and i dont know how to disable it ... I have a Gigabyte Aorus Z390 Pro as mobo, 1 240Gb NVME SSD Force 510 from Corsair and 1Tb WD Blue ...