Often, users face a certain problem while starting or rebooting their computers. A blue box appears on a black screen, which says “Selected boot image did not authenticate, press Enter to continue“. Simply click “OK” or “Enter” to restart the computer. After this, you will return to the same screen instead of starting the system. So, you need to fix this problem whenever it occurs. We have discussed the ways to fix Selected Boot Image Did Not Authenticate issue in this article.
Firstly, we must understand what Selected Boot Image Did Not Authenticate problem is all about. A boot image is a file that contains various data related to the operating system and helps load it. The system is loaded after the computer authenticates the system boot loader according to the system firmware database.
This process secures the device from any harmful system changes. The computer may fail to authenticate the boot loader due to various reasons:
1. Changes to the boot loader information due to new device installation or system upgrade.
2. Missing information on the boot loader.
3. Corrupted boot loader due to malware attacks.
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How to Fix Selected Boot Image Did Not Authenticate Error
Many of the Windows users are facing this issue. Even the latest version Windows 10, notwithstanding its popular features, experiences this issue. We have also observed that users of HP devices particularly face Selected Boot Image Did Not Authenticate error.
It says about the boot image authentication failure. This is mainly linked to upgrades, because it may cause changes to boot loader information. Thus, the ways to solve this problem have been discussed below.
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Solution 1: Change from Secure Boot to Legacy Boot in BIOS Settings
This method is suitable only when the error is not because of any malware attack. It lets the system boot by disabling the Secure boot feature and overriding the security protocol. Following are the steps in this method:
Step 1: Shut down the computer and then turn the power on again.
Step 2: Press “Esc” repeatedly to go to the Startup menu.
Step 3: Press “F10” to enter BIOS once the Startup menu appears, then navigate the options using the arrow keys
Step 4: Select “System Configuration” in the top menu.
Step 5: Select “Boot options.”
Step 6: Disable the “Secure boot” option and enable “Legacy support.”
Step 7: Press “F10” to save and exit.
This should cause Windows to reboot automatically with the saved changes. However, this should serve as a temporary solution. The Secure boot feature is crucial to prevent malicious content and must be re-enabled after the problem is fixed. Besides, if the Selected Boot Image Did Not Authenticate problem is due to a malware attack, method three given below is recommended.
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Solution 2: Hard Reset the computer
This is another way of solving the Selected Boot Image Did Not Authenticate problem, in which the BIOS configurations are reset. This will remove all mismatching configurations and allow a successful boot. Following are the steps in this method:
Step 1: Turn off the computer and disconnect the power cord.
Step 2: Remove the battery from behind the computer.
Step 3: Press and hold the power button for about 20 to 30 seconds to reset the hardware.
Step 4: Put the battery back in and connect the power cord.
Step 5: Restart the computer.
Step 6: As the computer starts, press “Esc” repeatedly for the Startup menu.
Step 7: Once the Startup menu appears, press “F2” to load hardware diagnostics.
Step 8: Select the “Startup test” option to test the entire hardware of the system to diagnose any problems.
Step 9: If the test reports no problem, the computer can be rebooted frequently.
If you still face the Selected Boot Image Did Not Authenticate error, or if the Startup test reports any problem, the system needs repair.
None of those mentioned above techniques may work if the problem is due to a malware attack. In that case, the system needs to be repaired. The repair process can be done by following the steps below:
Step 1: Firstly, turn off your computer. Now, turn it back on after a few seconds
Step 2: Just as the computer starts, press “Esc” repeatedly for the Startup menu to appear
Step 3: Once the Startup menu appears, press “F11” to go to the recovery console
Step 4: Select “Troubleshoot”.
Step 5: Then select “Advanced Options”.
Step 6: Finally, select “Startup Repair”.
Step 7: Follow the instructions that will appear on the screen. Now, wait for the repair process to finish.
Step 8: Once it is finished, restart your computer.
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Conclusion
Thus, we have described the various ways to fix the boot image authentication error. The user must first have an idea about the cause of the error, as the techniques are suited based on the causes. The first two methods must suffice if the Boot loader causes Selected Boot Image Did Not Authenticate error.
Information change due to system upgrade or new installation. In case of changes due to malware attacks, system repair is necessary. These techniques are easy to use once understood. This will help you whenever you face the Selected Boot Image Did Not Authenticate error.
