Hewlett Packard (HP) produces high-quality computers, each equipped with a BIOS that inspects for errors while loading devices and the system. The error “Selected boot image did not authenticate” differs from the “bootmngr missing” message displayed when attempting to load an operating system from an incorrect location. This article explains the meaning of the former error, why it occurs in HP computers, and how to resolve it enabling your computer startup.
What does “selected boot image did not authenticate” mean, and why does it occur?
This error, displayed on a blue strip against a black background, appears shortly after rebooting or powering on. Pressing enter merely shuts down the computer, ultimately leading back to the same screen. Essentially, this error signifies a breach of a security protocol verified by a firmware database, or the device loading the OS can’t supply the necessary info for a secure boot. Secure Boot is a technology enabling system firmware to verify that the boot loader is signed with a key authorized by a firmware-contained database. This database stores your boot sequence to protect your PC from potentially harmful system changes. An infringement of this protocol results in an insecure boot and a notification. Changes may occur due to new device installation, operating system updates (which modify boot loader information), device driver changes, or malware attacks. This error may indicate missing boot loader information, preventing the operating system from loading. Boot information identifies the presence of an operating system on your drive. If it fails to load, the authentication process cannot complete successfully. The boot image can become corrupt due to updates or malware attacks. Certain viruses can infiltrate the boot information, preventing a secure boot, or even delete it. Additionally, updates can modify the boot information, inhibiting startup. Here are solutions to clear the ‘selected boot image did not authenticate’ error and enable your HP computer to boot successfully.
Method 1: Switch from secure boot to legacy boot in your BIOS settings
To switch to legacy boot, be aware it ignores operating system and hardware changes and continues the boot. This is not advisable if you suspect a virus or malware attack; instead, use method 3. Below is how to disable secure boot and enable legacy support on an HP computer.
Method 2: Perform a Hard Reset on Your Computer
This will reset all BIOS configurations (excluding passwords), accommodating new OS and hardware changes upon the next boot. Thus, any conflicting configurations will be eliminated. Here’s how to perform a hard reset on an HP computer. If your computer doesn’t boot, we must conduct a system repair.
Method 3: Repair Windows on your computer using system recovery
A system repair can rectify the boot information and other Windows-related issues on your device. Here’s how to perform a Windows system repair for HP users. If your computer does not have the option of using F11 recovery console, you can use our guide from here to do the same if you are running on windows 10. If you are using windows 7, here is our guide on how to repair your operating system. For window 8, 8.1 and Windows 10 users, you can also use this guide here.
