Can you be more specific?

What shows in Windows Reliability Report?

No problem 

Ran the firmware update yesterday morning , all fine on desktop however running any games would cause a blue screen of death after about 20 mins. running with a 1080Gtx card. There was an update to the GTX driver earlier in the week with the impending Tomb Raider release. 

Most errors seem to relate to the nvlddmkm.sys which points me to think issue with driver post firmware update

LKD_0x117_Tdr:3_TdrBug:575504_TdrVTR:0_IMAGE_nvlddmkm.sys
Server information: 0dbacd80-28b3-4a7c-9c38-47865ef5d99

three bluescreens in succession all with the same error as above

Only change to system was update of firmware, reverted back to previous firmware version and PC ran fine all day and since with no issue. It may be that I require to re-install driver post firmware upgrade. 

Rob

Good trouble-shooting.

Yes, now-days you can see BSOD, where seems-like before you would just see "the Nvidia driver has restarted". Not sure what causes that, but I suspect these recent Intel processors with the idle on-board IGP.

Also, some Nvidia drivers sets are particularly bad. They make it look like a hardware-failure. I suggest you find a stable one and stick with it for a while.

https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-General-Read-Only/Aurora-R6-Hard-Lockup-and-crash-while-gaming-SOLVED/m-p/5504128/highlight/true#M6104

I don't update my BIOS without a reason. On my Aurora-R6 ... I'm not running latest BIOS or Nvidia drivers. However, it's been rock-solid for over a year (not a single BSOD, crash, nothing). We run long gaming sessions on it weekly (mostly WoW and Fallout-4). It even Sleeps at night ... it really only gets rebooted once-a-month during monthly Windows auto-updates.

I have some fairly recent Tomb-Raider releases in my Steam account, but not that one.

Not a problem , I don't have those items, the Alienware software however said the update was critical. Anyone viewing that may install the firmware update and hit issues. 

The fact the warning came up first meant I didn't read too much into in, reading release notes after error showed not needed hence rolled back. 

BIOS 1.0.16 addressed the following =
- Enhanced Intel U.2 SSD storage device support
- Enhanced Kingston memory support

Does your Aurora-R7 have the SSD and Kingston memory? If not, it doesn't apply to you.

Before you install any BIOS update, consider this...
* A failed BIOS update could break the motherboard
* You should only install a BIOS update to address a specific issue you are currently having

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@DELL-Chris M wrote:

 

BIOS 1.0.16 addressed the following =
- Enhanced Intel U.2 SSD storage device support

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The Aurora-R7 supports a U.2-SSD ? :Surprise:

Where abouts is the U.2 header?

Well thought I had it , BSOD again last night so looks like nvidia driver not playing nicely. Reading the blurb that comes with update still plenty of things that can cause a BSOD using new driver. Re-installed and played nicely again..... Reminds me why I like console gaming :-) 

Rob

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@Guern1971 wrote:

1. Well thought I had it , BSOD again last night

2. so looks like nvidia driver not playing nicely.

3. Reading the blurb that comes with update still plenty of things that can cause a BSOD using new driver. Re-installed and played nicely again.....

4. Reminds me why I like console gaming :-) 

 

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1. Thanks for reporting back. So, maybe Aurora-R7 v1.0.16 BIOS is ok after all.

2. In my experience, that is more likely.

3. I suggest you
- Remove Nvidia Experience (updater)
- Find a slightly older, more stable Nvidia driver and stick with it for a while
- Try to get your Windows Reliability Report back to constant 10

4. But then you miss-out on this puzzle. :Smile:  I thought you liked games? 

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@PentatonicSteel wrote:

1. Now I can't get into windows, I get the blue screen error code 0000428 (sometimes 0000029).

 

2. and yes I do have kingston memory and an nvme ssd so the update applied to me...

3. I currently only have access to my bios and that's it.

4. Is there anything I can do from within bios to revert?

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1. Try Safe Mode. Then you can flash old way.

2. I have both. Not a single problem with old BIOS (from last year I think).

3. Good

4. I can't take the machine down right this second to check, but I thought your could re-flash the BIOS from UEFI Environment. Try F12 on boot.

there is also this:

https://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/04/sln300716/bios-recovery-options-on-a-dell-pc-or-tablet?lang=en

Watch video and read closely, there are specific steps.

So I downloaded this a few days ago on my new R7.

Now I can't get into windows, I get the blue screen error code 0000428 (sometimes 0000029).

The update turned my pc into a brick...

Dell says they have to change the mobo, I am not happy with that at all.

Surely there has to be an easier way? How do you revert to previous bios? Was perfectly fine before, but the update read "critical" or "urgent", and yes I do have kingston memory and an nvme ssd so the update applied to me...

I currently only have access to my bios and that's it.

Is there anything I can do from within bios to revert?

Thanks for your reply.

Yesterday actually turned into a good day.

I went back into bios and altered settings back to uefi secure boot etc (I changed to legacy when attempting to boot from USB stick in an effort to restore). After changing back to secure boot and making sure my nvme drive was seen as the main boot with the operating system, I saved and reset while crossing fingers. It loaded into windows just fine. I had to set up my fan profiles and such for my OC settings over again, but this time the machine actually seems to run quieter (didn't show cpu fan in the profile before, but now it does *even though I am water cooled*)

So I suppose for some reason, the boot order got messed up during the update (I always suspected this even when on the phone with Dell) and without knowing what to look for, I freaked out and tried all attempts to boot from USB in an effort to fix.

That error code 0000428 BSOD is waaaaaaaaay to generalized and I wish in my case...that it was more specific indicating drives or missing boot or something. No point in researching that error code as resolutions are all over the map because it means anything and all things...What a pain.

So anyway, happy camper here, and cold day in heck before I update bios again without being fully prepared.

Going to call the tech back and cancel appointment.

Which leads me to a rant.

The technical service department is terrible. Literally an easy resolution if I had been talking to anyone that had a small amount of pc knowledge. But no, they put me on hold, come back, and say "yeah motherboard needs to be replaced and you most likely lose everything".

The technician himself really had no idea either when I spoke with him prior to booking appointment. Big company without staff that know anything about the company product. It's like having someone open a restaurant that has no idea about food or the service industry.

From my experience, all staff at Dell that actually are connected with us customers, are nothing more than representatives. A terrible concept in my opinion.

Just wow, so, folks...don't bother with technical support unless you have exhausted all other means and have become to accept a refurbished hardware replacement as your only course of action.

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@PentatonicSteel wrote:

 

1. Yesterday actually turned into a good day.

2. So I suppose for some reason, the boot order got messed up during the update

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1. Good. Glad to hear you got it working.

I did check, and on my Aurora-R6, I can flash the BIOS right from the main F12 Boot screen.

2. Yes, I saw this once myself. I haven't seen it since.

https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-General-Read-Only/Aurora-R6-Hard-Lockup-and-crash-while-gaming-SOLVED/m-p/5504111/highlight/true#M6087

How did you revert? Yes have command center issues on my update 

I updated to 10.0.16 and noticed that “cpu pump failed” and cpu fans now read 100% in command center but computer sounds fine, temps are fine, makes no sense at all. I tried reinstalling command center with no luck. Anyone have this?

What does your cpu fan show? 100% 5,000 or so rpm??