I know it might look silly but I accepted my own reply as the solution as in hopes it will grab more attention for people suffering from the same issue.
…well that was close! I was in the process of boxing up my computer to send off to Dell because I thought my motherboard died on me, causing this problem…
Then I saw this topic just now! And even better, I was able to turn on my computer again with that work-around.
I’ll need to search further into the topic and/or wait for a formal solution, but you, my good sir, saved me a big headache!
man i just messaged them on alienware face book if I could just get an update on how they are fixing it, but they just ignored me after I explained the issue, and the work around to downgrade to 1.0.9....
I have the same prob. Dell sent me a link to flush the BIOS (1.0.17) which I did. Seemed to work at first, but after shutting down again and trying to power up, I had to press the power button several times, to switch on. Awaiting a reply from Dell Tech Support.
1. System auto updated to the latest bios 1.0.17 frying the system pretty much.
2. After 20 hours of work I found this thread and was able to get the bios back to 1.0.9. Everything ran great.
3. The next morning I went to boot up and the same issue, had to quickly jam on the power button for 30 seconds to get her to boot. I again went back and re flashed the bios to 1.0.9. and disabled windows update for now. Everything ran great.
4. Last night I went to boot up, the system did nothing, same issue yet again, finally got it to boot jamming on the power button a thousand times. A screen loaded saying alienware is updating your system please wait. After 15 minutes it rebooted, black screen, 3 flash and 6 flash error code on power button.
5. I looked that error code up and it says its Bios recovery image not found. I followed these steps located here to a T.
7. After over 100 attempt to boot from the USB stick in every port absolutely nothing happens. The same 3 flash 6 flash error code and it will not allow me to boot from the usb stick. I have over 30 years of heavy PC experience and I have never seen a motherboard bricked.
I can tell you from personal experience that the first time I flashed the bios on my Alienware via windows it bricked the motherboard. Dell had to replace it. That is why I never let windows update my bios. I always do it via USB as you have done. I have to agree with the assumption by several posters here that is is a "Windows 10" update issue. I paid the $260 to Dell for the penalty then pro support and 1 year of inhome support. They are replacing my mother board and power button. Let's see if that does the job.
Just want to say thanks. My issues were identical to yours. Power restart etc all worked for me and rolled back bios from .14 to .09. I have disabled updates but please let me know if a permanent solution is found.
I have the same issue as everyone else, since yesterday. Thanks to this thread I can get the PC to power on by holding the power button down for 25 secs etc. The BIOS is version 1.0.16. It’s my son’s pc and he was updating something. Possibly the new Bios but did not install but did stuff up the powering on somehow. Given that people think it was Windows forcing Bios update will updating to Bios 1.0.17 via the Dell updater Utility actually work? Has anyone tried that? Am intrigued to see if updating to W11 sorts the issue out, as asked above.
Wasted hours on this, of Dell’s making. I am not paying them to put this right. The R8 is a decent and not inexpensive PC. We shouldn’t have to deal with this nonsense.
Issue still exists on all the BIOS after 1.0.9 from what I hear does for me on 1.0.17. and also hear that sometimes flashing takes a few attempts? so in my opinion you have the risk of flashing headache possible brick vs holding the button an extra 20seconds.
Anyone tried windows restoring to the Alienware Control Center back to 5.3.2.0, along with the drivers etc?
Seems we are waiting till dell gets back from vacation.
Chris-WH
1 Rookie
•
86 Posts
0
October 29th, 2021 13:00
Yeah i agree for the money we spent on the Alienware i would expect way more than 2 years out of them!
Chris-WH
1 Rookie
•
86 Posts
0
October 29th, 2021 14:00
I know it might look silly but I accepted my own reply as the solution as in hopes it will grab more attention for people suffering from the same issue.
Andersonmr34
1 Message
1
October 29th, 2021 15:00
…well that was close! I was in the process of boxing up my computer to send off to Dell because I thought my motherboard died on me, causing this problem…
Then I saw this topic just now! And even better, I was able to turn on my computer again with that work-around.
I’ll need to search further into the topic and/or wait for a formal solution, but you, my good sir, saved me a big headache!
azndude550
8 Posts
0
October 29th, 2021 18:00
man i just messaged them on alienware face book if I could just get an update on how they are fixing it, but they just ignored me after I explained the issue, and the work around to downgrade to 1.0.9....
rg2clive
3 Posts
0
October 30th, 2021 05:00
I have the same prob. Dell sent me a link to flush the BIOS (1.0.17) which I did. Seemed to work at first, but after shutting down again and trying to power up, I had to press the power button several times, to switch on. Awaiting a reply from Dell Tech Support.
Green_Alien
5 Posts
0
October 30th, 2021 06:00
wouldn't it be better to just use the power plug/ power button trick to boot up rather than trying to flash your bios 5 times? risk bricking vs?
BigD-1
17 Posts
0
October 30th, 2021 06:00
Ok now I am in trouble.
Here is the sequence of events.
1. System auto updated to the latest bios 1.0.17 frying the system pretty much.
2. After 20 hours of work I found this thread and was able to get the bios back to 1.0.9. Everything ran great.
3. The next morning I went to boot up and the same issue, had to quickly jam on the power button for 30 seconds to get her to boot. I again went back and re flashed the bios to 1.0.9. and disabled windows update for now. Everything ran great.
4. Last night I went to boot up, the system did nothing, same issue yet again, finally got it to boot jamming on the power button a thousand times. A screen loaded saying alienware is updating your system please wait. After 15 minutes it rebooted, black screen, 3 flash and 6 flash error code on power button.
5. I looked that error code up and it says its Bios recovery image not found. I followed these steps located here to a T.
https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-ca/000130691/bios-recovery-steps-for-a-no-post-issue-on-alienware-aurora-r5-r6-r7-r8-r9-r11-and-xps-8910-8920-8930-pcs
6. I followed these steps located here to a T.
https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000145519/how-to-create-a-bootable-usb-flash-drive-using-dell-diagnostic-deployment-package-dddp
7. After over 100 attempt to boot from the USB stick in every port absolutely nothing happens. The same 3 flash 6 flash error code and it will not allow me to boot from the usb stick. I have over 30 years of heavy PC experience and I have never seen a motherboard bricked.
Can anyone offer me suggestions please.
Green_Alien
5 Posts
1
October 30th, 2021 07:00
the new bios isn't frying any systems, honestly seems to be some conflict with windows update & the new bios though.
Goodluck on the reflash, are you sure your USB is in FAT32 format? maybe try a disc?
PalAl
1 Rookie
•
41 Posts
0
October 30th, 2021 09:00
I can tell you from personal experience that the first time I flashed the bios on my Alienware via windows it bricked the motherboard. Dell had to replace it. That is why I never let windows update my bios. I always do it via USB as you have done. I have to agree with the assumption by several posters here that is is a "Windows 10" update issue. I paid the $260 to Dell for the penalty then pro support and 1 year of inhome support. They are replacing my mother board and power button. Let's see if that does the job.
AnthonyRebel
2 Intern
•
21 Posts
0
October 30th, 2021 12:00
Hi Chris
Just want to say thanks. My issues were identical to yours. Power restart etc all worked for me and rolled back bios from .14 to .09. I have disabled updates but please let me know if a permanent solution is found.
Misio7
9 Posts
0
October 30th, 2021 12:00
Has anyone updated to or is on Windows 11 and has this issue?
Haroldwong
16 Posts
1
October 30th, 2021 15:00
It takes a while to push a solution to windows, it has to be vetted and certified. So a fix is most likely 2 weeks out.
Haroldwong
16 Posts
0
October 30th, 2021 15:00
Clear your cmos by moving jumpers to clr position for 30s then back. Then try the steps
Luccathedog
7 Posts
0
October 31st, 2021 09:00
I have the same issue as everyone else, since yesterday. Thanks to this thread I can get the PC to power on by holding the power button down for 25 secs etc. The BIOS is version 1.0.16. It’s my son’s pc and he was updating something. Possibly the new Bios but did not install but did stuff up the powering on somehow. Given that people think it was Windows forcing Bios update will updating to Bios 1.0.17 via the Dell updater Utility actually work? Has anyone tried that? Am intrigued to see if updating to W11 sorts the issue out, as asked above.
Wasted hours on this, of Dell’s making. I am not paying them to put this right. The R8 is a decent and not inexpensive PC. We shouldn’t have to deal with this nonsense.
Green_Alien
5 Posts
0
October 31st, 2021 10:00
Issue still exists on all the BIOS after 1.0.9 from what I hear does for me on 1.0.17. and also hear that sometimes flashing takes a few attempts? so in my opinion you have the risk of flashing headache possible brick vs holding the button an extra 20seconds.
Anyone tried windows restoring to the Alienware Control Center back to 5.3.2.0, along with the drivers etc?
Seems we are waiting till dell gets back from vacation.