15 R3, reinstall issues

@Alienware Area-51 ALX 2006 Besides the SSD that it was booting off of, I've created install media on 3 different USB flash drives countless times using 3 different utilities (dell os recovery using the support assist option and the generic w10 option, rufus, and Microsoft's tool) on 2 different PC's.  I've literally tried everything I can think of.  All of the disks seem to try to boot but it simply freezes 1 second after starting.  This entire time, i've only managed to get a single error one time, "WHEA UNCORRECTABLE ERROR".

@Alienware Area-51 ALX 2006 Ya I'm aware it points to a hardware issue and according to your link it says to get the latest updates through windows update.  That would be great if I could actually boot windows.  I can't boot into windows on the machine from the internal SSD, and I can't boot off a flash drive either.  Both freeze 1 second after starting to boot up.  My CPU also isn't undervolted, I've never done it to this machine and overclocking is disabled in the BIOS.

So you’ve tried just using one memory stick at a time? Have you tried a new m.2 or 2.5” drive? 
If you were in Australia I’d be happy to take a look for you but I’m assuming you’re in the US. 

Hi @driver7  to recap, the 15 R3 BIOS process completes POST and when it attempts to use the SSD, the BIOS tries to fix the SSD interface and stalls.

This is good news that BIOS functions, and indicates that the BIOS entries to use the SSD are not correct. Please check that BIOS has Boot list option UEFI, then work through the other BIOS entries to check that they have the correct option. 

@crimsom Yes POST completes, it moves to attempt to boot off both the internal SSD and USB flash drive.  I've even pulled all the internal drives out and attempted to boot off a USB flash drive and it still froze.  I've removed every piece of hardware 1 by 1 except the internal display and a single stick of memory which I rotated between 3 different sticks trying to isolate if it was a memory problem.  None of it helped.

@mattyb3 Yes I've tried each stick separately, I also managed to get my hands on another DDR4 SO-DIMM and it freezes still.  I'm not in AU, i'm in PNW US.

Same issue here, same model, freezes, cannot boot from USB, tried Linux, tried a W10 setup flash drive, tried a Dell reinstall USB stick made for this exact Service Tag, tried a Kaspersky Rescue Disc to scan for malware. They all freeze pretty soon after startup ~10-30s.

Also updated the BIOS from a USB stick to the latest version 1.11.1 as explained here https://www.reddit.com/r/Alienware/comments/7rlfkr/urgent_alienware_15_r2_new_bios_flash_for_spectre/ byNichronos and reset then to default. No changes.

Then I changed the RAID to off AHCI, no change. Then I disabled most options in Bios/Advanced and then IT BOOTED using Dell Support Assist OS recovery USB. Cancelled, then I went back one step at a time and enabled other options until it did not boot anymore. Turned out that disabling the first option in the Advanced menu (Intel Speedstep Technology) was THE SOLUTION to freezeing. 

Not clear if this is due to an issue with the processor itself or the motherboard, and how long it will work. But you can squeeze some more out of this laptop. Now trying to repair windows.

Hi @Tudor66  thank you for sharing update, complete with the troubleshoot process and fix. 

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology allows the system to dynamically adjust Intel processor voltage and core frequency, which can result in decreased average power consumption and decreased average heat production. If this feature is disabled, the Intel processor will perform at a consistent rate. 

Switching SpeedStep off, to get Windows to boot, could indicate that Windows power settings have a bad driver or driver conflict. Now that your system functions, please run the on-board Reliability Monitor to look at event timeline. Hopefully there will be event(s) on this day/time that reveals the root cause of this problem, so we can look for a permanent fix. Thank you. 

Dell is determined to disable CPU OC with BIOS updates, etc. hopefully there is no subsequent conflict with Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology. 

You saved my life, bro. Was trying to reinstall new Windows 10 on the new nvme as the old one died. However, the bootable USB does not load up properly, Windows logo just shows up then screen turn black. I have tried many things in a whole week but had no luck until I saw your comment and tried to turn off that stupid Intel Speedstep. The bootable USB now could load up properly then. That Intel Speedstep is enable by default and nowhere in the instruction from DELL says that it's should be turned off when installing new OS