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1 Rookie
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5 Posts
1
4367
September 12th, 2018 06:00
Alienware 17 R3 Dead After Update to BIOS 1.6.1
Alienware 17 R3: i7-6820HK, 980m 8GB, 16 GB ram, 4k screen
So several months ago I ran into the dreaded 1.4.4 bios update that crippled my system 3 minute boots, inability to shutdown, restart etc.
After dell released the 1.6.1 bios I was eager to finally fix my system and initially it did fix the boot time, restarts. But in the course of days after upgrading bios, the boot time infact became longer then on the 1.4.4 bios and as of yesterday the PC turned off and will not turn back on now.
Standard trouble shooting procedures resulted in no change and the $3000 machine crippled by a bios update is now completely dead after a bios update that was supposed to fix the initial bios update that broke it.
This has been an entirely disappointing consumer experience, I am saddened as this was truly my dream computer.
Eimy_B
4 Operator
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4.4K Posts
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September 12th, 2018 10:00
Hi @j011,
Send me a PM with the Service Tag, so I can review your case.
sartt
2 Posts
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September 13th, 2018 14:00
No dont PM this, because im quite sure after this update, you are going to have HUNDREDS of thousands of people with ALIENWARE computers that want to know, why did this update BRICK THE BIOS, and how will they be able to fix it ( im one of them BTW ) :Angry:
Systmyz
18 Posts
1
September 14th, 2018 04:00
Any update with this thread. I am also planning to upgrade my BIOS to 1.6.1 from 1.1.5 .
Can`t take risk at the moment, looking for final advises. Thanks!!
j011
1 Rookie
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5 Posts
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September 14th, 2018 09:00
I would strongly advise against upgrading your BIOS, dell has dropped the ball every step of the way on an issue that goes back months.
Wezbow
1 Message
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October 2nd, 2018 11:00
Its simple - since Dell seem to be doing sweet f-all about this .
unfortunately it seems to be the only way I (we) will get a response
if I bricked my machine due to installing mods etc then that's on me but this has come from an official Dell update
I wish with rest of you luck and hope your machines get fixed or replaced soon
Wez
Recon_R
23 Posts
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November 3rd, 2018 12:00
You guys who cant get the computer to boot, you tried the CLRP bridge right?
I successfully repaired the slow boot/hang on shutdown/broken sleep just 2 days ago. (1.4 BIOS broke it)
First step is Hunter's method at bottom of post here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/updating-intel-me-firmware-on-15-r2-17-r3-or-possibly-other-bgas-as-well.813803/
If that doesn't work (MEinfo can't communicate with ME firmware) you're going to have to purchase a programmer and reflash your bios chip. That will cost you about $25 and a total disassembly of your laptop. Follow the steps I took to fix after the first thread did not work for me:
https://www.win-raid.com/t4058f39-Intel-ME-not-responsive-or-showing-in-device-manager.html
I had downgraded bios to 1.31 before starting this process (doesn't matter what version you are on to do the fix.)
But after I got Intel ME online with the above fix, I ran the latest 1.61 BIOS update and it installed without a hitch.
Banger_35
1 Message
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January 15th, 2019 05:00
My machine has been bricked from 1.4.4 as well. I have updated to 1.6.1 i think it is, but it still crashes and wont shutdown unless forced.
Recon_R
23 Posts
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January 18th, 2019 20:00
Well I would link you to the solution thread on notebook review but Dell has conveniently marked it as spam when I post it. So Google notebookreview Intel me completely offline and there you will see I walked a user through the repair process.
Recon_R
23 Posts
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January 18th, 2019 20:00
@Banger_35
Dell isn't going to help you. The answer/fix is what I linked directly above your last post. Since I posted, in this thread:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/intel-me-completely-offline.825561/
I walked someone through the process you will need to do.
I would advise you to take a look at that thread and reach out for help to solve your issue because Dell has decided to not acknowledge their screw up because money