Inspiron 3650, BIOS 3.9.0, error

Had you just updated to BIOS 3.9.0 and then this happened?

Try clearing BIOS:

1. Power off, unplug
2. Press/hold power button for ~15 sec
3. Open case and remove motherboard battery (check Service Manual for details)
4. Press/hold power button for ~30 sec
5. Reinstall the battery (Time for a fresh CR2032 3-volt coin cell battery?)
6. Close up and connect mouse, monitor and keyboard
7. Reboot

I updated to 3.9.0 back in July. That is when this error popped up. Massive internet search's with no results later. I decided to post here. I will give your suggestions a go. 

Did you ever check the position of the MECLR1 jumper on the motherboard? Dell shipped a bunch of the Inspiron 3650 units with that jumper on the wrong pins.

So while you're in there clearing  BIOS, check the jumper too. Here's a thread with photo so you can find that jumper and which pins it should be on.

Do steps 1-4 above and then check the jumper. If it's on the right 2 pins, just leave it alone. Otherwise move it to the correct position. Either way, then continue with to steps 5-7.

Clearing bios and cmos did not resolve my issue. I will check that jumper.

Thanks

Oh that is the CMOS jumper. It is in the correct position. Which is CMCLR1 on my system board.

No!  MECLR1 is not the CMOS jumper. MECLR1 is the Intel Management Engine jumper. Look carefully at that photo and at your motherboard again.

The CMOS CMCLR1 jumper is #10 in the motherboard photo in the Service Manual on page 13 here.  The password jumper PWCLR1 is #11 in that photo, just to the right of CMCLR1. MECLR1 is not marked in the Service Manual, but it's located directly above #11. The blue line connecting "10" to the CMOS jumper crosses right over the top of MECLR1 in that photo.

My bad, sorry bout that. MECLR1 jumper is on pin 2 and 3.

BIOS 3.9.0 is a problem.

MECLR1 Jumper must be reset.

On the motherboard there are 3 jumpers, cmclr1 (cmos clear), pwclr1 (password clear) & meclr1 (me clear).

The jumper in the picture with the blue arrow is password clear.  meclr1 is to the left of the CMOS and password jumper.

Jumpers

https://topics-cdn.dell.com/pdf/inspiron-3650-desktop_Service-Manual_en-us.pdf

@speedstep already told you where I was headed with this...

So give that a try and post back to let us know that the problem is solved.

Performed the above procedure. Still getting same error at post.

Did you put MECLR1 back on pins 2-3?

You might try clearing BIOS again by pulling the battery and pressing/holding power button for ~30 sec and then reinstall it, now that ME should have been reset.

If that doesn't help but PC still boots, even if slowly, you might try updated the ME driver. Then reboot and see...

After what step in all that did it fail to power on? Eg did you try booting after clearing ME, before clearing BIOS again?

Did you check the connectors from motherboard to front panel?

Read this about troubleshooting power issues. You have a BIST button on back of this PC so you'll want to read and follow section 7 IV.

And I think you meant "moot"...

EDIT: Your last post didn't appear until after I responded to the previous one. Glad it powered on again.  I'll ping my Dell tech contact to see if he has any recommendations, so don't give up...

I did the above as well clearing bios. Now my PC will not power on at all. No lights or fan spin up. Just dead. I verified both ATX1 and ATX2 are connected. As well the power switch. Oh well And yes I plugged the power cable back in. And I did dissipate static electricity first. So my original issue is now mute.

Thanks for helping though.

Ok there is a reset or power on/off button/switch on the PSU. My 3650 is back up and running. The original error remains though. 

Yes I did a repair since it was already updated. And rebooted. I will uninstall and reinstall to see if that does anything. I even tried to flash with the previous version bios 3.8.0. Would not let me do it. Seems version 3.9.0 is protected and cannot flash. When I try (re) flashing 3.9.0 get error Secure Flash check failure (0x1) Spelling is not one of my super powers for sure.