Invalid Format on boot, can't go to bios

Try clear CMOs by reseating battery:

1. Turn off the computer and disconnect the power cable from the computer.
2. Remove the computer cover.
3. Locate the CMOS coin-cell battery
4. Carefully, disconnect the coin-cell battery from the system board.
5. Press and hold the power button for 15 seconds to drain residual power.
6. Connect the coin-cell battery to the system board.

Re: I plugged it into a DP monitor to go into the bios so I could boot from USB. 

is the usb prepared using Microsoft installation media tool?

did you try press F12 after power on to get to boot list?

it sounds like you want to enter bios to change boot priority to make usb boot #1.

if F2 stops working, another way is to enter bios via Windows 10

Thanks for the suggestion, but I just tried that too. Youtube told me to hold the power down for 30 seconds, still no luck and didn't reset?

However for #4, yes very carefully!

Sadly still can't get into bios

Thanks for the tips.

Just tried it your way and it would freeze on "Invalid Format" so tried it again but instead of Uefi option I tried to boot to DVD as well as another time as boot to USB.  Each time freezes on "Invalid Format."

However if I restart it and let it go with the original refurbisher supplied Win10 it will give me "Invalid Format" and then boot to windows: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNIWLV7uyX8&feature=youtu.be

Problem is if I don't have that extract drive in on that sata port, and the dvd hooked up too: I am outta luck. Frankly I want to boot from my M.2 running dual boot linux and Win10, replace the SSD with 1.5tb I have surplus and let it fly.

If you are having a hard time reinstall Windows 10 in this pc now due to bug preventing you to boot from installation dvd or usb, try install Win 10 on your own ssd in another pc, then remove refurbisher’s sata ssd in 5040 and transplant your own ssd that has newly installed os into 5040.  This way you try force 5040 to adjust to new clean os.  It seems the refurbisher’s ssd has some system file corrupted although not mortal to boot up.

That is frustrating. Unfortunately this motherboard appears to have no CMOs reset jumper. You might want to try removing CMOs battery for 24 hr to give yourself and the poor pc a break.  Replace with brand new CMOs battery when you are back ready to start wrestle w it again.

Thanks, so

a) I freed up another SSD installed and tried booting the Dell with it as a blank drive: "invalid format"  won't boot can't even get to bios

b) Install windows on another machine to the SSD and try again:  "invalid format"  won't boot can't even get to bios

c) tried moving the new SSD to different sata ports, each time:  "invalid format"  won't boot can't even get to bios

d) put the SSD from the refurbisher back in on different sata port:  "invalid format"  won't boot can't even get to bios

So put the SSD from the refurbisher back original sata port: "invalid format" then goes in to Win10 pro off refurbishers SSD

Thanks anyway, it's almost like the bios is locked this drive and refuses to boot. And yes I tried booting with no drives connect to sata/m.2/etc and still get "invalid format"  won't boot can't even get to bios even after clearing the CMOS battery. Even tried booting without the battery in.

I am stumped!

Well I tried another battery by my blood sugar tester., just now: no luck.

However I noticed the speaker wire (4 wire set) wasn't connected, I connected it and guess what, now just locks at: invalid format.  Powered off, removed power, pulled connector to speaker and back to "Invalid format, wait into windows."

Trying your 24 hour wait now.

You are focusing on the wrong directions.  The error message is caused by video signal. 

When you boot normally with the vendor drive, your monitor doesn't accept the initial resolution signal, hence you will get the error "invalid format" or blank screen.  Until it POST and loaded windows, the resolution was changed by windows driver and you could then see the display. 

When tapping on F2 or F12 to go to BIOS or to select boot option, the screen was there waiting for your next command but it was masked by the display error.  Giving you false believe that your PC wasn't working.  If you hit the power button at that point, your PC would power off because it was paused by you and didn't get to BIOS. 

People tend to use VGA for troubleshooting, including enterprise system.  But your Optiplex has no VGA port so you will need to get a setup whereas you can see the Dell logo display before proceeding with any changes.

disconnect all hard drives and turn on. It should be sitting at an error.

Does the monitor work elsewhere?

https://www.amazon.com/DELL-FLAT-PANEL-MONITOR-E190SB/dp/B014S1Y4VC