XPS 8910, constant Blue Screens for months

try remove all ram sticks, gpu, hdd, ssd, and disconnect all usb and sata cables from motherboard, disconnect kb/mouse, insert only one ram stick in DIMM1, connect on board video port w monitor, try to boot from a bootable usb.  you want to see whether your motherboard, cpu, and only one ram stick can hold their own without crashing.  if still crashing, try the other ram stick one at a time.  if none works, try borrow a working ddr4 ram stick from someone. If still no joy, there could be a hardware issue w motherboard or cpu.

this is how I prepare a bootable usb https://www.dell.com/support/article/en-us/sln143196/how-to-create-a-bootable-usb-flash-drive-using-dell-diagnostic-deployment-package-dddp?lang=en

https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/us/en/04/xps-8910-desktop/xps-8910-desktop_servicemanual/system-board-components?guid=guid-09138897-cbe9-49c8-b4ba-9882357209cf&lang=en-us

Thanks for your reply.

I tried disconnecting everything you mentioned and booting from my bootable WIndows installation USB. It booted up perfectly but once I clicked "repair my computer" or whatever it says, I got a BSOD. I think it was a Kernel_Security_Check_Failure. The second time I tried to boot it up it crashed with the classic WHEA_Uncorrectable BSOD before it could even get to the Windows installation. I've been switching around in the BIOS between Legacy boot and Secure UEFI, but I keep getting the same blue screens no matter what. The only thing I haven't tried is changing out the RAM stick, because I can't get my hands on another DDR4 at the moment. I may be able to get one tonight, so I'll let you know how that turns out. 

How likely do you think it is that RAM is the issue?

Also, I've been having another issue - I'm also having trouble disconnecting my keyboard and mouse and the USB connector on the motherboard, because sometimes when I boot up the PC it goes to the SupportAssist OS recovery because no HDD is connected, and I need to use the mouse/keyboard to exit from that. That's why I was fiddling around with the BIOS boot settings. I tried disabling the SupportAssist OS recovery in the BIOS, but it still happened. It seems like it only shows up when I disconnect the USB connector on the motherboard, so I haven't been able to completely boot without them being connected. Seems weird, it would be great if I could just disable SupportAssist completely

something is causing your system to be highly unstable.  In my experience a bad ram can do that.  This type of bad ram does not cause any beep or POST error.  I bought a refurbished laptop once w 2x4gb, one of the 4gb was bad like that.  I did not know that initially and I was very frustrated because it crashed every time clean install Win 10 was just starting and looking good.  I was afraid that motherboard or cpu had serious flaw.  After I took out both ram and tested w another ram I had, system became stable and has been working well and happy ever after.

You didn't mention the version of Windows. If it's Win 10, there was a recent (optional) updat that has been causing all kinds of problems, including BSODs at boot...

Did you mean Kernel-Power Event ID 41, rather than 141?  Kernel-Power Event ID 41 will get logged every time Windows crashes, eg, isn't shut down properly, so it's just reporting a problem, but it isn't the actual problem.

Messing around in BIOS without knowing what you're doing is not helpful. And installing RAM that may not have the right specs for this PC or a HDD from some other PC is not going to help either. Put the original HDD back in and connect it to the blue SATA port on the motherboard and to the PSU.

When was last time you replaced the motherboard battery?  I'd do that before doing anything else:

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. Install fresh CR2032 3-volt coin cell battery, ~$2
6. Close up and connect mouse, monitor and keyboard
7. Reboot and immediately start tapping F2 to open BIOS setup
8. Check to see how SATA Operation is set. It may be ATA or AHCI.
9. If set to ATA, change to AHCI, save the change and exit setup...
10. Reboot

What size USB stick did you use to create the Windows installation media? The MS site says to use an 8GB USB stick for Win 10, but that may actually be too small so you should try at least a 16-GB stick.

It is Windows 10. I think I did install that update, so it may have made things worse, but now I have no way of getting into Windows to undo it.

Yes I did mean Event ID 41, sorry about that!

You're right, I may have made things worse by messing around in the BIOS. Thanks for the advice, I'll be more cautious about plugging in HDDs and RAMs without checking compatibility first.

After reading your post yesterday I went ahead and replaced the motherboard battery (for the first time on this PC) and it did absolutely nothing And I was using an 8 GB stick for the Windows installation media, so I upgraded to a 32 GB stick and it also won't boot. When booting it shows me the Dell screen, then it gets to the Windows screen and loads for a few seconds, then the screen goes blank for a few seconds before it (always) gives me a BSOD with WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR. This even happens with the HDD unplugged.

I'm thinking now that it's either CPU, motherboard, or RAM, and I'm praying that it's the last one. How do you suggest testing the RAM? Where exactly should I get a replacement stick that's compatible with my PC to test it?

What color is power button when it won't boot? And is it steady or blinking? If blinking, count the blinks.

What color is the PSU status LED on rear of PC when it won't boot? What happens when you press the PSU BIST button above that LED?

How are you booting from the bootable USB stick? Is the stick connected to PC before you power the PC on? And do you immediately start tapping F12 when you power on to open the boot menu where you can select boot from USB on the menu?

What happens if you remove all RAM modules from the motherboard, close up and try to boot? Do you hear 2 or 4 beeps from the tower? If no beeps at all, that might suggest a motherboard failure...

The power button is the normal light bluish color and it stays steady all throughout, never blinks.

The PSU status LED is green. When the computer is on/booting, pressing the BIST button does nothing. When the computer is off, when I hold the button for a second my PC fans start moving and the LED turns green.

I initially disabled secure boot in the BIOS and switched from UEFI to Legacy and moved the USB to the top of the boot order to be able to boot to it (without having to select it in the F12 boot menu). It’s still that way in the settings. I haven’t really tried using the F12 menu.

I just tried to boot to the USB without having an HDD plugged in, and it actually did work for the first time in a while. I went to the repair menu (instead of install) and selected the option to repair startup problems. It started diagnosing and preparing the repairs, but froze in the middle of it and gave me a screen I haven’t seen before. It says “Recovery” in big letters on the top and then says:

“Your PC/Device needs to be repaired. 

The Boot Configuration Data file doesn’t contain valid information for an operating system.

File: \Boot\BCD

Error Code: 0xc0000098

You’ll need to use recovery tools. If you don’t have any installation media (like a disc or USB device), contact your PC administrator or PC/Device manufacturer.”

When I remove my one RAM stick and turn on the PC, nothing happens, no beeps. 

@DuoJiDah  - Well gee... Did you really expect to run a repair when the HDD isn't connected? There's nothing to be repaired without a HDD connected that has the OS on it.

Reconnect the hard drive, clear BIOS by removing/reinstalling the battery and then put the HDD back at the top of the boot sequence. Reboot and use the F12 menu to start the repair again. If it fails mid-way like it did without the HDD connected, then maybe the drive has failed.

Unfortunately, you complicated your situation by changing to Legacy boot and disabling Secure Boot. And you can't go back easily, or probably not without doing a clean install on a working HDD...

EDIT: Don't forget that the USB stick has to be connected before you power the PC on and use the F12 menu

As Rohe suggested you removed all RAM sticks and powered up motherboard and you heard No beep.  That is not a good sign that motherboard is not complaining no memory present at all.

There is not much you can do if the motherboard is faulty.  This is sometimes caused by bent cpu socket pin unless no one has removed and installed cpu after factory configuration. 

I would still suggest you try to boot with a RAM stick you can borrow from another PC to see if it makes any difference.

Re: The only thing I haven't tried is changing out the RAM stick, because I can't get my hands on another DDR4 at the moment.

I suggest you remove both RAM sticks and mentally label them so you know which one is which.  Put RAM #1 in DIMM1, leave RAM #2 out.  test it.  if still BSOD, take RAM #1 out, put RAM #2 in DIMM1, test again.

if you are lucky, only one ram is faulty, you might find a solution.

I reset the BIOS like you said and reconnected the original hard drive. It still won’t boot anything. After I select the USB drive in the boot menu, it loads for a few seconds and then gives me the same Recovery screen I described in the last post. Happens every time

@DuoJiDah 

Did you reconnect the HDD before you reset BIOS? That's the proper sequence.

What happens when you get to that Recovery screen with the HDD connected? Does it launch and give an error message again? (Exactly what does it say?)

And keep in mind that RAM slot DIMM1 is the second slot, counting from the CPU, not the first slot...

Thanks for letting us know the detailed tests you did.  I agree there is not much you can do.  chances are cpu is still good but motherboard has flaw.

@RoHe @redxps630 

When I had reset the BIOS previously I had done it without the HDD connected.

I just now reset it in the proper sequence with the original HDD connected and swapped out my RAM stick for a working one. Now I’m not getting that Recovery screen that says “The Boot Configuration Data file doesn’t contain valid information for an operating system“ anymore (I was getting every time I tried to boot into anything). Now I can fairly consistently boot into the Windows installation USB drive, but whenever I try to do anything I get a WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR or even occasionally a SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION blue screen. If I try to run a startup repair, blue screen. If I try to run a system reset, blue screen. If I try to install Windows, blue screen. 

This is even after installing a perfectly good RAM stick. Is there anything more I can do? I’ve pretty much accepted the fact that this PC is a big piece of scrap metal at this point. 

If the PC boots from the OS USB stick and attempts to run a Windows repair or install, that doesn't sound -to me- like it's toast. I wouldn't expect it to boot at all from USB if the motherboard and/or CPU wasn't working.

There are a number of free apps that run from a bootable USB stick (don't use your Windows OS stick) which can test the old HDD. That way you'll know if a dead HDD is the problem.

You can use Rufus (free) to create a bootable USB stick and then copy whichever HDD test app you want to use onto that stick. Use the F12 menu to boot from USB and follow the app's instructions to run it.

Or, do you have a known working HDD (or SSD) that you can install, after removing the old drive, and then re-format the "new" drive and do a clean OS installation from your USB stick? Be sure to change BIOS from Legacy back to UEFI and re-enable Secure Boot, before running a clean install on this other drive.

And/or maybe it's just time to take it to a PC shop for evaluation and repair estimate?