XPS 8930, black screen fix, motherboard swap, BIOS updates

Recently helped with a situation involving a XPS 8930 that would not boot properly after a motherboard replacement and could not get into the BIOS to check any settings.

Parts of this thread should also be helpful for a corrupt BIOS update with the same symptoms that results in a black screen at startup.

Before proceeding, please check that RAM is seated properly and the GPU is seated properly.  Remember the motherboard has been swapped out.  Since you are getting power, and can startup to the black screen, the CPU install and the motherboard power connections are likely okay.  The front panel power button connection, USB headers, two fan headers and card reader header connections are okay because you are not getting a startup error.  However, both the RAM and GPU not being seated properly after being swapped can cause a similar black screen problem, but the machine will not get to the Windows splash screen.   You may or may not get the 2 or 4 beeps at startup with the RAM issue. 

 

Symptoms:

At startup, up to 60 seconds (or more) of black screen, then suddenly the Windows 10 splash screen with sign in appears.

Once you sign in, desktop appears and machine works fine other than requests for new product keys for some of your software.

The main issue is not being able to get to BIOS using F2 at startup to troubleshoot the behavior.

 

The fix is first to be able to get into the BIOS and second, to disable Secure Boot.

 

Fortunately, Dell has a BIOS recovery option that helps deal with the first BIOS issue.

Take a look at this post by Chris at his FAQ page and follow his directions.

https://www.dell.com/community/XPS-Desktops/BR2-BIOS-Recovery-2-Desktop/m-p/6083665

This should restore access to the BIOS screen which allows you to then fix the Secure Boot issue.

Before following the BIOS recovery option steps to reset the BIOS do the following:

• Remove aftermarket GPU
• Use onboard HDMI to connect to display
• Then follow the directions to remove the CMOS battery to reset BIOS, then reinstalling the battery after the recommended 15 min, and then holding down power button for 15 sec.  (We waited an hour and reinstalled  the battery and did not have to hold down the power button)

 

After performing the BIOS reset:

• Upon boot, the Dell logo appeared and we were able to get into BIOS which opens at the Security tab (motherboard swaps only).
  
  
  
• In the Security tab, Enter Service Tag of your machine at the prompt (Service Tag Is at back lower part of case).

 

• Go to Main Tab, set correct Time and Date, as this was lost during the BIOS reset. Sometimes the date will be okay (it was in this machine).
  
  
  
• Next we changed a couple of settings (per @speedstep) regarding Secure Boot to correct the startup black screen.  This step will also allow you to install a non-Dell GPU. 

1) Turn Secure Boot off that shows up on SECURITY TAB by going to the BOOT TAB and disabling Secure Boot.

How this works is if you see Secure Boot on the SECURITY TAB, it is because it is enabled on the BOOT TAB.

Once you disable Secure Boot on the Boot tab,

Secure Boot no longer shows on the Security tab

2) Once you have disabled Secure Boot, then change these other settings on the Boot tab to the following. This will allow you to install an aftermarket GPU.

 

Machine then started up with normal boot sequence with DELL logo at boot and F2 for Bios and F12 Boot Manager options now available.

You can then add a non-Dell GPU to the machine and install drivers.

 

New motherboard and Windows 10 license:

Once you get to the desktop, don’t forget to valiadate a new Windows 10 license for the new motherboard.    Tech should have given you a new sealed product key with the motherboard. 

Once you validate Windows 10, this will correct some of the product key requests from programs like Office.  These programs are sensitive to hardware changes like a motherboard change.  For some other programs, even after entering a new Windows 10 key, they may still ask you for a license key.  Make sure they are handy.

Go to This PC-> System Properties and it should prompt you to enter the new key for Windows 10.