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7321
July 26th, 2020 15:00
XPS 8930, won't boot after bios update
Updated to bios 1.1.15 today, as the dell service agent urged me to. After flashing the bios, the pc won't boot. Shows dell logo, but then goes straight to fxe boot, and then to a system hardware scan which shows no problems. Ends with error "no bootable device". Tried hitting f12 and doing bios recovery, but the problem persists. Has the update fried the system, or does anyone know a fix for this?
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Debasr
4 Posts
2
July 27th, 2020 07:00
@Vic384 I never marked it as solved, dunno who did. Got an email saying a solution had been accepted.
Meanwhile, I found the solution. Win boot manager does not work after the update. I had to manually enter a new path to UEFI boot and choose that as my first boot option in bios. Don't know if this is a permanent fix, but here's how:
https://www.thomas-krenn.com/en/wiki/Restoring_UEFI_boot_entry_via_motherboard_replacement_or_BIOS_update
Reason I thought it was the motherboard was reading other users with similar problems who had to swap their motherboards after failed bios updates. Also, everything I could diagnose worked fine (disks, ram, etc).
Thanks for everyone's help. Hope this turns out useful for other 8930 owners.
Vic384
6 Operator
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3.2K Posts
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July 26th, 2020 15:00
I would try clearing the CMOS setting and resetting the BIOS to its default settings. You can clear the BIOS by disconnecting the AC power, removing the CMOS battery, and holding down the power on button for 30 seconds or you can use the procedure in the service manual for clearing the CMOS. Also, check to make sure that Boot List Option is UEFI and Boot Option #1 is Windows Boot Manager.
RoHe
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172.6K Points
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July 26th, 2020 19:00
@Debasr - Why did the service agent tell you to update BIOS? Do you know what version you had before the update?
If clearing BIOS and the other pointers @Vic384 suggested don't help, reboot and tap F2 at the Dell splash screen. Assuming BIOS setup opens, look for the Wake Up by Integrated LAN option and make sure it's DISABLED. Don't change anything else in BIOS setup, but save the change to Wake by LAN if you make a change, and see if it boots now.
And if that doesn't help, read BIOS recovery options.
And if none of that helps and PC is still under warranty, you may qualify for a one-time motherboard replacement, if needed, according to Dell's BIOS update policy so you'll have to contact Tech Support...
Debasr
4 Posts
0
July 26th, 2020 23:00
Thanks @RoHe @Vic384 , tried both suggestions but that did nothing. After removing battery I got five orange flashes on the power button led, but no boot. Next boot attempt went like fore, no bootable devices found. "Possible causes could be a corrupt os image or a boot device is not enabled in bios setup".
Dont know which bios no I had before, but have updated them as they come out, so probably the last one
(Oh, and I meant to say dell assistant (the software) told me to update, not a service agent, sorry)
speedstep
11 Legend
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47K Posts
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July 27th, 2020 00:00
I would try making a Bios Recovery USB 2.0 flash drive before spending money on a board.
Make sure you use USB2 ports not usb 3 SS ports for the keyboard and the flash drive.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sandisk-cruzer-16gb-usb-2-0-flash-drive-black/9226875.p?skuId=9226875
BIOS Recovery 3 from USB 2.0
The CTRL key + ESC key combination can be used to trigger BIOS Recovery on PCs where an external keyboard is the primary input. This applies to desktops, all-in-one and portable all-in-one PCs. The supported keyboard types on these devices are:
If your system is NOT in a working state, for example, a No Post/No Boot situation and the BIOS Recovery file is not on your HDD - It obviously won't be possible to attempt to flash the BIOS to add the BIOS Recovery file to the HDD. Fortunately, even in this condition, it's possible to use a recovery file on an external USB key.
To create an external USB key to perform BIOS recovery, you will need the following:
Creating the USB key:
Plug the USB key into the PC.
Press the Windows key + E to open File Explorer (also known as Windows Explorer).
Right-click on the USB drive and click Format.
Change the File system to FAT32.
Check the box next to Quick Format.
Click Start to being formatting the USB key.
Copy the BIOS file to the USB key.
Open Command prompt in administrator mode.
In Windows 10, Windows 8.1 or Windows 8 - Press the Windows key + X on the keyboard to open a power user menu and select Command Prompt (Admin)
In Windows 7 or Windows Vista - Click the Start button and type command prompt in the search box. Right-click cmd in the search results and select Run as administrator.
In the command prompt window, type cd x: and press the Enter key, where 'x' is the drive letter of the USB key.
You can find the drive letter of the USB key in File Explorer (also known as Windows Explorer)
Type dir and press the Enter key on the keyboard. You should see the name of the downloaded BIOS file.
Type ren XPS8930_1.1.16.exe BIOS_IMG.rcv and press the Enter key.
(Replace the XPS8930_1.1.16.exe with the name of the downloaded BIOS file.)
BIOS Recovery Steps for a No Post issue on Alienware Aurora R5,R6,R7,R8 and XPS 8910,8920,8930 PCs
Are you seeing a 3-6 or 3-7 orange LED No POST diagnostic error on your Alienware or XPS PC?
http://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER05540076M/1/XPS8930_1.1.6.exe
https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/drivers/DriversDetails?productCode=xps-8930-desktop&driverId=W97NY
Debasr
4 Posts
0
July 27th, 2020 03:00
Thanks for this @speedstep . Unfortunately, recovery via the USB key doesn't work either. I get "ERROR!!! IMAGE is invalid". Tried it with current and older BIOS versions, upper case filename, etc, but the error persists.
Looks like Dell has thoroughly fried my motherboard with this BIOS update, and they won't offer a solution since the warranty has expired. Never happened to me through 25 years of pc's.
speedstep
11 Legend
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47K Posts
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July 27th, 2020 03:00
image is invalid could mean your usb flash drive is fake aka its not even 2 gigs.
You cannot downgrade bios
Only use the last version aka 16
Disconnect hard drive and remove any M2 storage so that it can ONLY use the USB flash as recovery.
It will try to recover from hard drive first.
Also must use USB 2 ports and USB 2 flash drive 16 gigs or 32 gigs.
Must be Fat32
Cannot be anything other than fat32 and cant have rootkit malware on it.
The ONLY file on the drive should be the BIOS_IMG.rcv file.
This is the only file you can use to recover.
https://dl.dell.com/FOLDER05540076M/1/XPS8930_1.1.6.exe
Use this specific USB flash
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sandisk-cruzer-16gb-usb-2-0-flash-drive-black/9226875.p?skuId=9226875
Nothing whatsoever should be connected to the system during recovery other than the keyboard, flash drive, power cord, and monitor. Must be done from USB2 ports. If they are usb-c or say SS on them those should not be used.
The ports directly under the Ethernet port I believe are USB2.
Vic384
6 Operator
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3.2K Posts
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July 27th, 2020 06:00
@Debasr I am not sure why you marked your problem as solved and that you think your motherboard has failed. Your indications of a Dell logo, fxe boot, system hardware scan, and messages of 'no bootable devices' and "'ERROR !!!' IMAGE is invalid" do not seem to me to be indicative of a failed motherboard. Usually, with a failed motherboard you get nothing, no boot, no hardware scan, and no messages.
Are you able to enter the BIOS by pressing F2 or are you able to run the Enhanced PreBoot System Assessment (ePSA) by pressing F12? See the Service Manual about running ePSA.
Vic384
6 Operator
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3.2K Posts
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July 27th, 2020 09:00
@Debasr I am happy you found a solution, but I am not sure why Windows Boot Manager stop working and you have to specify the UEFI boot path. My guess is that something is missing from your boot drive that Windows Boot Manager is looking for. You may wish to check the Boot tab in the System Configuration window. See this article: https://www.lifewire.com/windows-boot-manager-bootmgr-2625813#:~:text=Definition%20of%20Windows%20Boot%20Manager%20(BOOTMGR)&text=Windows%20Boot%20Manager%20loads%20from,of%20the%20volume%20boot%20record.&text=Boot%20Manager%E2%80%94often%20referenced%20by,continue%20the%20Windows%20boot%20process.
RoHe
12 Elder
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172.6K Points
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July 27th, 2020 11:00
@Debasr - Also glad you got it solved. As @Vic384 said, your symptoms were not those of a failed BIOS update, but of a failed/corrupted boot manager.
Reboot and tap F12 when you see the prompt on the Dell splash screen. Look for the option to run diagnostics, including RAM and full drive tests. Copy error messages, if any.
Assuming no errors, when you're back at the desktop, open a CMD window, run as administrator, and type in sfc /scannow and click OK. See if sfc reports and fixes any errors.
When that's done manually set a System Restore point, to be safe. Then click Start>Run>type in msconfig and click OK. When msconfig opens, click the Boot tab. How many entries are listed in the box at the top, and what are their names?
The active boot manager should be Windows 10 (C:\Windows) : Current OS : Default OS. If not, you can select that one to be the default, save the change and reboot. Assuming that works, you can delete the other entries from the Boot tab in msconfig....
EDIT: Forgot to mention I updated my XPS 8930 to BIOS v1.1.15 without any issues at all. If you ran the BIOS update using SupportAssist/Dell Update, that might explain a lot...
RoHe
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July 29th, 2020 10:00
@knightstemplas - That's why many users around here say not to use SupportAssist, especially not for BIOS updates.
The XPS 8930 has a BIOS update option on the F12 boot menu which runs entirely outside Windows. Don't know why Dell doesn't mention this option...
Download the BIOS update .exe file onto an empty, non-bootable USB stick. Plug the stick into the PC while it's powered off. Power on and tap F12 when you see the Dell splash screen to open the F12 menu. Scroll down and select the BIOS update option.
Follow the prompts to initiate the update and then just leave it alone! It will take several reboots with some pauses between shutdowns and restarts when it seems to be doing nothing. Just leave it alone until it's back at the Win 10 desktop...
knightstemplas
4 Posts
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July 29th, 2020 10:00
@Debasr Glad you found the solution. Just to add my two penneth worth, the exact same happened to me today after flashing the bios through Support Assist - which it recommended me to do. Luckily, I'm using Acronis and just restored the OS to an earlier image but can't say it's a good state of affairs for it to be corrupting the boot manager.
knightstemplas
4 Posts
0
July 29th, 2020 11:00
@RoHe Thanks. I guess I've learnt the hard way. Why bother have SupportAssist though if it's only going to mess up your PC?
RoHe
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July 29th, 2020 11:00
@knightstemplas said: Thanks. I guess I've learnt the hard way. Why bother have SupportAssist though if it's only going to mess up your PC?
The answer to your question is way above my pay grade...
Jlee206
1 Message
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November 28th, 2020 12:00
Thank you @Debasr , this was the way:
Meanwhile, I found the solution. Win boot manager does not work after the update. I had to manually enter a new path to UEFI boot and choose that as my first boot option in bios. Don't know if this is a permanent fix, but here's how: https://www.thomas-krenn.com/en/wiki/Restoring_UEFI_boot_entry_via_motherboard_replacement_or_BIOS_u...
I had the same issue on my XPS 8930 after some Dell update's. In addition to the above link, I also removed Dell Support Assist and Dell Update programs, and turned off fast start. I can always check for updates through the site if I want.
PC restarts and shutdown/startups work normal again without any prompts, checking media, boot failures, etc..