Area 51 R5, BIOS 2.0.3 Bricks the Computer

Question

After the BIOS update only the Alienware lights on the computer cycles through a few lights then stops on he light blue (default) color, then nothing happens. No other USB activity or screen data. The CTRL+ESC does nothing as the BIOS doesn’t seem to load anything (USB driver) after that. So, using the USB keyboard is ineffective and again there’s no screen activity.

Please tell me what needs to be done and I hope to be able to still use the Windows 10 that has been working perfectly since day one.

Ps. I was running BIOS 2.0.2 and my system is still in warranty. I want to wait to call tech support to see if this can be resolved here in the forum.

savvy2 · Answer

gee if you google , this topic, I get 4 million hits. (or any top brand PC for that matter)

"dell bios update pc dead" all OEM/ show's 11million failures. "BIOS UPDATE PC dead"

my guess is why do bios burning the wrong way? or unsafely

no reason stated, ? at all. not even 1 hint.

it's in warranty and if update assistant did this automatically, dell owns this.(that must be expensive at dell)

next time USE ONLY THE F12 BIOS FLASH why, and only if PC is stable and on UPS power.

what does stable mean well, HDD not bad, (remove it? and flash , remove all you can to flash, I DO.)

PSU not bad or overloaded. (unstable)

DO not burn any PC that is in a truly unstable state or you can brick it easy.

did you turn off all UEFI features the BURN?> (and after it was successful, enable secureboot if was on:?) next. UEFI is tricky in any BURN.

Ive no idea at all how you burned, there are 4 ways at least.

1: Dell Assistant (run scared here)

2: F12 (yes, H3LL yes)

3: Freedos or DRDOS (dells DOS if it was allowed in your burn kit)

4: WIndow burns now that is nuts, (windows corrupted , infected or HDD fails smart tests it will fail so why do it?)

welcome to 2019 where millions are flashing BIOS today like NEVER BEFORE EVER.

and many sad faces. too many IMO.

have a list of 17 ways to fail FLASH BURN FIRMWARE> need it? seems 4 million do.

savvy2 · Answer

when burning run play this. (so very 'a prappo' ') https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY0WxgSXdEE

Tesla1856 · Answer

Call Dell phone-support.

They will talk you through Dell BIOS Recovery 2/3 Procedures. It will work and save your motherboard.

Next time, I suggest you only flash CMOS from BIOS boot-screens (outside of Windows).

Bradleyjs2 · Answer

I contacted Alienware support and we went through some troubleshooting. I cannot perform any BIOS recovery because the computer doesn’t process a POST and there’s no keyboard or screen (or any other USB device) input available. Only the ambient lighting on the chassis comes on and stops on the default blue color and that’s as far as it goes. They sending a tech out with a replacement motherboard next week. Thanks for everyone’s advice.

Bradleyjs2 · Answer

A Dell tech came over with the new motherboard yesterday and the system is now fully operational again. I didn’t lose my Win10 load but I did have to make some minor changes to the BIOS (allowing me to Wake on LAN) and update AWCC and OC Controls due to a newer version being available that didn’t properly install during last week’s Flash BIOS update. Somehow during the multiple reboots the BIOS re-flashed itself and I didn’t want it to thinking it would brick the system again. Well, this time it successfully installed and I’m now at the 2.0.3 version. The only outstanding issue that I have is the AlienFXDriver not detecting my Alienware Pro Gaming Keyboard. (AW768). The keyboard is working and it saved the custom colors that I configured prior to the bricking. So, I may have ti uninstall / re-install all AWCC software.

Alienware Desktops

Area 51 R5, BIOS 2.0.3 Bricks the Computer

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