Aurora-R7, will not boot

In the BIOS, you should be able to Temporarily turn-off the option to use SupportAssist (at Boot).

On Boot, press F12 and then ePSA test. Do the fast first page, and then longer second page. You don't have to do the super-long Memory test right now.

Everything should pass. However, I think your hard-drive might have crashed so expect to get an error about it.

If everything still passes, try to start Windows-10 in Safe-Mode.

https://digitalcitizen.life/4-ways-boot-safe-mode-windows-10

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@ThatWilsonGuy wrote:

 

1. Found ePSA Pre-Boot System Assessment. Went throug multiple tests (memory, cpu, fans, cdrom)

2. Remaining memory tests (ePSA 4306.12 Prompt) estimated 3 hrs 44 min. Didn't do this one, will have to attemp tomorrow when I have time. 

3. Went ahead and let it try to boot, got back to preparing automatic repair screen. Then flashed back to splash screen with message in upper right about not shutting down cleanly.  Still not booting.

4. Any clue of underlying issue?

5. After about two weeks of buying it, I began to have intermittent poor performance in windows. Long boot times into windows, slow responsiveness in simple tasks like file explorer. Loading something like the killer wireless controller from the dock was painfully slow.

6. I've been putting up with it thinking it was the optane memory not performing like the SSD in my Surface Pro 4

7. I'm use too but even my i3 Plex server PC generally runs simple windows tasks more consistently. So now it appears there is some underlying issue. 

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1. Good. Hopefully all passed. Some fairly extensive ram-memory tests are already included

2. So, you can skip these memory tests for now, but run them tonight (turn off monitor)

3. Can you get into Windows Safe-Mode ?

4. I think the hard-drive is crashed or worse. Maybe just scrambled, but no actual physical error that SMART can read.

5. That sounds like bad hard-drive. SMART is shuffling things around (trying to keep files safe).

6. Oh, well Optane basically becomes part of the HDD ... adds a whole other level of complexity to drive sub-system. How do you test it?

If you decide to fix it, mod-it, or even send back and order another ... I suggest you skip Optane. Not just because it's kinda lame, but you only have ONE M.2 SLOT. Just fill that M.2 slot with a 240gb-512gb PCIe/NVMe SSD. Windows Bootable C: , all programs, and even some games will boot and load crazy fast:

https://dell.com/community/Alienware-General/Aurora-R6-Hard-Lockup-and-crash-while-gaming-SOLVED/m-p/5504121/highlight/true#M6097

But if you must have spinning-drives, I guess it's OK. Now-days, only my NAS and backup drives are spinners.

7. Yeah, well Intel-i3 is pretty good. I doubt its the processor. Right, I have Plex Server on Synology NAS as well as standalone Windows Kodi box.

What does Dell Phone Support say?

Thanks for the response

Found ePSA Pre-Boot System Assessment. Went throug multiple tests (memory, cpu, fans, cdrom)

Remaining memory tests (ePSA 4306.12 Prompt) estimated 3 hrs 44 min. Didn't do this one, will have to attemp tomorrow when I have time. 

Went ahead and let it try to boot, got back to preparing automatic repair screen. Then flashed back to splash screen with message in upper right about not shutting down cleanly.  Still not booting.

Any clue of underlying issue? After about two weeks of buying it, I began to have intermittent poor performance in windows. Long boot times into windows, slow responsiveness in simple tasks like file explorer. Loading something like the killer wireless controller from the dock was painfully slow. I've been putting up with it thinking it was the optane memory not performing like the SSD in my Surface Pro 4 I'm use too but even my i3 Plex server PC generally runs simple windows tasks more consistently. So now it appears there is some underlying issue. 

Thanks again for your assistance. My initial fear upon performance issues was HDD / optane. Been out of gaming PC game forever and decided between my limited free time and crazy video card prices at time of purchase I was better served to purchase prebuilt PC. So far I'm obviously disappointed. Haven't had an opportunity to contact Dell directly. Hopefully I'll have time tomorrow or see if place I purchased will do a warrant return. 

I absolutely love Plex. Next purchase was going to be a NAS but I'm really apposed to compressing my media so I'm about 8TB deep in MKVs already. Not sure I wouldn't be better served just running dedicated PC with Raid card. 

Anyways, thanks again. Hopefully Dell or retailer will make this right.

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@ThatWilsonGuy wrote:

1. Thanks again for your assistance. My initial fear upon performance issues was HDD / optane. Been out of gaming PC game forever and decided between my limited free time and crazy video card prices at time of purchase I was better served to purchase prebuilt PC. So far I'm obviously disappointed. Haven't had an opportunity to contact Dell directly. Hopefully I'll have time tomorrow or see if place I purchased will do a warrant return. 

2. I absolutely love Plex. Next purchase was going to be a NAS but I'm really apposed to compressing my media so I'm about 8TB deep in MKVs already. Not sure I wouldn't be better served just running dedicated PC with Raid card. 

Anyways, thanks again. Hopefully Dell or retailer will make this right.

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1. Has every Dell computer and monitor I have purchased for myself (or clients) survived UPS shipping and/or worked perfectly for 3 years ... NO. Did Dell make it right or treat us fairly ... YES. I'm still buying them after all these years.

2. I like my Synology DS412+ NAS. Try to spring for a 4-bay model. While a RAID-5 is not a true-backup ... a Synology Hybrid RAID will allow for 1-disk failure fault-tolerance. Maybe some files are un-replaceable or you don't want to re-rip all those discs. 

I've been running Kodi/xbmc on Windows for a long time. I hate compressed video or anything less that DolbyDigital/DTS 5.1 sound. I've got a cool pic to show you if I could only upload pics.

After I got my AppleTV-Gen4 (and could run Plex Client for tvOS), I installed Plex-Server on my Synology. It works pretty good, but I don't care for the trans-coding non-sense. I also don't like that it won't play all my hundreds of direct-rip DVD/VIDEO_TS Folders.

My, Blu-Rays ... yeah, I also settled on ripping to .MKV (basically un-compressed) but usually only with 5.1 sound though. If I want full HD-Audio (like for first viewing event) , I pop-in the BD. Plus, you get Digital iTunes/MoviesAnywhere copies now. We could talk more about this, or find me over at AVSForum.com .

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@ThatWilsonGuy wrote:

I'm really apposed to compressing my media so I'm about 8TB deep in MKVs already.

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I found that pic where I uploaded it here before migration.

https://dell.com/community/Alienware-General/Alienware-aurora-r4-5-1-surround-sound/m-p/5533460/highlight/true#M35414

So, that's my Kodi box's wallpaper. It's a little out-dated though (oh, I see I noted it there also). Anyway, who doesn't love "badges and logos" :Smile:

Howdy ThatWilsonGuy,

When your system is using Optane Memory (and it is enabled), you are actually using sort of a RAID 0 array between the HDD and the Optane Module.  The system will always boot from the Optane drive, which is why it boots so much faster.  Your symptoms sound like something happened to the boot files on your Optane Memory Module.  You need to go into your system setup (BIOS settings), and disable Optane Memory acceleration, and see if that allows your system to boot.  Since the ePSA is not indicating your HDD is failing, the files on the Optane module might have been corrupted (meaning the drive isn't bad).  If disabling it works, your system will come up "normally" but be running slower due to no Optane acceleration.  Once it is up and running, you can re-enable Optane Memory Acceleration from the Intel Rapid Storage Technology Utility (from within Windows).  That should solve that.  FWIW, my Aurora R7 is also using Optane Memory, and after a few Windows updates, it seemed to be booting and running much slower than before, but Optane Memory was still enabled.  I went through the process of disabling, and then re-enabling (took a few reboots to complete the process of disabling and re-enabling), but that sorted it.  It is working fine now :-)

Disabled optane, rebooted into SupportAssist, hardware scan complete with no issues. Except, no bootable devices were found. So I assume optane was at least working and main drive went bad? 

Retailer was no help, calling support. Thanks again for your guys help.  

Hi i am having this same issue now. Can you confirm what the issue was?

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@Kalian702 wrote:

Hi i am having this same issue now. Can you confirm what the issue was?

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Nothing definitive ever happened here.

I suggest you start your own thread. Also, list your confg including drives.

My R7 did the same thing. I unplugged my USB card reader and problem solved.