BIOS Update 1.18.1 breaks USB-C

Question

Hi everyone,

I updated the BIOS of my Inspiron 15 7570 to version 1.18.1 yesterday (previously, 1.18 was installed). I'd been using a Dell P2419HC external monitor via the USB-C connection, with no issues (i.e. working power delivery, DP feed-through with display chaining and USB hub functionality)

After the BIOS update (along which SupportAssist installed updates for the Intel HD Graphics Driver, the Bluetooth Driver and the Wi-Fi driver), the USB-C connection is completely non-functioning, while all other ports work fine. There's not even power delivery. This machine is a dual-boot and the problem is present in both Windows 10 (latest feature update) as well as pop! os 20.10. I've tried rolling back the update, going down as low as BIOS 1.15, I've also tried using the Windows restoration point that SupportAssist created. I used SupportAssist hardware diagnosis from the BIOS (no issues found) and factory-reset the BIOS (using the menu option) as well as doing a CMOS reset by removing the battery. The laptop appears to have working power delivery via USB-C when not turned on (as indicated by the main front LED), but this switches off once the BIOS starts. I can use the USB-C connection of the monitor successfully with other devices.

This all seems to indicate to me that the BIOS update must have pushed a corrupted version of some other firmware (e.g. the USB controller) that is not affected by the reset efforts and prevents the connection.

Does anybody have any ideas or suggestions that go beyond a hard factory reset or a mainboard replacement? Ideally, does anyone know what firmware component might be responsible and whether there might be a way to restore it to a working state? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

baseratezero · Accepted Answer

Just in case anyone else has this problem, I just found the solution. First, download BIOS version 1.18 from here (https://www.dell.com/support/home/de-de/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=850x8&oscode=wt64a&productcode=inspiron-15-7570-laptop) and place it on any path you'd like.

Rather than downgrading by starting this BIOS update file directly, use Dell's BIOS flashing utility you can find here (https://www.dell.com/support/home/de-de/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=c3tjv&oscode=wt64a&productcode=inspiron-15-7570-laptop), I used Ver3.3.13 from 23 Feb 2021. Download and install that file, it will put the update utility on C:\Dell\Drivers\C3TJV\Ver3.3.13\ per default. Save any open work you might have. Then, navigate to that folder and run the flash utility from Windows PowerShell like below:

C:\Dell\Drivers\C3TJV\Ver3.3.13\Flash64W.exe /s /r /f /b=C:\Users\YOUR_USERNAME\Downloads\Inspiron_7370_7373_7570_7573_1.18.0.exe /l=C:\log.txt

Flag explanation: /s: run BIOS update without user input

/r: reboot directly

/f: ignore the fact that the version number is smaller than what is currently installed

/b: path to the binary with the BIOS update (or downgrade in this case, but it works again, so what the heck)

/l: optional log path

Hope this can help somebody else to solve the same problem!

viniciusbarros · Answer

Thank you very much! I've had the exact same problem with my Inspiron 5480 after a BIOS upgrade on November 9th (2.11.1). Following these steps, I downgraded to version 2.11.0 and the USB-C port came back to life.

LaurentCl · Answer

Brilliant ! During BIOS update on my Inspiron 5490, the Main USB PD Controller 1 updates failed and after that, my USB C didn't work anymore. And when trying to redo the BIOS updates, it kept telling me that it this Controller firmware was up to date.

But doing the suggested way using the BIOS flashing utility forced the update to happen and my USB C port works again like a charm.

Thanks a million !

manniongeo · Answer

This solution fixed the same problem on my Inspiron 7500 2-in-1 Black. Thank you for posting it!

For reference, I've upgraded the BIOS twice since owning this machine (1.5.0 > 1.6.0 > 1.11.0) and in both cases the upgrade process broke the Thunderbolt port (i.e. "Main USB PD Controller 1" during firmware processing).

In the first case, I was able to downgrade using the regular BIOS .exe installer for the previous version, then upgrade again.

In the second case, though, I tried downgrading/re-upgrading using a variety of older installers, and they kept reporting that the Thunderbolt firmware was already current. Using the Flash64W.exe tool referenced above, however, forced the firmware to be updated and, in turn restored functionality to the USB-C port.

Thanks again - you're my hero for this week!

Inspiron

BIOS Update 1.18.1 breaks USB-C

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