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XPS 8700, A12 BIOS, sluggish performance
Made a big mistake installing the A12 bios. My computer is very sluggish and performance is terrible now. It won't let me reinstall the A11 bios as that feature to downgrade has been removed in the A12 bios. Bad move Dell. There's nothing in the bios now since A12 was installed to allow me to return to the A11 or allow it to be reinstalled. Anyone know a way of fixing this boat anchor and get the A11 bios back?
RoHe
10 Elder
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43.6K Posts
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March 5th, 2018 18:00
That's the command line attribute I was referring to, which assumes A12 wasn't "locked" to prevent reversion. Keep in mind if that command fails to revert BIOS to A11, you may end up with a bricked motherboard. So you attempt to revert at your own risk.
dante metaphor
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March 5th, 2018 18:00
Hi It is possible to downgrade bios by using the /forceit option
To do this is simple as opening a command prompt (start > type 'cmd') and navigating to the directory where the old bios is located (cd *path/to/old/bios.exe*) and entering XPS_8700_BIOS_A11 /forceit
DELL-Chris M
Community Manager
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March 6th, 2018 05:00
* Reboot, press F12. Run Quick Diagnostics. Does it pass?
* Boot into Windows safemode. Is the system sluggish, slow performance?
* Reboot into normal Windows
* Disable the Dell SupportAssist application. Is the system still sluggish, slow performance?
DELL-Chris M
Community Manager
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54.2K Posts
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March 6th, 2018 13:00
mvsoske found a fix for his XPS 8700. It was service running in the background. In his case it was the "Acronis Active Protection Service". But you should disable all services, reboot, then add them back one at a time, rebooting after each one.
Some service is robbing the CPU power causing my slowdown so I went to the System Configuration app, unchecked all of the Services that were running, restarted, and am now back to normal speeds! I then went through restarting one Service at a time, and rebooting, until the problem appeared again. I found the culprit. Recently, I upgraded my Acronis backup software but this time they added a program called "Acronis Active Protection Service" and this was the program draining my resources. I didn't notice the problem until after I upgraded the BIOS. So maybe, something in the BIOS update and the Acronis service are not compatible and might be something that is affecting the others if they also are running Acronis 2018. Again, just wanted to tell you my problem is solved.
Time Lord
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March 8th, 2018 05:00
Just an update that my situation is in no way resolved. I've provided Chris M with all the information he requested and tried other tips like turning off all "unnecessary" programs etc. I would much prefer being able to roll back to the A11 bios which shouldn't be that difficult for Dell. It's much preferred to me to take a slim chance at some exploit over the definite trashing of my computer by Dell with the A12 bios. I currently own several Dell laptops and towers and have in the past. I hope I can maintain that relationship. But this current situation is completely unacceptable. While this situation drags out, I as a customer am completely unable to use my computer for what it was purchased for and was in an A+ state until this new bios which currently can't be reversed. I seriously hope someone at Dell is taking an active stance to correct this situation in a timely manner.
DELL-Chris M
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March 8th, 2018 06:00
Just an update that my situation is in no way resolved.
* I never stated that it was resolved. I stated, "mvsoske found a fix for his XPS 8700".
I would much prefer being able to roll back to the A11 bios which shouldn't be that difficult for Dell.
* As I already stated, that will not happen for this BIOS A12. All we can do is wait for the platform team to release a new BIOS.
I seriously hope someone at Dell is taking an active stance to correct this situation in a timely manner.
* I notified the platform team and sent them all of the data and the link to this thread.
Time Lord
12 Posts
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March 8th, 2018 08:00
Never accused anyone of anything or of you saying the situation was resolved. I didn't want readers to assume I replied to your requests and the situation was somehow settled or forgotten. As far as reverting back to the A11 bios I could be very much agreeable with this unflexable stance if the A12 hadn't tanked my system making it near useless :) It sounds like the A12 bios wasn't well thought out in the way it was constructed. Numerous situations could involve needing to revert. I've put countless hours into trying to resolve this and make my online games at least playable and honestly I'm extremely frustrated. I've been combing online sites for days grasping for any clues that could help my situation. Hopefully you understand if I appear curt in text. For any other readers out there I would avoid this bios like the plague and use extreme consideration and be armed with knowledge before blindly installing it. If one decides the benefits out way the risk then I would conduct and save before and after performance tests. I wish I had.
Time Lord
12 Posts
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March 13th, 2018 09:00
Time Lord held hostage from internet gaming. Day 13. *taps fingers* *sighs* *Stares for patterns in the wallpaper*
Time Lord
12 Posts
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March 15th, 2018 21:00
I've heard nothing from Dell in awhile. I hope it's not blind faith that I think they may actually be doing something. Although Dell has started sending me discount emails on systems that are poorly reviewed ;) Seriously. Who does that in this situation? Like in my current situation I'd be buying another Dell? But the ball is still in their court. I'm waiting to see if they do the right thing before I write them off and trash them in every gaming forum on the planet lol. Venting aside... it is starting to be a long time I've been given the mushroom treatment, I haven't gotten any constructive feedback in awhile. I'll look into the things you've mentioned. I've tried so many things at this point I think I'm starting over at the beginning again and have forgotten the things I've tried before :) Thanks for the info!
_XtanyaX_
35 Posts
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March 17th, 2018 11:00
WHY would DELL lock a "new" BIOS?
I would assume being an "upgrade/date" Dell'd know there could B problems and allow 4 a reversion...
Just wondering?!
_XtanyaX_
35 Posts
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March 17th, 2018 12:00
Hi! Thanks for post!
Did you try this - It's in this thread?
https://www.dell.com/community/forums/replypage/board-id/XPS-desktops/message-id/10547
With mine it WAS the "Dell Support Assist Remedation" the DSA - DSAR was using > 10,000 Mb MEM - stopped it PERMANENTLY now it's "stopped" and my PC is far better (including BOOT TIME)
GOOD LUCK!
I'm off to HP
:BigSmile:
Time Lord
12 Posts
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March 23rd, 2018 21:00
Oh I've tried EVERYTHING. I've waited weeks and weeks and nothing constructive from Dell. No updates. No "we're working on something". NOTHING. This is absurd. Seriously what is going on at Dell to resolve this? I had a great gaming computer and now as far as gaming goes it's a boat anchor. So could someone at Dell give me an update? If your plan is to just hose everyone just say it so we can find a better quality brand cause I need something to game on.
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
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March 24th, 2018 11:00
I'm coming in on the tail-end of all this, but if I can make a suggestion...
If this was my machine, I would bite-the-bullet and ... backup my data and Nuke-and-Pave that machine.
I don't think it was available back then, but if the BIOS says something about low-level Support-Assist ... deactivate it first.
As machine comes up ... don't install a bunch of Dell stuff ... no Support-Assist, Dell-Update, Intel-RST ... none of that . See how Device Manger looks (and machine runs) after just installing fresh Windows-10 (64bit) from Microsoft . They should even toss-you a usable video driver.
https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-General/fixed/td-p/5627124
_XtanyaX_
35 Posts
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March 24th, 2018 12:00
HI!
I have XPS 8910 windows 10.
What really helped (BESIDES deciding on DEFINITELY looking @ HP's but haven't had time) was getting rid of: "Dell Support Assist Remedation Service" (with its "accomplices" - sorry). (This was on the XPS 8910 WIN 10).
I don't know about the 8700 but see what you have in task manager! See if anything is using XS memory (compared to other programs). Can you post back the results of TM? (I can't but maybe U can) and someone in this group can see also.
At this point I WOULD NOT NUKE IT YET.
Also see if there's a quick boot option in the BIOS??
I had MONSTROUS problems p.t. disabling the Dell Support Assist Remedation Service group. (Including BACKUP which took HOURS. literally now takes 15 min at most.)
IMO I'd do that FIRST.
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
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17K Posts
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March 24th, 2018 13:00
That's a lot of "IFs" ... my group and vendors ... we don't work like that. We would never get anything done.
With a 5-year old (consumer-class) retail machine ... you should be hoping that all it needs is a clean-install (of latest Windows ... which is currently Windows-10 64bit). That's really your only hope .