XPS 8930, boot failure

What software did you update, or was this a BIOS update?

Reboot and immediately start tapping F12. When the F12 menu opens, select the option to run Diagnostics, including RAM and extended drive tests. Copy error message(s), if any.

What do you mean by "boot failure"? Are you getting the message "No boot drive found"? Assuming no hardware errors (see above), reboot and tap F2 to open BIOS setup. With BIOS set to UEFI, Windows Boot Manager should be listed as Boot Option #1. Don't change anything else in BIOS setup, but save the change to Boot Option #1, if any, and exit setup.

See if that solves the problem...

There were 4 updates I did about 10 days ago, I don't think there is bios update but these are dell updates showing in the right corner, so I just updated them without checking what individual updates are. But I checked in the dell websites later and there is no update for bios recently in the 2021. The computer was doing okay until 10 days ago and I have updated periodically for the dell desktop.

It didn't say no boot drive found, only say boot failure. I double check again for making sure. The message is "PXE-E53: No boot file name received. " And then in the next line says "exiting PXE Rom. Boot failure on device, press any key to reboot the machine".

I have tried F2 key before to  change the setting in BIOS before but keep on showing boot failure on device on start up. I am doing the changes in BIOS as per your suggestion to UEFI and boot manager and save and exit this time and it take me to Dell support assistant like before. I have scanned for hard ware problems before and no hard ware problems found many times, Also all other tests are successful many times before.

This morning when I turn on the computer, it is continuing on memory test and when it finished, it show the following message: " No hardware issues were found. Please click continue to launch the support assist Os Recovery for further help in resolving your problem. If you don't want to continue, you can click cancel to restart your computer". When I click continue it take me to restart screen with Dell logo finally. And then reboot with F12 and I changed to UEFI and boot manager as you guided me.  

Thanks a lot for your reply

@Sam94   So is the problem fixed or not?

The PXE error indicates that PC was trying to boot from a network connection, not from the internal boot drive.

So if the problem continues, open BIOS setup again and look through all the Boot Option settings and disable (or delete) all of them that refer to "Onboard NIC Device" or possibly to "IPv4" or "IPv6". Save the changes and exit setup.

Hopefully, it will boot now...

It is not booting properly yet.

I tried disabled IPV 4 and 6 as per your suggestion, still not booting correctly. I have tried window 10 CD or DVD and window setup screen pop up. I tried to choose repair computer.  Advance options were not working. start up repair cannot repair it. The only option left is try to install new window 10 in computer but I think it will remove all my data the added software in the computer and change to original factory manufacture condition back in 2017. And I am afraid of doing dells update anymore from 2017 to 2021. I can have same problems again after the updates. I changed the battery button but the booting error hasn't improve yet. I will try a few more times. Do you know if a good software to back up the old drive or how much is the fee to back up the old original hard drive please ?

When was last time you replaced the motherboard battery? I'd do that before going any further.

1. Power off, unplug
2. Press/hold power button for ~15 sec
3. Open case and remove motherboard battery (check Service Manual for details)
4. Press/hold power button for ~30 sec
5. Install fresh CR2032 3-volt coin cell battery (~$2)
6. Close up and connect mouse, monitor and keyboard
7. Reboot

See if that helps.  If not, power PC off. Then power on again and immediately off by pressing/holding the power button on PC when you see the Dell splash screen. Repeat this on/off cycle 3 times and it should open the Windows Recovery Environment. Follow the prompts to run a startup repair.

If still won't boot, go to the Microsoft site and follow the instructions to create a bootable USB stick. BIOS will have to be set to allow USB booting. Then plug the USB into the PC with power completely off. Then power on and tap F12 to open the boot menu. Select the option to boot from USB and follow the prompts to do a startup repair.

If that still doesn't help, there are some boot repair commands you can run after booting from the Win 10 USB.

BTW: Does this PC use a HDD or a SSD as the boot drive? The easiest way to back up your drive would be to connect it to another PC via USB3. There are transfer cables for 3.5" HDDs with their own power adapter, and other ones for NVME SSDs. You wouldn't need anything very fancy like a full enclosure case, so maybe only in ~$20.00 range. You'd have to remove the drive from the XPS 8930, do the file transfer and reinstall it.

You'd need an external USB HDD to save your files, especially if you're using somebody else's PC to do this. Software like Macrium Reflect (free) will save an image of your boot drive on an external USB HDD.

Thank you. I think I replace 2032 battery 2 days ago. It is that in the enclosure of the power house in the middle or near the mother board. But I just replace the button cell without following the steps you mentioned for power off 2 times etc. Is that okay or has to redo it?  I remember that day when I replace the 2032 battery, when I  reconnect the power supply the power light became amber for a while with flashing for 2 -3 minutes and I turned off and on the powere button several time and the light become normal white color.What the flashing amber power button light in the front of the tower means ?

My boot drive is HDD, not SSD or NVME but I saw M2 slot that can fit NVME I think. There is another space for hard drive which can be HDD or SSD nearby.

I can try the steps you mentioned in a few days.

For the file transfer, I was able to take out the HDD boot drive and put in the dual hard drive docking station with USB 3 cable to another PC. I was able to see the files in the boot drive and also partitions in disk management. I tried to back up many times but not successful, I use easeus soft ware but not able to back up or clone. There may be problem with partition or soft ware, I am not sure.  But I think even  if I can make back up disc that cannot be used as boot drive right ? If I clone successfully, the copy can be used as boot drive ? So far I was not able to do back up or clone so I am not sure what should I do. Is the file transfer is the same as back up or clone ? How do you do file transfer ?

Shall I put a new HDD or new NVME drive in the extra slot in the desktop cage and set up new window 10 software to boot from CD/DVD drive, will it work ? Is it save or it can damage the desktop ? Local computer repair person said this is the HDD problem and he is suggesting to replace HDD with SSD, asking $ 250 for 128GB SSD(not NVME). My concern is with the fresh window install what about the drivers ? Are the drivers specific to dell need to be installed or no ? If the desktop has other problem like ethernet controller problem, this guy will not fix the other problems most likely and he will charge me another $$$. I told him to give me quote for swapping new egular HDD in place of ? defective old HDD with fresh window 10 install, he refused to do it, saying he would only replace with SSD, not regular HDD. And he give me only the smallest capacity SSD for fee of $ 250.  Is that possible that I can replace the new SSD drive(possibly NVME SSD) by myself. I am seeing the NVME slot and I can try finding the screw for that, I don't think it was provided in the slot. Is that possible that you can guide me how to upgrade to NVME SSD and I can try that. I may be able to find screw for the NVME drive if I take time. Please advise me what can I do. Thanks again for your reply

I forgot to tell you that the desktop is my own and I am the only one using it for now. Thanks.

Wait, I just re-read your last post. Are you saying you already had the new 128 GB SSD installed? In that case, see if you can return it for a full refund.  It's TOO small and too expensive...

I never used Easeus software, but you can install Macrium Reflect (free) on that other PC and see if it will create an image of the HDD from the XPS 8930 and save it on an external USB HDD. Be sure to include all partitions on the XPS 8930 HDD in your image. You will then be able to use that image to restore everything to a new drive, either an HDD or an NVME drive.

Then put the HDD back into the XPS 8930. Check that   connections to the drive, motherboard, etc are all properly secured. If you have an add-in video card that uses a direct cable connection to the PSU, make sure that it's properly connected to the card.

Not sure I understand your description of the motherboard battery's location. It's #23 and I put red box around it:

After you reinstall the HDD in the XPS 8930, it won't hurt to remove the battery again, and reset BIOS the way I said above. After installing the battery, close the case, connect mouse, keyboard and monitor. Make sure the monitor is connected to the add-in video card, if you have one. 

Then press the power button and if it blinks, count them because it's an error code. Without knowing the exact number and pattern of blinks you saw, I can't say what it means. The blink codes are on page 96-97 in the Service Manual so you can see the different different blink codes and patterns there are.

If it still won't boot to the desktop, reboot and tap F12 to open that menu and run the diagnostics from the there. Copy the error message, if any, and post it here.

I wouldn't rush out to buy a new drive just yet, but I agree about installing a PCI-e NVME SSD as a new boot drive. That 128 GB SSD is too small for Windows and your apps, and sounds expensive too. You want at least a 256 GB or 512 GB NVME SSD or larger, especially if you don't have an internal HDD for routine storage.

Crucial, Samsung, WD etc all make NVME SSDs that work with the XPS 8930. Crucial has a 1T SSD for $175, and you can install an NVME drive yourself. You should look around to find a better deal than that shop is offering.

I didn't go for installing 128GB SSD for $ 250.  Thanks for your concern.  I don't believe in the person from local repair shop so I didn't go forward with his service. Charging too much and he has no attention for soft ware and drivers. I decided I will go for Dell hardware diagnostics as already paid for. Also thank you for detailed instructions for what to do. I will try them.

Yes. The button battery location is right as in the picture, you circled as No.23. I changed it the other day. Thanks.

Is Windows Boot Manager still set as 1st Boot Option in BIOS?

If you're unable to image the HDD, even with Macrium Reflect, then the HDD may have died. So in that case, you will need to get a new HDD or PCI-e NVME SSD, or both. Sure hope your personal files are backed up elsewhere.

If you get both drives, install the NVME SSD alone and load Windows on it from a USB stick. Once Win 10 is fully up-to-date, install the HDD and format it so you can use it for routine storage. Then install your apps, directing as many as will allow installation on the HDD to save space on the SSD.

Glad you got it working again !

There is one M.2 slot is for a PCI-e NVME 2280 SSD. So any SSD that fits in that slot should be compatible. (The other M.2 slot is only for a WiFi card.)

Only you know whether a 1T SSD will be big enough for you. All depends on how many apps you install, how many big data files you create etc, etc.  If you're gaming, doing serious video editing or Photoshop, or even creating massive spreadsheets, you may want to have an SSD as the boot drive and a big HDD for routine storage.

Sorry, now you've confused me. I thought you only had a HDD in this PC, and no SSD. So what SSD do you want to clone onto a new SSD? If you meant you want to clone the HDD onto the new NVME SSD, you can do that using software like Macrium Reflect (free) etc.

If the HDD is smaller than whatever new SSD you install, you need to re-size the C: partition on the SSD while you do the cloning with Macrium Reflect to use all the extra space. I don't know if other cloning apps allow you to resize partitions, so you'd have to look into that if you want to use some other app.

Once the cloning is done and the PC boots from the new SSD via the F12 menu, you can initialize the HDD to remove Windows and all other files so it can be used for routine storage, leaving the SSD as the normal boot drive.

You can install your apps on the HDD (D) drive and tell Win 10 to move default user folders onto D to save space on the SSD (C).

Is the SSD at the big box store a reputable brand, like Samsung, WD, or Micron (Crucial)? Compare read/write speeds, price/GB, warranty etc. with other similar size SSDs and even compare the price for the same SSD at online sites that might have it for less...