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13 Posts

1674

January 19th, 2025 19:47

XPS 8960, SA not Installing BIOS

Good day everyone, 

I am trying to install the  latest  BIOS update  via  Dell Support  Assist but after  about  50 mins  of  installing  a msg comes  up saying  "Something went wrong during installation and we couldn't complete it", I am not sure  what to do , I have always  updated  my BIOS via support assist  in the  past, and  it  worked  perfectly.

I also tried  downloading the  update  to  my downloads folder, but  on double clicking the .exe file  I am getting .... "error Driver Version Fail"

Looking forward to replies on  the way forward

Thank you.

1 Rookie

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98 Posts

February 14th, 2025 12:08

@RoHe​ 

EZ PZ and successful.

For your future posts to other people in need, I've reformatted the paragraph into Steps 1-7. For less-skilled folks, it makes it easier to follow your VERY clear instructions. Thought it might be a helpful copy-n-paste you can use. Thanks for the several times you have helped me. You rock.

BIOS: Flash Drive Update

 

  1. Download the new BIOS .exe file (not the .rcv file) onto an empty (non-bootable) USB stick that's no larger than 8 GB and formatted FAT32.
  2. With power fully off, plug the USB into PC and power on. 
  3. Tap F12 when you see the Dell splash screen.  
  4. Select Flash Update from the F12 menu.  
  5. When the updater opens, select (highlight) the .exe file name on the USB stick. 
  6. Confirm old and new BIOS version info (typically in top left and right boxes).
  7. And finally, tab to the START button and launch the update.


Note: The PC will turn off and restart several times during the update. Leave it entirely alone, even if it looks like it's totally off and not doing anything.  When the update is complete, PC will automatically boot to your desktop.

(edited)

Community Manager

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2.9K Posts

January 23rd, 2025 18:47

Hi everyone,

The steps below shall help mitigate the issue. As soon as new BIOS updates are available, they will be added to Dell.com/support


Current workaround
:

  1. Workaround:

    • Uninstall the January Windows KB update that corresponds to your system.: KB5050009, KB5050021, or KB5050009 update:

      1. Open Settings
      2. Select Windows Update
      3. Pause the Windows update
      4. Select Update history
      5. Select Uninstall updates
      6. Find the impacted update according to the operating system version used, labeled KB5050009, KB5050021, and KB5049981
      7. Select Uninstall
      8. Restart your computer
      9. Install the BIOS from dell.com/support using the executable file
      10. After a successful BIOS update go back to step c, to enable the Windows update
    • Update the BIOS from a USB stick using the computer pre-boot option
      1. Copy the executable file to external storage (USB flash drive)
      2. Keep the USB connected and restart the computer
      3. Press F12 to enter One-Time Boot Settings (reference Flashing the BIOS from the F12 One-Time Boot Menu)


We kindly ask you to test it and provide your feedback.

Affected Platforms:

  • Alienware Aurora R12
  • Alienware Aurora R13
  • Alienware Aurora Ryzen Edition R14
  • Alienware Aurora R15
  • Alienware Aurora R15 AMD
  • Alienware Aurora R16
  • Alienware Area 51m R2
  • Alienware m15 R3
  • Alienware m15 R4
  • Alienware m17 R3
  • Alienware m17 R4
  • Alienware x14
  • Alienware x15 R1
  • Alienware x15 R2
  • Alienware x17 R1
  • Alienware x17 R2
  • XPS 8950
  • XPS 8960
  • Inspiron 15 3510
  • Inspiron 15 3521
  • Inspiron 3502

Affected Operating Systems:

  • Windows 11 24H2 KB5050009 (OS Build 26100.2894) or later 
  • Windows 11 23H2 KB5050021 (OS Builds 22621.4751 and 22631.4751) or later 
  • Windows 10 22H2 KB5049981 (OS Builds 19044.5371 and 19045.5371) or later 

Read more: BIOS Update Error or Update Gets Stuck After Windows January 2025 Update

(edited)

1 Rookie

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27 Posts

January 19th, 2025 22:05

Support Assist fails. MyDell fails. My new XPS 8690 PC uses UEFI, not BIOS. Not sure if that matters.

1 Rookie

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13 Posts

January 19th, 2025 22:37

@pdoyle35​ Thank  you  for replying.. I'am not sure ..I am not a  computer savvy, hence the reason I depend   a lot  on apps  like Support Assist. 

1 Rookie

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17 Posts

January 19th, 2025 23:25

I have an XPS 8950 desktop.  I have the same issue.

I have been trying for 2 days to install the new BIOS update (since 1/18/2025).  The installation never finishes.  The installation screen is an endless loop.

Dell...can you resolve this issue?  Please?

John

1 Rookie

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17 Posts

January 19th, 2025 23:30

BTW...I am also receiving the same error message: "Error Driver Version Fail"

DELL - HELP!

John

1 Rookie

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27 Posts

January 19th, 2025 23:50

@RealDELLfan​ Dell advised, and I checked the hardware through BIOS and it passed the test. Then I turned encryption off; still wouldn't install.  Tech support told me many are having difficulty with this update, and Dell engineers hope to have a new BIOS update released later in January.

So I'm going to ignore this update, until they send us a new one.  Don't waste your time, today. I worked on it for hours.  Good evening to all!

10 Elder

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45.2K Posts

January 20th, 2025 01:19

Have you tried installing the BIOS update entirely outside Windows?

Download the new BIOS .exe file (not the .rcv file) onto an empty (non-bootable) USB stick that's no larger than 8 GB and formatted FAT32.

With power fully off, plug the USB into PC and power on. Tap F12 when you see the Dell splash screen.  Select Flash Update from the F12 menu.  When the updater opens, select (highlight) the .exe file name on the USB stick. Confirm old and new BIOS version info (typically in top left and right boxes) and then tab to the Start button and launch the update.

The PC will turn off and restart several times during the update. Leave it entirely alone, even if it looks like it's totally off and not doing anything.  When the update is complete, PC will automatically boot to your desktop.

1 Rookie

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9 Posts

January 20th, 2025 01:20

unable to update BIOS from 2.12 to 2.13

Note: This comment was created from a merged conversation originally titled 2.13

1 Rookie

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15 Posts

January 20th, 2025 01:27

As an update to this post, I've now done the BIOS update via F12 at boot and it seems fine. So it's just the issue of it not working via Support Assist or running the .EXE within Windows. How did this ever get released? These things should be tested before they are let loose surely. I don't want to upset anyone, but it doesn't give a great deal of confidence in the software release procedure.

(edited)

1 Rookie

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2 Posts

19-01-2025 22:20 PM

My XPS-8960 with an i14900K processor crash each day. BIOS update failed. Need a solution quickly. 

1 Rookie

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15 Posts

20-01-2025 00:30 AM

As an update to this post, I've now done the BIOS update via F12 at boot and it seems fine.

So it's just the issue of it not working via Support Assist or running the .EXE within Windows.

How did this ever get released? These things should be tested before they are let loose surely.

I don't want to upset anyone, but it doesn't give a great deal of confidence in the software release procedure.

10 Elder

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45.2K Posts

January 20th, 2025 01:28

Dell is aware....

<Threads on this topic have been merged>

1 Rookie

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9 Posts

January 20th, 2025 01:54

@Chimaera450​  Yea they finally said wait a couple of days for 2.14

1 Rookie

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22 Posts

January 20th, 2025 06:55

Hello,

I am having a similar problem with my XPS 8940 desktop. I am running BIOS version 2.24.1. Support Assist says BIOS version 2.25.0 is available. I tried to install it. My computer turns off, turns back on and then boots into Windows. Upon checking System Information, I see the BIOS is not updated. Support Assist still indicates the update is available. I tried this twice with the same result. I am wondering if something is not compatible? Maybe my PC is reading that and not installing the update? My computer is running great with Windows 11 23H2. I am avoiding 24H2 like it's the plague for now as I have software that would have issues. If anyone has a fix for my BIOS not updating issue, please let me know.

Thanks.

1 Rookie

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98 Posts

January 20th, 2025 15:40

OK, comfort in knowing others are having same issue. On that note, I am NOT sure if it is OK to simply STOP this update in its tracks. It is stuck on this window, BEFORE the required reboot. I did try to CANCEL, but then saw the upper WARNING:   :~(

What is the safest method to stop, restart, and wait until this problem is fixed? Thank you in advance.

1 Rookie

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13 Posts

January 20th, 2025 15:59

@RoHe​ Thank you RoHE, 

I have tried   and successfully   installed BIOS  update  via USB, only difference  between your  post and  what actually happened was  computer shut down  once and restarted, and shut  down  a second time when  update was done, not several times  as you  indicated, the  only other thing  I found unusual was the date  of the new version from Sys Information

BIOS Version/Date Dell Inc. 2.13.0, 12/9/2024

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