I have an Aurora R15 desktop with bios version 1.27.0 (version ED.3.2.1) that I use with a Bluetooth wireless keyboard and not a wired keyboard. On boot up I get a Support Assist On-board Diagnostics Alert message saying that a keyboard initialization failure was detected. After a few seconds the message disappears and the computer boots normally.
A search on the internet indicates that their "should be" an option in bios that is possibly called "Don't report keyboard errors" but, at least in my version of bios and where I have been able to check this option does not seem to be available to me.
Does anyone know where in this particular computer's bios this option is or is it simply not available in this version of the bios?
@jkeifer3 Do you have an Intel R15 or an AMD R15? The Aurora R15 AMD may get the error message "Alert! Keyboard initialization failure" if the keyboard is attached to any front USB ports, and on five ports on the rear of the computer. This is expected behavior of the AMD CPU and the fix is to attach the keyboard and mouse to any of the rear USB 3.2 type-A ports.
The USB C ports labeled #7 will also work, but the one labeled #8 will not. If you are using a bluetooth keyboard without a dongle then you'll likely get the error each time. However, if it does have a dongle then try moving it to these ports first. If the issue is still present then I'd try out what Red recommended and just have a spare wired keyboard attached to one of those ports. If you have an Intel based R15, then not too sure why you would get that error but may be worth trying the same ports.
DELL-Daniel V #IWork4Dell Digital Support Forum Liaison
The error likely comes from support assist which is difficult to disable. In older legacy dell there is option not to halt except for certain error or not halt at Post but modern dell has got rid of those legacy features.
try connect a dummy wired usb kb to see if that would stop the error.
Dell tech support confirmed that this model Alienware can’t have Support Assist disabled. The dummy kbd sounds like an excellent idea if I can find one!
Dell tech support confirmed that this model Alienware can’t have Support Assist disabled.
Yikes.
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I am not sure if it came with a keyboard or not but the use case that I now have for it, as an overkill home theater PC, precludes me from having a wired keyboard attached. In any event, the keyboard initialization error is on the screen for only a few seconds so it's no big deal in the grand scheme of things.
This is a 13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i9 13900KF who is near three years old this month. I can connect this particular keyboard, a K830 by Logitech, via either method so I'll try the dongle just in case.
There is more than one way to skin a cat and, you sir, have just skinned this one! The dongle connection methodology on the port up front has solved my issue!
DELL-Daniel V
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Posted July 16th, 2026 14:09
@jkeifer3 Do you have an Intel R15 or an AMD R15? The Aurora R15 AMD may get the error message "Alert! Keyboard initialization failure" if the keyboard is attached to any front USB ports, and on five ports on the rear of the computer. This is expected behavior of the AMD CPU and the fix is to attach the keyboard and mouse to any of the rear USB 3.2 type-A ports.
The USB C ports labeled #7 will also work, but the one labeled #8 will not. If you are using a bluetooth keyboard without a dongle then you'll likely get the error each time. However, if it does have a dongle then try moving it to these ports first. If the issue is still present then I'd try out what Red recommended and just have a spare wired keyboard attached to one of those ports. If you have an Intel based R15, then not too sure why you would get that error but may be worth trying the same ports.
DELL-Daniel V
#IWork4Dell
Digital Support Forum Liaison
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