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ViceLikeEye

updated

8 years ago

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4810

October 27th, 2018 20:00

XPS 8930, latest BIOS update failed

I recently purchased a XPS 8930.  I noticed the fans have been (at times) throttling massively.  I haven't done any gaming at all.  Nor have I done anything too strenuous for what I thought was such a capable machine.  The only thing I do is Photoshop as a hobby and I'm a fairly lightweight PS user.  I use a mixed bag of monitors that I have purchased; Some old and some new, five in total.  I control all of them thru a program called DisplayFusion plus I use a docking station for extra video inputs.  I can put all monitors minus my main monitor on standby or have them running with DisplayFusion.  With all monitors running my fans throttle like crazy.  It sounds like the PC is preparing for liftoff into space.  To prevent this, I essentially have put my PC into, "Limp Mode".  Meaning I'm only running one monitor to avoid a meltdown.  Apparently some of the monitors use the NVIDIA GPU and the some monitors use the Intel GPU via the docking station. 

My friend suggested I do a BIOS update.  I told him that was a great idea.  I went to the Support page, I hit the, "Detect Drivers" button.  I downloaded the drivers and when I click on the 1.0.13.exe file, it asks if it's OK to modify my PC, I click yes, It makes my cursor spin for a second or two then it creates another file called, "amifldrv64.sys".  That's all it does.  According to the instructional video it is supposed to launch the BIOS update.  My current BIOS version is 1.0.10. 

From what I have scanned thru on a couple of posts here, I believe it's the Intel GPU at risk.  Something about a meltdown too.  Not good.  I also gleaned from another post that antivirus might play a factor.  Would simply booting into Safe Mode and turning off my antivirus allow me to update my BIOS?  I'm fairly certain using all my monitors is forcing the unstable Intel GPU to engage resulting in the fan throttling; Hence the long explanation in the first paragraph. 

My specs copied from Amazon.com:

  • 8th Generation Intel i7-8700 6-Core 3.20 GHz Processor (12M Cache, up to 4.60 GHz), Windows 10 Pro (64-bit)
  • 32GB DDR4 2666MHz Memory, 512GB Solid State Drive + 2TB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive, DVD-RW Drive
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050Ti 4GB GDDR5 Graphics (1x Display Port, 1x HDMI, 1x DVI), Intel UHD Graphics 630
  • Dell Wireless 802.11a/c + Bluetooth v4.1, Integrated 5.1 Channel Audio with Waves MaxxAudio Pro
  • 1 Year Limited Warranty, Dell USB Laser Mouse - Black, Dell Wired Keyboard - Black, No Monitor Included

Please let me know if any more info is needed.  This was a big chunk of cash I spent on this PC.  I was kind of hoping everything worked flawlessly out of the box.  I was wrong and now I need your help.  Please keep any replies simple.  I'm not computer illiterate but I'm not a wizard either.  If it was anything other than the BIOS I'd be OK with just taking shots in the dark but I don't want to brick my shiny new PC.  Please help.

Thanks in advance. 

 

 

  • Tesla1856

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    Posted October 28th, 2018 09:00


    @ViceLikeEye wrote:

    XPS 8930. 

    I noticed the fans have been (at times) throttling massively. 

     


    Which fan is throttling?

    Depending on which one ... each would point to a different possible issue.

    Dell Rockstar

    Microsoft Windows and Apple iOS Developer (Retired)
    - Like many of you, I can appreciate a good game-engine.
    - I answer questions here, but I'm not a Dell employee.
    - Consider giving posts you like a "thumbs-up"
    - Posting models-numbers and software versions speeds trouble-shooting.
    - Click "Mark as Accepted Answer" on any post that answers your question best.

  • Tesla1856

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    Posted October 28th, 2018 09:00

    I posted a detailed Reply, but it's missing now.
    I'll try once more.

    Dell Rockstar

    Microsoft Windows and Apple iOS Developer (Retired)
    - Like many of you, I can appreciate a good game-engine.
    - I answer questions here, but I'm not a Dell employee.
    - Consider giving posts you like a "thumbs-up"
    - Posting models-numbers and software versions speeds trouble-shooting.
    - Click "Mark as Accepted Answer" on any post that answers your question best.

  • Tesla1856

    10 Wizard

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    71587 Points

    3180

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    Posted October 28th, 2018 09:00


    @ViceLikeEye wrote:

    XPS 8930.  My current BIOS version is 1.0.10. 

    My friend suggested I do a BIOS update.  but I don't want to brick my shiny new PC.   

     


    You can call Dell and let them assist you. If it bricks then, you get a new motherboard (supposedly). Most UEFI-based machines have to option to flash-BIOS from initial F12 boot-screen (ie outside of Windows).

    Dell Rockstar

    Microsoft Windows and Apple iOS Developer (Retired)
    - Like many of you, I can appreciate a good game-engine.
    - I answer questions here, but I'm not a Dell employee.
    - Consider giving posts you like a "thumbs-up"
    - Posting models-numbers and software versions speeds trouble-shooting.
    - Click "Mark as Accepted Answer" on any post that answers your question best.

  • 3181

    0

    Posted October 28th, 2018 09:00

    OK, thank you.  I await your reply.

  • Tesla1856

    10 Wizard

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    71587 Points

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    Posted October 28th, 2018 09:00


    @ViceLikeEye wrote:

    1. I figured my 1 year limited warranty would somewhat cover me. 

    2. I was hoping I could just get a quick solution 


    1. "Somewhat" is a very vague term:

    https://www.dell.com/community/Customer-Care-Wiki/Dell-Policy-BIOS-update-breaks-motherboard-CMOS/ta-p/6063959

    2. Expectations of Quick and/or Easy solutions to complicated issues isn't very realistic, in my experience anyway. :Smile:

    My posts in this thread seem to be working now.

    Dell Rockstar

    Microsoft Windows and Apple iOS Developer (Retired)
    - Like many of you, I can appreciate a good game-engine.
    - I answer questions here, but I'm not a Dell employee.
    - Consider giving posts you like a "thumbs-up"
    - Posting models-numbers and software versions speeds trouble-shooting.
    - Click "Mark as Accepted Answer" on any post that answers your question best.

  • 3174

    0

    Posted October 28th, 2018 09:00

    I figured my 1 year limited warranty would somewhat cover me.  I was hoping I could just get a quick solution and not do this on the phone.  Thanks so much for the reply.

  • 546insp

    2 Intern

    732 Posts

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    Posted October 28th, 2018 10:00


    @ViceLikeEye wrote:

    I recently purchased a XPS 8930.  I noticed the fans have been (at times) throttling massively.  I haven't done any gaming at all.  Nor have I done anything too strenuous for what I thought was such a capable machine.  The only thing I do is Photoshop as a hobby and I'm a fairly lightweight PS user.  I use a mixed bag of monitors that I have purchased; Some old and some new, five in total.  I control all of them thru a program called DisplayFusion plus I use a docking station for extra video inputs.  I can put all monitors minus my main monitor on standby or have them running with DisplayFusion.  With all monitors running my fans throttle like crazy.  It sounds like the PC is preparing for liftoff into space.  To prevent this, I essentially have put my PC into, "Limp Mode".  Meaning I'm only running one monitor to avoid a meltdown.  Apparently some of the monitors use the NVIDIA GPU and the some monitors use the Intel GPU via the docking station. 

    My friend suggested I do a BIOS update.  I told him that was a great idea.  I went to the Support page, I hit the, "Detect Drivers" button.  I downloaded the drivers and when I click on the 1.0.13.exe file, it asks if it's OK to modify my PC, I click yes, It makes my cursor spin for a second or two then it creates another file called, "amifldrv64.sys".  That's all it does.  According to the instructional video it is supposed to launch the BIOS update.  My current BIOS version is 1.0.10. 

    From what I have scanned thru on a couple of posts here, I believe it's the Intel GPU at risk.  Something about a meltdown too.  Not good.  I also gleaned from another post that antivirus might play a factor.  Would simply booting into Safe Mode and turning off my antivirus allow me to update my BIOS?  I'm fairly certain using all my monitors is forcing the unstable Intel GPU to engage resulting in the fan throttling; Hence the long explanation in the first paragraph. 

    My specs copied from Amazon.com:

    • 8th Generation Intel i7-8700 6-Core 3.20 GHz Processor (12M Cache, up to 4.60 GHz), Windows 10 Pro (64-bit)
    • 32GB DDR4 2666MHz Memory, 512GB Solid State Drive + 2TB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive, DVD-RW Drive
    • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050Ti 4GB GDDR5 Graphics (1x Display Port, 1x HDMI, 1x DVI), Intel UHD Graphics 630
    • Dell Wireless 802.11a/c + Bluetooth v4.1, Integrated 5.1 Channel Audio with Waves MaxxAudio Pro
    • 1 Year Limited Warranty, Dell USB Laser Mouse - Black, Dell Wired Keyboard - Black, No Monitor Included

    Please let me know if any more info is needed.  This was a big chunk of cash I spent on this PC.  I was kind of hoping everything worked flawlessly out of the box.  I was wrong and now I need your help.  Please keep any replies simple.  I'm not computer illiterate but I'm not a wizard either.  If it was anything other than the BIOS I'd be OK with just taking shots in the dark but I don't want to brick my shiny new PC.  Please help.

    Thanks in advance. 

     

     


    If you aren't computer literate are you sure you need all that in a computer? I often wonder if people use half of what they buy and why do they buy it all? I don't know why your bios failed since I wasn't there to control it.

  • 3153

    0

    Posted October 28th, 2018 10:00

    I have no idea which fan it is, without opening the case.

  • 1755

    0

    Posted October 28th, 2018 11:00

    I will call first.  That's the best option.  Plus the tech support is paid for, why not use it.

    EDIT:  I will post my findings/results here.

    Thank you Tesla1856.

  • Tesla1856

    10 Wizard

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    71587 Points

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    Posted October 28th, 2018 11:00


    @ViceLikeEye wrote:

    I have no idea which fan it is, without opening the case.


    Correct. The side cover pops-off. You can run it like that for a while.

    I suggest you download and read the PDF manuals if you want to DIY troubleshoot and/or fix.

    Dell Rockstar

    Microsoft Windows and Apple iOS Developer (Retired)
    - Like many of you, I can appreciate a good game-engine.
    - I answer questions here, but I'm not a Dell employee.
    - Consider giving posts you like a "thumbs-up"
    - Posting models-numbers and software versions speeds trouble-shooting.
    - Click "Mark as Accepted Answer" on any post that answers your question best.