Error on boot "ME is in recovery mode"

Error on boot "ME is in recovery mode"


Article Summary: This article provides information on receiving the error message "ME is in recovery mode" and troubleshooting to resolve the error.


Table of Contents:
  1. ME is in recovery mode
  2. Updating BIOS


Issue 1:


ME is in recovery mode
If you run into an error on boot-up which states “ME is in recovery mode”, it could indicate a corrupt BIOS installation is preventing the system from recognizing the hard drive. This can occur if a system has any type of power outage/surge during BIOS installation or when the BIOS download is corrupt.

Note:
If the motherboard was just replaced, please verify that the Intel Active Management Technology was configured.


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Issue 2:


Updating BIOS
You may be able to resolve this issue by updating to the latest BIOS for your system. To locate and update to the latest BIOS:
  1. Go to "https://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19?c=us&l=en&s=dhs"
  2. Enter your service tag and hit "Submit" or choose your system type by category
  3. Choose "Drivers and Downloads"
  4. Choose the relevant operating system from the drop-down under "Refine your results"
  5. Locate the "BIOS" category and expand it by clicking on the arrow next to the title
  6. Locate the file with the latest BIOS revision number and download and install it.

If re-installing the BIOS does not fix it, you will need to roll back to an older BIOS version and ramp back up to current. This can be done with the following steps:
  1. Go to "https://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19?c=us&l=en&s=dhs"
  2. Enter your service tag and hit "Submit" or choose your system type by category
  3. Choose "Drivers and Downloads"
  4. Choose the relevant operating system from the drop-down under "Refine your results"
  5. Locate the "BIOS" category and expand it by clicking on the arrow next to the title
  6. Locate the file with the latest BIOS revision number and click on the title.
  7. Click on "Previous Versions"
  8. Download the three most recent revisions
  9. Place these on a bootable, command prompt thumb drive
  10. Boot to the thumb drive
  11. Install the BIOS revisions from the oldest to the newest
If you need assistance with creating a bootable USB drive, please visit the link below:

How to create a bootable USB key

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Quick Tips content is self-published by the Dell Support Professionals who resolve issues daily. In order to achieve a speedy publication, Quick Tips may represent only partial solutions or work-arounds that are still in development or pending further proof of successfully resolving an issue. As such Quick Tips have not been reviewed, validated or approved by Dell and should be used with appropriate caution. Dell shall not be liable for any loss, including but not limited to loss of data, loss of profit or loss of revenue, which customers may incur by following any procedure or advice set out in the Quick Tips.

Article ID: SLN180962

Last Date Modified: 07/29/2013 12:00 AM

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