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DGthe3

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3 Posts

139

April 10th, 2025 23:56

m16 R2, will not boot after updates

This morning, I restarted my laptop after being told of a Dell (BIOS? not 100% sure) update, plus a Windows update.

It shut down, installing the Windows update. But it appeared to hang on the restart. The touchpad surround did its colour cycle then stayed at their normal colour (AW blue-green). The keyboard does its start-up rainbow wave pattern continuously. The screen will be black. This is the extent to which it starts up. No logo on screen, no error code flashing via the power button, no beeps.

I let it sit like that for 30 minutes this morning, no change. Then I powered it down, unplugged everything except power, and tried again. It sat for 2 whole hours. Black screen, rainbow keyboard.

I tried the M-BIST test. Saw all the vivid colours on screen one by one, which then turned off.

I have powered it down completely (holding button for at least 20 seconds) and unplugged the power supply. Let my computer sit for at least 15 minutes, plugged it in and when I tried to start it up, nothing.

It feels a little similar to how it took forever to start after I upgraded the RAM. But that was only maybe 15 minutes. As I said, I left it alone for 2 straight hours at one point today.

I have not noticed any hardware glitches or errors. And this did happen as 2 updates had just been installed, so I suspect it is a software issue of some sort. Laptop is almost entirely housebound, 11 months old, and hasn't encountered any falls or spills to date. Hardware failure feels unlikely, especially since no fault codes were thrown.

Can anyone give me any insight or guidance at all?

1 person also has this problem

DELL-Jesse L

Moderator

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17.6K Posts

April 11th, 2025 05:22

Troubleshooting M16 R2 Boot Issues
  1. Check Power Supply: Ensure the power cable is connected and the outlet is functioning. If the power button LED is off, try a different outlet or power cable.
  2. Run Hardware Diagnostics:

    • Turn on the computer and repeatedly tap the F2 key until the One Time Boot Menu appears.
    • Select Diagnostics and press Enter. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the test.
    • Note any error codes that appear.
  3. Forced ePSA Method:

    • For Dell laptops, press and hold the Fn key and then press the power button to start preboot testing and launch ePSA diagnostics.
  4. Clear CMOS:

    • Disconnect the power and remove the computer cover.
    • Locate the RTCRST jumper on the motherboard and short it for about five seconds to clear the CMOS.
    • Reconnect power and try to boot again.
  5. Check for External Devices: Unplug all external devices (e.g., monitors, USB drives) and try booting again. Reconnect devices one at a time to identify any faulty hardware.
  6. No Boot Issue: If the system passes POST but does not boot into the operating system:

    • Ensure the hard drive is functioning properly. If possible, test with a known working hard drive.
    • If the hard drive is fine, the issue may be with the operating system or software.

To receive assistance from Dell chat support, they need to verify the warranty status and ownership. Then you must troubleshoot with them.  Click the "Get Help Now" icon on the right to start a live chat session. If already out of warranty, click here for the Dell out of warranty offering.

DGthe3

1 Rookie

 • 

3 Posts

April 11th, 2025 15:11

Problem somehow resolved itself overnight.

I left my computer off & unplugged. Plugged it in and it started up fine.

Only thing off the top of my head that'd cause that sort of behaviour is a heat issue. But at no point did it seem like it was hot.

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