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March 30th, 2025 12:57
x17 R2, update minefield with Windows 11 24H2, BIOS and NVIDIA
Trapped. Because there are these multiple circular update issues each of which I have little confidence of success and I cannot afford to brick my laptop. I rely on it. I cannot see a safe path forwards. I am looking for advice on how to proceed and in what sequence as confidence is very very low. I am deeply dissappointed and stressed to be facing these issues. I have an Alienware x17 R2 laptop out of warranty. I am currently stable on Windows 11 23H2, Bios 1.21 and Nvidia 3080 Ti driver 566.03 22October 2024.
The story...
1) The 5Dec2024 Nvidia update crashed my laptop but fortunately I was able to return to a Restore Point via the Recovery Screen. However, that was only after the delights of having to find my Bitlocker recovery code via someone else's laptop. So then I decided to stick with my stable 566.03 driver and not update Nvidia again.
2) Then news of the broken Windows 11 24H2 update so I switch my laptop to not get windows updates. I was not happy that in Microsoft speak the word "pause" means 'delay by' rather than actually to pause as in halt.
3) Then the Windows March update forced itsself on my laptop. Can you guess? Yes my laptop crashed. The 'updated' windows froze during login or within 30 seconds of login. The sytem clock had stopped. The mouse pointer had frozen or dissappeared and no input from anything. I was able to get to the recovery screen but I could not use a restore point as the windows update had wiped my restore points. Fortunately, I was able to use the Recovery Screen 'Uninstall Updates'. Two options: Uninstall Quality & Uninstall Features. I did both. That got me back to my stable position again. I immediately created a new restore point or two.
5) It looks like the Windows 11 24H2 attempted bios and nvidia updates and failed. It left the laptop with Device Encryption suspended.
6) Now I'm on a ticking clock for when this broken update hits me again in 4 weeks. So started research what is happening on the internet.
7) My BIOS is 1.21. The Dell website offer me a single Critical bios update 1.25. I have watched loads of Youtube videos warning me of the risks of a bios update bricking the sytem and the risk is all on me. Now the catch, the Dell website offer me the most recent bios, but 1.22, 1.23 and 1.24 exist. The videos say that if there are multiple bios versions then you should upgrade in sequence. So that is 4 opportunities to brick your laptop. Now I know Device Encryption must me off, and all programs stopped, including antivirus before doing a bios update. I have never done a bios update and it just gives me the shivers thinking about the risk (x4). Worst is that the details with 1.25 mention windows 24H2 but I do not understand if relevant to the windows update and needed or not.
8) Worryingly, The Dell SupportAssist seems to think that I have already updated to 1.25 when I have definitely not. I have checked. Same with the NVidia update - I have not - rolled back remember.
9) NVidia driver updates. There have been 8 updates since my stable 566.03. Do they work? I wouldn't bet on it - so many updates. Do companies not test their updates anymore? So what to do here? Could the NVidia driver update done by the Windows update be causing the crash or at least one of the multiple causes? The Dell website offers me a critical NVidia driver update. What to do?
10) Does the Windows 11 24H2 update require the bios version 1.25? Does it require the NVidia update?
11) Hence what do I do? In what sequence do I do it? Advice from friends has been contrary and with a 'good luck' and 'glad its you not me'. I am expecting this Windows 11 24H2 update to force install again in 4 weeks and if no solution I am hoping that the Recovery screen Uninstall Updates will rescue me again. Hope is not a technical feature! Not a satisfactory status to be in for an expensive Dell laptop.
12) Do I start with BIOS updates and do them all in sequence? or something else? I feel trapped in the middle of an update minefield and each diretion goes boom - crashed or bricked laptop. To BIOS or not To Bios? To NVidia or not to NVidia?
13) Lucky 13? Gulp! Please advise an action plan. Thank you in advance for help.
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(edited)
Stefos4
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April 6th, 2025 01:50
Hi there,
I ran the Windows 23H2 updates with no issues.
I ran the Windows 24H2 update tool and got a green light to upgrade it to 24H2 and installed 24H2 and up my M18 R1.
I never knew that the newest BIOS had to be installed BEFORE 24H2.
Moral of the story: DO NOT upgrade to 24H2 until your laptop has it as an option
I paid $195 to have my out of warranty M18 R1 get Windows 11 reinstall with 24H2.
Stefos
(edited)
Alien Mike D2R2
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May 13th, 2025 14:40
Well, all my critical problems are now resolved and have a working laptop again.
Stage 1 - I updated everything I could as follows.
11. Updated BIOS directly from 1.21 to 1.25
Note: screen update displays did not match anything seen on YouTube or the Dell YouTube channel
12. Updated Alienware Command Centre to 6.7.37.0
13. Dell Support Assist to 4.8.2.29006
14. Dell updates on a few others too
15. Downloaded Graphics update from Dell 566.41. It failed to install.
Stage 2 - wait for time to pass & hope for new information and updates
21. Read the fulll release notes of various multiple Nvidia updates from Nvidia direct. Discovered that Nvidia do not recommend using any option via Device Manager for Nvidia as not supported by Microsoft. Beware the gazillions of YouTube videos that recommend this method. Nvidia advise use Add/Remove programs.
22. Decided to use the famous third party software DDU - Display Driver Uninstaller.
Stage 3 - GPU Driver Update
31. Uninstalled driver 566.03 using DDU
32. Installed driver 566.41 from the Dell website directly using the 'Download and Install' option. This worked.
Stage 4 - Integrated GPU Update
41. Windows update offered an optional update to the Intel(R) Iris(R) Xe Graphics driver to: 32.0.100.6556
This update succeeded.
Stage 5 - Windows 24H2 Update
51. This takes a very long time - several hours - over 3 hours. Many times it looked like it was stuck/stalled doing nothing but just be patient and wait and it eventually finishes.
52. The laptop was now still ina functioning mode but there were still stings waiting...
53. Switch ON restore points and the windows update wipes them and disables creating restore points.
54. Create a new restore point.
55. Validate all your software launches ok.
Stage 6 - World of Warcraft freeze/crashes laptop on launch
61. Launch Nvidia Control Panel
61a> Go to the Manage Display Mode
61b> Ensure the mode chosen is OPTIMUS (critical step)
61c> Reboot from cold.
62. Optimus is an Nvidia feature to switch graphics between the integrated gpu and the Nvidia GPU. It seems Windows itself fails to comminucate with Nvidia properly when attempting this causing the crash.
63. Create a new restore point before proceeding with any other changes.
At this point the laptop is uptodate according to the Dell scan for driver updates and everything is now working in Windows 24H2.
Fingers crossed now this does not happen again.
Stefos4
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May 14th, 2025 01:49
@Alien Mike D2R2
Great to hear about this
Yeah...updating can be very difficult.
My mistake was that I could have just updated the BIOS and then the Windows 24H2 update would have been a breeze.