Pro Max 16 Plus, cannot get into BIOS after setting it to discrete graphics only

Unplug the system and disconnect the battery from the mainboard.  Hold the power button for 30 sec.  Then reassemble - that will reset the system to default.

@ejn63​ Thanks so much for your reply. I just tried this method, and I believe it resets the CMOS similarly to unplugging the battery for a minute. However, it doesn't seem to affect the graphics settings. I still can't access or see the BIOS screen. Is it possible that the graphics setting is stored elsewhere?

Ok! I got it back to hybrid graphics by booting into BIOS recovery mode and navigating it blindly. (Dell, it would be reeaally nice if these BIOS menus were available online somewhere)

(Bios is version 1.2.7)

Get into Bios recovery mode:

• Verify that the laptop is turned off and disconnect the AC adapter.
• Press and hold the CTRL + ESC key on the keyboard.
• Connect the AC adapter to the laptop.

• Hold the CTRL + ESC key on the keyboard until the keyboard backlight lights up.

Then wait a few seconds to be sure you're in Bios Recovery:

Then press:

• 2x 'right arrow'  (to select 'Load BIOS Defaults')
• Then press 'Enter'
• 1x 'down arrow' (to select 'Continue')
• press 'Enter'
• 1x 'down arrow' (to select 'Confirm')
• press 'Enter'

I've made some screenshots for reference now I see the menu again:

@ejn63​ the CMOS battery has been well hidden. This is not an option for me unless I deconstruct the laptop. 

The Pro Max 16 Plus in this thread doesn't have a CMOS battery -- what model are you asking about, and what's the issue with it?

@_wieger​ I feel your pain and I appreciate you sharing your experience / solution with everyone. I am in the same situation with my Dell Pro Max 18. Unfortunately this solution does not work for me. I have tried multiple times but no luck. It seems like I am booting into the BIOS recovery but eventually it times out and reboots after making my blind key presses? There must be some nuance that I am missing or perhaps there is a difference between the Pro Max 16 plus BIOS recovery and the Dell Pro Max 18? The most frustrating part is that I only got into this situation while fighting with Windows 11 using all of the virtualization acceleration for itself and making my VMs run in snail mode. I finally got the Microsoft bloatware disabled but I stupidly put my BIOS graphics into discrete only mode in the process. The laptop is in the return window so maybe I should just send it back to Dell since they seem to not provide any useful remedy for this situation? 

@ejn63​ that might explain why I cannot find a CMOS battery. I have a Dell Pro Max 18 and I removed the main battery for about 10 minutes while searching for a CMOS battery. I gave up and put the battery back in. The laptop stated that this boot will take longer than usual. Not sure if that indicates the BIOS was reset? Anyways, the BIOS still has no screen. Essentially I cannot see anything after the first 3 second Dell splash screen until I boot the OS. This includes the BIOS screen, the onetime boot screen, the windows recovery screen, the bitlocker pin screen, NOTHING. I can blindly get through the bitlocker pin screen  to the OS but that is it. I have tried external monitors via HDMI and USB C but nothing works, I have blindly tried BIOS recovery, I have tried reflashing the BIOS from the OS, I have tried blindly setting the BIOS to defaults from the BIOS menu.... NOTHING works. This discrete only option seems like a bug more than a feature. Any other ideas I can try? 

@ejn63​ your response has the fingerprint of an AI chatbot. 

No, no AI here.

Disconnecting the main battery and AC power on most newer Dell systems does reset the mainboard.  The embedded controller chip that handles power-up is reset and re-reads its data from the system's firmware (what used to be called a BIOS). That chip controls power-up, and resetting it can help with a no-start system.  I don't think the EC is the issue here.

If all else fails, you can try a firmware recovery, which should absolutely reset the system to default for whatever version you install.  See below for the process.

https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000132453/how-to-recover-the-bios-on-a-dell-computer-or-tablet

@ejn63​ no worries, just checking. Hard to tell these days. Thank you for your efforts! I will try your suggestion 🤞😬🤞

@ejn63​ I just realized that your suggestion (BIOS recovery) is one of the many things I tried that failed. I am starting to think this laptop is defective. I have seen a couple dell support screens pop up saying "unrecoverable error". 

@rs555​ Ah yes, that sounds problematic. I would contact support. My laptop is working fine now. HDR is also functioning well with hybrid graphics. I think the latest Windows update resolved the issue.

@_wieger​ you should be knighted! I did not give up. It turns out that my situation had a few more details than yours. My steps to success: suspend bitlocker, update my BIOS manually via the OS, reboot, suspend bitlocker again, shutdown, then apply your steps! Somehow I ended up with no recoverable BIOS image which the BIOS recovery needed and also the bitlocker pin screen was messing with your steps. Thank you so much for taking the time to post your solution! 

Hi,

I managed to fix it using the Dell Command | Configure Application.

https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-ca/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=md8cj&oscode=wt64a&productcode=dell-pro-max-mb16250-laptop

It's used to setup BIOS deployments. You do need to be able to boot to Windows for this fix to work.

1. Launch the Dell Command Configure Wizard.

2. Click on the "Create Local System Package - Settings from the current system" tab.

3. Search for "Onboard Graphics", then the Edit tab and find the key where you can select to Enable the onboard graphics option.

4. Click on "Export.exe" and save the file to wherever. It will prompt to create a password if you'd like.

5. Find your folder where you saved it and launch the .exe file.

6. Reboot the computer and you should not have access to your BIOS.