2022 Precision 3660 Bios update, splash screen will not go away

Question

3660 Precision

Intel 12900K

Nvidia RTX M4000 GPU

1T storage

64 or 128 GB...can't remember

A few days ago, the BIOS update failed while using Support Assist. Upon advice from Dell to hold the start stop button for 30 seconds to reach the BIOS page, I was then instructed to follow the prompts to re-set the BIOS. After doing so - and I have done this over two dozen times - the splash screen shows up and will not go away...I cannot access the computer. I purchased an extended on-site warranty but all of the help has been directing me to follow the same path, which leads back to the splash screen. Photos of the test results are below.

This desktop was quite expensive and I use it - need it - every day for work. The severity status is level 3...I've no idea what that means, but I cannot get the computer to open windows. This is the second Precision workstation that I have purchased within 5 years...

I did download a BIOS to a USB thumb drive, but this does not show up as an option when selecting from the three default BIOS options.

Any advice is greatly appreciated. If this happened in spring, I would be crying. I work with AutoCAD and SketchUp in my own business...I am far from a software or hardware expert. Photos of the test results are just below...the BIOS appears to have had problems for a while...?

mazzinia_ · Answer

Hello,

Those warnings appear to be temperature related. Can you access the bios ? What about F12 ?

If you can access the bios, check if the setting is UEFI / Ahci , or if is UEFI / RAID. If raid , change it to ahci

meboice58 · Answer

@mazzinia_​  Hello @mazzinia, I may be a little over my head answering this question.  The only way that I get to the BIOS page is to hold the on off button in for 30 seconds.  After which, my only real options are to select from one of 3 BIOS settings.   But, I will try again now...perhaps I missed a step...stay tuned...  EDIT:  after another try, no other choices but to select from the 3 BIOS options...which eventually leads to the splash screen, every time. Also, regarding temperature...the unit is placed in a very open area, so we can, I think, eliminate it's environment as a potential cause...?  I do know that the newest i9 processors run very hot... Dell did just send an email asking if I would send my workstation to an ARC facility for testing.  Trying to find out how this works with my ProSupport warranty, which expires in 2027.

mazzinia_ · Answer

Hello,

sorry for asking that, given the screenshot with the warnings , I thought you could access the bios but booting was stuck on the splash screen. My bad. And those warnings were just warnings, single things on few days, they're not relevant.

With prosupport normally you have onsite assistance vs having to ship the unit, it's part of the package... and in theory they should come within 24 hours of the incident being opened ( I used in theory, because then depends on the availability of the spare parts they may deem required to have with them ).

In your situation, imo they should swap out the motherboard for the quickest possible resolution. This said, if you ship the system out, you would have to make sure they don't erase the ssd and reinstall the OS ( assuming you have data you want and need to keep , on it )

meboice58 · Answer

@mazzinia_​  Good morning, Happy New Year! Dell are sending a packaging box to my house so that I can send it to one of their ARC facilities.   I hope that they can fix the computer without losing all of my documents... I will report back when I have more information.  Thank you for checking in!

mazzinia_ · Answer

@meboice58​  Happy New Year to you too :) About the documents, it would be really, REALLY better if you backup the data before shipping ( if nvme , put into a suitable usb3 adapter and transfer the files to another pc/laptop , by example )

meboice58 · Answer

@mazzinia_​  Hello @mazzinia, I was not able to get Windows to start since this happened.  So...no back ups! I did ask Dell if they could back up the Documents - for a fee - if they have to change the HD or install a new Windows 10 OS...this is about the limit of my knowledge envelop... Michael

mazzinia_ · Answer

@meboice58​ I know, I was thinking about  Precision 3660 Tower Service Manual (dell.com) page 22 , removing the nvme ssd , put it into an external nvme to usb3.0 adapter, and save the data. ( note, I don't know your configuration... if you have a 3.5' hdd or ssd ( 2.5' with adapter ) installed , etc )

Precision Fixed Workstations

2022 Precision 3660 Bios update, splash screen will not go away

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