Bios update failed. Unable to obtain ip address.

Hi Ray Scott:

I've never had to roll back my BIOS (*** see my warning about BIOS updates below for future reference) but you might find some helpful information in the Dell support article Dell BIOS Downgrade Step-by-Step Guide for System Rollback.

Before you attempt a fix please let us know your Dell computer model, Windows OS (include the version and OS build number shown at Settings | System | About | Windows Specifications), and what BIOS version is currently shown in your System Information [enter msinfo32 in a Run dialog box (Windows key + R) and look for the field named "BIOS Version/Date"].

Has the service warranty for your Dell computer expired yet?

It would also help to know how this BIOS update was delivered to your computer. If you have a Dell utility like SupportAssist v4.x or Dell Update for Windows Universal v5.x and it delivered the BIOS update it should be listed on the History page of SupportAssist (see the SupportAssist v4.0 User Guide <here>).  If Windows Update delivered the BIOS update it should be listed in your Windows Update history (e.g., typically as a firmware update at Settings | Update & Security | Windows Update | View Update History | Other Updates on a Win 10 machine) or in your installed updates at Control Panel | Programs | Programs and Features | Installed Updates.

If you haven’t already done so, I’d also advise that you permanently DISABLE your Windows Fast Startup power option as instructed in Brink’s TenForums tutorial Turn On or Off Fast Startup in Windows 10 (instructions for Win 11 users are <here>) and then restart your system a few times to see if this allows the BIOS update to run to completion. The Fast Startup power option (also known as hybrid boot-up / hybrid shutdown) is enabled by default in Win 10 and Win 11 but it can sometimes interfere with the loading and initialization of drivers and services at boot-up and cause all sorts of unexpected glitches and problems with a wide range of programs, including firmware / software updates.
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*** WARNING: I would strongly advise that you do NOT allow a Dell utility like SupportAssist v4.x or Dell Command | Update for Windows Universal v5.x to update you BIOS, since any glitch during the update process could leave your system unbootable. If SupportAssist is installed see the instructions <here> in SupportAssist v4.0 User Guide for disabling automatic updates.

I uninstalled SupportAssist from my Inspiron 5584 (I found it was too buggy and consumed too much RAM and CPU) and when I update my BIOS I normally save the .exe installer recommended on the Drivers & Downloads tab of my Inspiron 5584 support page to my desktop and then right-click and choose "Run as Administrator".  However, the safer method is to flash your BIOS from a removable USB stick.

I also create a full disk image of my hard drive on an external backup drive and have emergency recovery media on hand (e.g., a bootable USB stick) I created with my disk imaging software before starting any BIOS update so I can perform an emergency recovery if something goes wrong.  I use Macrium Reflect Free v8.0 for disk imaging (unsupported since Jan 2024 but still fully functional) but there are many other good choices - see the June 2023 Tech Republic article Top 5 Free & Reliable Hard Disk Drive Cloning Software.

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Dell Inspiron 15 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.5011 * Firefox v132.0.1 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.24090.11-1.1.24090.11 * Malwarebytes Premium v5.2.1.144-1.0.5088 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7783 * Dell Update for Windows Universal v5.4.0 * My Dell v2.2.6.0 * Fusion Service 2.2.14.0

Hi Ray Scott:

... and further to my previous post, please provide further details about the connection error you see when your BIOS update attempts to complete its configuration (e.g., the full error message, if it only occurs at boot-up, etc.).  If possible, an image of the error message would be helpful.

You might also want to run an F12 ePSA (enhanced Pre-boot System Assessment) on-board hardware diagnostic from your Dell BIOS as instructed in the support article How to Run a Preboot Diagnostic Test on a Dell Computer and companion video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cfFECs5Qa0 just in case your BIOS update as created an issue with your Ethernet (NIC) network card or WiFi/wireless driver. I don't recall my BIOS updates requiring a connection to a router to finish the installation, but my Inspiron 5584 (currently at Dell Inspiron 5583 / 5584 System BIOS v1.22.1, rel. 14-Feb-2023) uses a different BIOS.

Dell always recommends that you temporarily suspend BitLocker disk encryption before starting a BIOS update, but even if you have a Pro edition of Win 10 or Win 11 and Control Panel | System and Security | BitLocker Drive Encryption shows BitLocker is enabled I believe most (if not all) installers for newer Dell BIOS updates should do this automatically.
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Dell Inspiron 15 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.5011 * Firefox v132.0.1 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.24090.11-1.1.24090.11 * Malwarebytes Premium v5.2.1.144-1.0.5088 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7783 * Dell Update for Windows Universal v5.4.0 * My Dell v2.2.6.0 * Fusion Service 2.2.14.0