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February 26th, 2025 17:04

Dell XPS boot issues

I'm having a boot issue since yesterday.

It started when I restarted my laptop while it had very low power and was powered via my external screen.

Windows started, but my screen froze before I could enter my password.

I was able to go in safe mode, so I used that to backup my files.

I also did the pre-boot diagnostics, and the quick scan and advanced scan were fine.

I then tried to re-install windows keeping my files, but something went wrong during installation and since then everything is worse.

If I restart, my laptop gets stuck at the Dell logo.

I van go into one-time boot mode, but if I try diagnostics or bios setup my screen freezes after a few seconds.

SupportAssist OS recovery, bios flash update Windows boot manager go to the stuck Dell logo.

I tried to use an USB stick to install Windows, but this is also not working.

I just opened the back of my laptop to unplug the battery for a few seconds, but this didn't change anything.

Anyone who knows what else I can try?

10 Elder

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28.6K Posts

February 26th, 2025 18:55

With the power adapter disconnected, remove the base cover and disconnect the battery from the mainboard.  Hold the power button for 30 sec.


Reassemble and re-try the install.

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February 26th, 2025 19:38

@ejn63​ 

I did like you said. After I reconnected the battery, I plugged back the power adapter. Now I get stuck on the Dell secured with Dell SafeBIOS screen. Did I have to press F12?

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7 Posts

February 26th, 2025 19:40

After powering off I can go to the one time boot settings, but I have still the same issues

10 Elder

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28.6K Posts

February 26th, 2025 20:07

What model XPS, and has it passed the diagnostics (F12 at powerup to start those)?

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7 Posts

February 26th, 2025 20:36

@ejn63​ 

XPS 9520

It passed the diagnostics (both quick and advanced) before I tried to re-install Windows, and now if I try to run the diagnostics again it gets stuck on Dell Secured with Dell SafeBIOS...

10 Elder

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28.6K Posts

February 26th, 2025 21:22

Does removing the SSD allow the system to boot proprely into a setup screen?

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7 Posts

February 26th, 2025 21:56

@ejn63​ 

I will try this. Should I try to boot without the SSD or do I need to put the SSD back after removing it?

10 Elder

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28.6K Posts

February 26th, 2025 22:00

It won't boot without the SSD, but it should power up to a setup screen rapidly.  If it does, there are a couple of possibilities -- either the drive (most likely the UEFI partition) is corrupt, or the drive is failing.  

If the system will boot to a setup screen with the drive disconnected, before attempting a reinstall use diskpart (which you can access through the Windows setup routine) to delete all the partitions on the drive before starting the reinstall.

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7 Posts

February 27th, 2025 08:16

@ejn63​ 

Without the SSD it just shows the Dell logo, nothing else happens. I have put the SSD back, and now I also just get the Dell logo, and F12 or F2 are not doing anything...

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7 Posts

February 27th, 2025 08:30

Now after a few minutes I can go back to BIOS setup and one time boot settings

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