Recently released Dell BIOS updates are reportedly causing serious boot issues on many laptop and desktop models.
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Affected models include Dell Latitude laptops (5320 and 5520), as well as Dell Inspiron 5680 and Alienware Aurora R8 desktops.
Customer reports shared on social media platforms, including Dell's official community website and Reddit, warn that the latest BIOS version (version 1.14.3 for Latitude laptops, 2.8.0 for Inspiron, and 1.0. 18 for Aurora R8) will cause boot issues.
Although the affected systems will power on, users say that the peripheral lights and displays will not turn on. When they boot, they will go straight to a blue screen and shut down again.
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Unofficial fix available: BIOS downgrades
The easy solution until Dell releases an update to address the bugs that lead to boot issues is to downgrade to a previous firmware version.
"If you manage to get them to start, they will display the message 'Time of Day Not Set' every time they shut down and restart. Reverting to version 1.13.0 apparently fixes the problem, if you can manage to do that," advises one Latitude user.
Some of the affected users have shared detailed procedures that can be used to downgrade their BIOS to an older version using SupportAssist OS Recovery to resolve this issue.
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It's also important to mention that laptops affected by this issue may still experience boot issues until you disconnect the battery, press the power button for 15 seconds, and reconnect the battery and charger before powering it back on.
However, you also have the option to first try Dell's official instructions on how to downgrade the system BIOS, fix a computer that won't boot, troubleshoot POST issues , and resolve boot issues using SupportAssist OS Recovery.
Information source: bleepingcomputer.com
