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A suggested windows update for my Alienware PC, bricked my motherboard.

Anonymous
2023-07-12T20:41:45+00:00

A suggested windows update for my Alienware PC, was firmware. I downloaded the firmware, "installed and restarted" .... and the board was a brick.

Apparently my Aurora Ryzen R10 motherboard with a 5600x, shares very similar properties to the 3xxx board. With one small, difference... the firmware.

Being firmware, all of the recovery options that rely on use of USB peripherals, like, press F12 for the boot menu, or press F2 for boot selections... are impossible, with no power on any of the USB ports.

Alienware claims almost $300 to buy support, a new board, and have it fixed.

I find it unfathomable that windows would make an error with such an important piece of software. Dell, selling a windows platform, says only official updates should be downloaded from DELL.

Dear windows, please quit distributing incorrect firmware to customers, "For" Dell. As they clearly aren't approving the distribution, and it clearly is breaking machines.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Windows update

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-10-21T19:43:36+00:00

    This is a Microsoft problem. MS shouldn't be distributing forced BIOS updates at all, EVER. Always best to get these from your PC or motherboard manufacturer when needed. This happened to me last Summer also with my Alienware R8. Fortunately I was savvy enough to revert the firmware via the jumper on the motherboard, but took me a lot of research to figure out where it was and how to do it. I didn't opt in or accept this to happen. Windows itself did it during "off hours" in the middle of the night and then I had a really bad morning the next morning for work. Any attempt you make to circumvent forced Windows updates gets undone, and then Microsoft pushes firmware updates without consent, bricking your computer.

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-07-13T09:18:18+00:00

    Hi dejester1,

    Welcome to Microsoft Community.

    We understand your frustration and the impact this issue has had on your Alienware PC.

    When it comes to firmware updates, it is generally recommended to obtain them from the official manufacturer's website. Dell, as the manufacturer of your Alienware PC, advises users to only download official updates from their platform. In this thread, it seems that the firmware you obtained may not have been thoroughly tested or approved by Dell for compatibility with your specific hardware configuration.

    Windows operating system itself does not directly distribute firmware updates for specific hardware devices.

    Instead, it acts as an intermediary platform through which manufacturers like Dell can provide firmware updates to their customers.

    For example, as shown in the figure below.

    Microsoft's update service acts as an intermediary platform, facilitating the distribution of updates from various manufacturers to their respective devices. Microsoft cannot pre-verify the compatibility of firmware or software with individual hardware configurations since they don't have access to specific hardware details for all devices on the market. 

    While the Windows update service serves as a platform for delivering updates, the responsibility for firmware compatibility ultimately lies with the manufacturer.

    We're sorry for the inconvenience you've faced, and I empathize with your frustration. Technological issues can be complex and sometimes unpredictable, and it's unfortunate that you're experiencing the consequences of this firmware problem. 

    It is crucial for both Microsoft and manufacturers like Dell to work together to ensure that firmware updates are thoroughly tested and verified for compatibility to avoid situations like the one you experienced. 

    Best Regards,

    Kyo - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

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