Dell XPS 13 L322X Boot from USB

Hi PGOODW,

What is the exact system model?

Update the BIOS from support.dell.com - http://dell.to/1kGWIcI - enter the service tag and select drivers and downloads and run the BIOS update.

Restart the system and press f2 to enter BIOS - go to boot tab and disable secure boot - save and exit. Boot to windows -> go to control panel -> windows updates -> run all windows updates. Then try upgrading to W8.1.

If you are still unable to upgrade to W8.1, then send us a screenshot of the error encountered. Based on that, we can suggest a resolution.

Keep us updated.

Hi Rishi,

Thanks for getting back to me. I am using the XPS 13 L322X.

I updated the BIOS to  A10, 28/08/2013 and disabled secure boot, I checked for windows updates, but there where none available.

I tried to download 8.1 from the Windows store, but it is still failing at 88%, when it is preparing to reboot to finish the install. The windows error code is 0x80004005. I have checked this error code with MS, and the only thing they have suggested is to install 8.1 from a USB.

When I try to add the USB as a boot device from BIOS it does not show up.

Have you seen this error before on the same model of XPS?

Thanks for the help,

Paul.

Hi Paul,

Apologies for delay in response.

We can add an external USB ODD to the BIOS - by providing a specific boot path. However, there is no such path available for the USB flash drive itself. Ideally when you plug in the USB drive into the system and press f12 key during start up - to get to one time boot menu - it should list the USB flash drive in the boot menu as one of the options.

Q: Is this a flash drive provided by Dell - an OEM USB key to reinstall the OS? If so, Could you check this USB flash drive for functionality on another Dell system? Plug in the device and restart the system and press f12 to go to one time boot menu and see if the flash drive is listed there. If not, on a working system, plug this flash drive in and launch the OS installation exe and see if the installation launches. This will isolate if the flash drive is working or as I suspect to be faulty.

Keep us updated.

Hi Rishi,

I do not have an OEM USB key, but I have tried two different USB's without
success and when I attach a Dell External USB DVD-ROM Drive, it is also not
recognised in the BIOS. All of these devices are recognised when in Windows 8.0.

Have there been other support calls related to this issue? And if so what
is the resolution. I am starting to worry that this DELL XPS 13 will never
be upgraded.

Thanks for the help.

Regards,

Paul.

Hi Paul,

The XPS 322x has been tested functional for W10 - see this link - http://dell.to/1IYeHK1

Firstly, you state - "All of these devices are recognised when in Windows 8.0." However, in your previous post, you have mentioned that you were unable to upgrade to W8.1 and had issues with the same and hence were trying to install 8.1 from the USB. This contradicts the issue. Please confirm what is the exact OS currently installed on the system.

Also, if you dont have an OEM USB key, what USB are you trying to boot from? Where did you procure it? Please confirm this as well. Then read below:

Update the BIOS from support.dell.com - http://dell.to/1kGWIcI - enter the service tag and select drivers and downloads and run the BIOS update.

Restart the system and press f2 key to enter BIOS ->

• go to boot tab and ensure boot mode is set to UEFI
• select add boot device
  
• In the first text box - enter any description of the device - for ex: ODD for external ODD
  
• Type in exactly "Efi\boot\bootx64.efi
  
• Press tab and select yes and enter
  

Restart the system and press f12 key to enter one time boot menu and the device should now show up there.

Hi Rishi,

Just to clarify I am running a Dell XPS 13 L322X on Windows 8.0. I have updated all the drivers available on the Dell Support site.

I am trying to upgrade to 8.1. I have tried to update to 8.1 using the following ways -

• From the Windows store - Upgrade fails at 88%.
• Using DVD Drive - I used an External Dell DVD drive to do the install, again the install stops at 88%
• Using USB - I have an image of 8.1 on a USB (I had a support call open with Microsoft regarding this issue, and they created the 8.1 image on a USB stick I had). As the BIOS does not recognise the USB I cannot add this as a boot device. I bought a brand new USB stick and this is also not recognised.

I went through the steps you outlined above, but this also does not work. How does the command Efi\boot\bootx64.efi work?

I am guessing Efi is the USB, and the bootx64.efi file is contained within the boot folder. If this is the case the bootx64.efi file does not exist in the Windows 8.1 image on the USB. 

Dell must have a knowledge base of known errors for the XPS 13. Can you please confirm if this is a known issue? Or am I the only person having this issue?

Regards,

Paul.

Hi Paul,

Thank you for the update.

The efi is the boot path to boot from the specific device.

I presume you do not have any data on the system that needs to be saved. So, lets check if the recovery partition is intact.

Hold the shift key and click on restart the system - it will boot to advanced boot options - click on troubleshoot -> advanced options -> see if you have the Dell backup and recovery manager available. If yes, click on that and it should restore the system to factory settings. If not, then you could try refresh / reset - it will restore the system back and then you would need to run all windows updates from control panel. Once done, restart the system and press f2 key to enter BIOS - go to boot tab and disable secure boot - save and exit. Once back into windows - try upgrading to W8.1 through the Windows Store.

Let us know if this works.

Hi Rishi,

There is no Dell Backup and recovery manager available. I performed another full restore and I am still getting the same issue. A colleague has the exact same Laptop and he is also having the same issue.

Please can you confirm if this is a known issue?

Hi Rishi,

As well as confirming if this is a known issue with the Dell XPS, can you also advise if there is some kind of Dell Hardware debugging which I can use? The Windows Event logs do not provide any information, so it would be useful to identify the issue using a Dell debug.

If I am unable to install 8.1, can I port the Laptop to Dell so that you can fix the issue?

Regards,

Paul.

Hi Paul,

There is no known issue as such reported on this model in regards to the issue you are facing. This is clearly an issue with the OS.

Read this article - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/843499 - try the steps suggested.

If the above article does not help resolve the issue, then I would suggest you to kindly reinstall the OS using a Dell OEM. If the system is under warranty and you do not have the Dell OEM image, then send me the service tag and your contact details in a private conversation.

If there is no warranty and if you are located in the US - then you could order them through this link - http://dell.to/1zfqHG1 

Keep us updated.