Boot Problem with a New Dell Laptop 5558-2571 Win 8.1

[edge]

Dell I7-5200u, 6 G Ram, 1 TB HDD. Win 8.1. Mcaffe IS, MBAM. This is a new system I am still setting up.


I need help solving a boot problem and the order of installing the system updates. The boot problem occurred after I power up the system when it requested repair or restore disks. No system updates were done, except 4 Win updates on 7/25. I tried the self repair twice and rebooted twice each time and windows loaded. I have not tried rebooting and the system has been not shut down since. I would like to be sure there is not problem with any part of the system hardware or software while I am still within the product return period. I thought I would start with the OS first and then the remaining Win updates, drivers, bios, but I will follow the method suggested here.

I have made the Dell System Recovery on DVD, but not on a USB drive. I later read it may be necessary use a USB drive for OS Recovery .

The Boot problem seems to have occurred after a testing if the usb ports were functioning, there was a single system beep, maybe from removing the devices too fast. However, I can't be sure this was a related of the problem. The ubs ports are working OK now. There are no warnings in device manager for any devices or HDD. The system seems to be functioning normally, except for running slow which I think is due to the McAfee IS.

Windows shows there are 54 Important updates needed and 70 optional. Dell shows the following drivers needed for the system. As mentioned above, I would appreciate any info on what order to do the updates.

Application |
Audio |
Backup and Recovery |
BIOS |
Chipset |
CPU |
Mouse, Keyboard & Input Devices |
Network |
Serial ATA |
Video

Thanks in advance

 

[edge]

I just was looking around the system and opened the Dell System Check Up. I found there was eight system events: The first was a Blue Screen - Caused by a McAfee driver. Two systems shut-down (which I described above) , two Explorer fault buckets, two Windows update failure and a System settings failure. I have heard McAfee can cause problems with this system. Maybe it is worth uninstalling and trying another IS.

 

[Wrench97]

Uninstall Macafee and use the built in Windows defender for now, install all the updates

Chipset
Serial ATA
Video
CPU
Network
Bios
and the rest in no particular order

 

[edge]

Uninstalled MacAfee , now using Windows defender and no boot problems. The desk top would not come up with the windows key until after I opened a folder on the task bar. It works OK now. Installed 54 important Win updates and I will continue updates and post back.

I found SoftThinks Agent Service - sftservice.EXE that periodically runs and has 95% disk utilization. I have stopped cloud syncing to try to stop this task. What is it and can this task be safely and permanently stopped ?

 

[Wrench97]

SoftThinks Agent Service would be Dell Data Safe, if you don't wish use it(like many others) you can uninstall it in Control Panel/Programs and features.

 

[edge]

If there is a problem updating BIOS is there a way to restore the original bios file?

I have made recovery disks using the Dell Data Safe/ Back up and Recovery. If I delete this program can I use the same disks for recovery or do I need to make new disks from another program?

 

[Wrench97]

The recovery software would be used in case of a hard drive failure and you had to install a new one so in theory the recovery disks should be a standalone boot disk.

If a bios flash goes bad most likely you'll need to replace the motherboard or at least send yours out to reprogramed.

 

[Jared]

Unless you have dual bios, used for backup/recovery purposes if something goes wrong.

 

[edge]

Had another boot error after power down/up boot. Error : " system event - application error zeroconfigservice.exe, fault bucket, app crash". This was after all windows updates, except for Dual Band wireless AC Driver, which I am waiting with other updates. System requested Recovery disk or Restart. I did a Restart and the system stated " performing updates". Once completed windows booted normally.

MBAM free trial has ended, but is using a lot of CPU.

I opened bios setting and found there is an option for for boot sequence, but the DVD or USB does not appear in the options. Is it correct I need to change boot sequence to first DVD (ODD) for restore disk if system can't boot?

There is an option for BIOS "downgrade to previous" in menu. Does this mean the BIOS can load previous version in firmware without replacing chip / motherboard - dual bios as stated above?

 

[Wrench97]

It can only down grade the bios if it boots, a failed bios update will normally render the system unbootable, Dells, especially laptops do not have dual bios chips like higher end desktop retail motherboards.

The last crash sounds like it was part of the update cycle gone wrong and corrected itself on reboot.

 

[edge]

I had another boot problem. This is just after I installed software, but I don't know if it is the cause. The system would not get passed the login screen and boot to Windows until I powered down twice. The error - "The Group policy Client Service failed, The uuid type is not supported". When the system finally booted to Windows the error - Failed to connect to Windows Service on Boot. I looked at event viewer and have many errors. There is one Progam error - "True ColorALS (Dell Display ) cannot be found. It is not installed or corrupted." Many System errors in the Service Control Manager - 1) Multimedia Class Scheduler, 2) MS Account Signin Assistant , 3) Problem Report and Solution, 4) Shell HW Detection.