If your system is still under warranty, please contact support by clicking on Get Help Now at the bottom right corner of the screen to receive individualized support.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you're experiencing issues with SupportAssist not working as expected, we recommend starting with a clean uninstall followed by a fresh install. Go to Control Panel, then Add or Remove Programs, and then Uninstall. Afterwards, restart your computer (do not skip this step, it is essential to resolve the issue) Reinstall Support Assist from this link > https://www.dell.com/pt-br/lp/dt/support-assist-for-pcs Click Launch and test the new version. If you encounter issues reinstalling SupportAssist, follow these steps: Download the Microsoft Troubleshooter Tool, open the file, and click Next to run the tool. Click Next, select Uninstalling, choose Dell SupportAssist from the list of programs, and click Next to uninstall. If the uninstallation was successful, close the troubleshooter and restart the system (do not skip this step, it is essential to resolve the issue). Ensure that the following five Windows services are removed from Windows Services when an uninstall is done and started when an upgrade or new install is performed. If they were not removed, please refer to the video below for the complete step-by-step instructions:

Try doing a clean reinstall of both using Revo Uninstaller

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

Thanks! I ran that setup. It goes through the steps including the Media Creation, then closes and nothing further happens.

I eventually found Update ASSISTANT doing the work. I am surprised it didn't open automatically.

The Update Assistant completed all of its tasks. The first restart got through 30% of the update. During the second restart, the system got to 48% then shut itself down. After restart, it again rolled everything back to the previous version.

The above suggestion didn't do any more than the normal Windows Update system. What else can I try?

Hi @Chaos Spyder please take and share photograph or record text within 'Restarting' screen.  Was BIOS update applied over the internet? If system working, there is no requirement to update the BIOS unless it has a feature you want. Never apply BIOS update over the internet because PC might get bricked. Follow the official Dell/Alienware BIOS update process Update the BIOS on your Alienware PC - YouTube.  Please press the power-on button and allow the Alienware Area-51m R2 to automatically shut down. Wait a few minutes, then press the power-on button, hopefully the update has failed and the normal boot process will get your Alienware Area-51m R2 working again.  Please share an update. Thank you.