General Question

NovDel's avatar

How can I regain Powershare USB control on a Alienware PC?

Asked by NovDel (847points) July 18th, 2024

I have an Alienware Area 51 R5 PC. Recently I was having boot problems. There were indications that there was a problem in the BIOS (flash not initialised, or something). diagnostics ran, and I restored defaults in the BIOS. Eventually I solved the problem by booting into safe mode (which worked) then rebooting normally. Success. Now the powershare USB sockets switch off when I shut down the PC. I went back into the BIOS to re-enable USB powershare (as I had to do when I bought the PC), but the option isn’t there. I’ve upgraded the BIOS to the latest version, to no avail. The option to enable powershare simply isn’t there. Dell are no help. They just want me to re-install the OS, when my issue is in the BIOS. I don’t see how that would help. Any ideas, anyone? Thanks for reading.

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4 Answers

Caravanfan's avatar

I’m not going to be able to help you with your specific problem. I will say that I had a BIOS issue and a boot issue. I tried everything and finally I said, fuck it and I took it to Best Buy and they fixed it for me. I will be curious if anybody with deep knowledge of Windows will be able to help and I will follow this thread. I HATE not being able to solve issues like this by myself.

Although I cut and pasted your question into chat GPT4.0 and I got this answer.

Here’s a step-by-step guide your friend can try to resolve the issue with the USB Powershare option missing from the BIOS:

Reset BIOS to Default Settings Again:

Enter the BIOS setup during the boot process by pressing the designated key (often F2, Del, or Esc).
Locate the option to reset to default settings.
Save and exit the BIOS.
Perform a Full Power Cycle:

Turn off the PC and disconnect it from the power source.
Hold the power button for about 10–15 seconds to discharge any remaining power.
Reconnect the power and boot the system.
Check for BIOS Settings in a Different Menu:

Sometimes, BIOS settings can be located under different sections or may require a specific mode to be enabled to view all options.
Carefully explore all BIOS menus to see if the USB Powershare option is located elsewhere.
Update Chipset Drivers:

Ensure that the chipset drivers are up to date. Visit the Dell support website, enter the PC model, and download the latest chipset drivers.
BIOS Downgrade:

If the USB Powershare option was available in a previous BIOS version, consider downgrading to that version.
Download the older BIOS version from the Dell support website.
Follow the instructions provided by Dell to flash the older BIOS.
Clear CMOS:

Turn off the PC and disconnect it from the power source.
Open the case and locate the CMOS battery on the motherboard.
Remove the battery for about 5–10 minutes, then reinsert it.
Reconnect the power and boot the system. This will reset the BIOS to factory settings.
Check for Hidden Settings:

Some BIOS versions might hide certain options. Look for an “Advanced Mode” or similar setting that might reveal additional options.
Contact Dell Support Again:

Explain that the issue persists even after a BIOS update and that the option is missing. Mention all the steps you’ve already taken. Sometimes, speaking with a different representative or escalating the issue can yield better results.
If none of these steps resolve the issue, your friend might consider reinstalling th

Blackwater_Park's avatar

Turn on the system.
Tap repeatedly the F2 key as soon as you turn on the system.
Go to the Advanced tab.
Select USB PowerShare from the list and press Enter.
Select Enable and press Enter.
Press F10 to save and exit.
Quick google here… Keep it simple. That option was probably just moved with the new BIOS.

NovDel's avatar

@Caravanfan Thanks, that’s given me a lot to think about. I tried the full power cycle option. No luck. Taking out the CMOS battery could be tricky, as I don’t know where it is, but I’ll look into it.

NovDel's avatar

@Blackwater_Park Thanks. Maybe the setting has been moved, but where to I have no idea. I can’t find it.

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