Finally got it updated in the cconventional "auto install" via SupportAssist. Seems my bios was several versions old so had to progressively update. I finally updated SupportAssist & it's analysis successfully installed the latest. My next step if it had failed was per your suggestion above, which I had found in earlier searches but had never done before. My delay resulted from not having a blank flash drive at the moment. Thanks for all your help. I new see flashing the BIOS is a best XPS 8930 approach. Thanks VM & Have a GREAT day!  Joe
Can't load BIOS XPS8930_1.1.29.exe -> CRITICAL by dell systchk; XPS8930_1.1.23 no-load too
XPS 8930, cannot install BIOS 1.1.29