NUC8i7HVK BIOS update problems

Hello, I just purchased a NUC8i7HVK Kit.  I have installed Windows 10 Professional, and noticed that the BIOS Version is quite old, at:

BIOS Version/Date    Intel Corp. HNKBLi70.86A.0029.2018.0222.1606, 2/22/2018

This version is dated enough that I cannot even locate release notes for it.  I also noticed the first release I could find, 0034, dates from 3/29/2018 and is stated as an "Initial pre-production BIOS release".  I downloaded the latest version, 0037 from 4/22/2018.  Unfortunately, none of the BIOS update methods I have tried work. I am not new to various methods of BIOS update, having done system builds for over 25 years.  That leaves me especially frustrated in this scenario.  I'd greatly appreciate any guidance the community has to offer.

Methods attempted:

Method: Express BIOS Update Instructions for Intel® NUC

Outcome: Failed - new BIOS version selected, reboot to no observable activity

Notes: I am able to follow the linked instructions through Step 5, where I click Restart and Install BIOS button.  Immediately after clicking, the NUC reboots to no video signal.  Sometimes, there is a second reboot in this cycle.  After a couple minutes, the NUC reboots itself into Windows stating that the BIOS update has failed.  There is a link here to a readme file which, to my reading, contains no relevant troubleshooting information.

Method: F7 BIOS Update Instructions for Intel® NUC

Outcome: Failed - new BIOS version selected, reboot to no observable activity

Notes: I am able to follow the linked instructions through Step 8, where I select the .bio file located on the USB drive.  Immediately after selection, the NUC reboots and there is no video signal.  I wait for 5+ minutes with no response.  I have to hard power down the NUC, at which point it boots to Windows still at the old BIOS version.

Method: Power Button Menu BIOS Update Instructions for Intel® NUC

Outcome: Failed - new BIOS version selected, reboot to no observable activity

Notes: I am able to follow the linked instructions through Step 5, where I select F4 for recovery or F7 for normal update.  After selecting the new BIOS version, both methods yield an immediate reboot to no video signal.  Again, after waiting a few minutes I must hard power cycle the NUC to reboot into Windows to see the old BIOS version still installed.

Method: iFlash BIOS Update Instructions for Intel® NUC

Outcome: Failed - could not boot to USB

Notes: I created a USB boot disk using Rufus and the correct parameters for a FreeDOS based disk.  I could not select the MS-DOS option what was available in various tutorials.  Using the F10 boot options on power-up, the USB drive is not an option.  In BIOS I've ensure that USB Boot is selected, Secure Boot is deselected, and UEFI USB is first in boot priority.

Ok, I hope that's enough for now.  I'm attaching a dump of my System Information for reference.

System Specs: