Windows 10: Does Dell Support Assist block networking on newer Dell PCs as a tactic to force driver...

Does Dell SupportAssist, on some of the newest Dell PCs only, block all networking on a PC only because driver updates are pending?


In other words, networking has gone away until driver updates occur, even though the pre-update software for networking is still functional.


Why do I think that the pre-networking software is functional? The Dell update at issue was "Recommended", not "Urgent", but software necessary to run networking would for sure be Urgent.


So it seems that Dell Support Assist blocks networking as a tactic to make driver updates happen. Logic indicates this conclusion.


[Note: This problem may appear only on newer Dells, as it does not appear on two older Dells also in my house, and also with SupportAssist.]

:)

 

windows store corrupted dell support assistant

FWIW we see a lot of users with problems caused by support assistant on the Dell forums and in particular BIOS and driver updates. We advise them to manually download and install any updates, especially BIOS updates as several have wound up with bricked PC's after support assistant BIOS update. Fortunately new (and some newer) Dell PC's now have BIOS recovery options. Older Dell's did not and a failed/corrupt BIOS update and the only option was to replace the motherboard.

 

Dell Support Assist not wanted but needed?

After a clean installation I check for Windows Updates. Then I go to the Dell website and Detect Drivers which installs Dell Support Assist. Then I run DSA from my PC instead of online and update all the recommended drivers (sometimes you will find that you an get a different result using the online method..In my case with online it recommends installing an older version of my Intel Chipset Drivers which tech support told me to ignore as it is a glitch with DSA software online). If the Intel Chipset Drivers isn't listed as a recommended update by DSA from the desktop (in my case it wasn't listed) I manually install just the Intel Chipset Device Software for my Service Tag afterwards from the Dell website. Then its just personal choice..you could either leave DSA installed or do as I do and uninstall it and just check the Dell website monthly to see if there are any newer updated drivers. If there is just manually install it

 

Dell Support Assist not wanted but needed?

I just tried using the Dell website using the "Detect PC" option (which found the correct service tag) and it offered a list of drivers. The only one that I wanted seemed to be 21 months newer than the one installed so I downloaded it and the installer showed a 'Question'. See picture. It seems that when I did have DSA installed it must have installed a later driver but the Dell website did not pick this up and offered me an older driver.

This seems to bear out what Anibor says and I reckon I had better stick to DSA. It is only one program after all ( I got rid of other bloatware) and seems to be safer in that it checks versions and dates better than the website method.

I'll reinstall DSA again and leave it at that. Most of the time it will just sit there since it will only get used about 3 times per year.

Thanks for all replies.