Dell\DTP\DiagnosticsSubAgent\Memory.exe is using tens of gigabytes of committed memory for no apparent reason

Hi Zazulas:

What is your Dell computer model, Windows OS [if Win 10 or Win 11 include the version and OS build number - open a Run dialog box (Windows key + R) and enter winver] and current SupportAssist version?

I'm not certain, but I suspect your high RAM usage by C:\ProgramFiles\Dell\DTP\DiagnosticsSubAgent\Memory.exe is related to the ongoing issues being discussed in MichaelInParis' 15-Oct-2024 Any way to reduce the size of the DTPDB.DB file?.  NOTE: That topic was marked as "Solved" in Dec 2024 by Dell employee DELL-Nat M, not by the OP MichaelInParis.

Please see employee DELL-Brad L's 19-Dec-2024 post <here> that confirms that Dell is aware of the problems reported in MichaelInParis' topic.  If I understood Dell-Brad L's comments, the SupportAssist v4.6.3 update (rel. 24-Dec-2024) was supposed to fix a bug that impacts system performance due to excessive RAM and CPU consumption, and a second update will be released at a later date to fix the DTP bug that causes database files in the hidden C:\ProgramData\Dell\DTP\DB folder to grow over time and consume excessive amounts of disk space (i.e., typically in the range of 20 - 80 GB) on some systems.
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Dell Inspiron 15 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.5371 * Firefox v134.0.2 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.24090.11-1.1.24090.11 * Malwarebytes Premium v5.2.5.158-1.0.5135 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7783 * Dell Update for Windows Universal v5.4.0 * My Dell v2.2.6.0 * Fusion Service 2.2.14.0

First of all, thank you Imacri.

Precision 7740, Windows 10 version 1809 build 17763.6775, Dell SupportAssist 4.6.3.23467 — however, there's also a SupportAssist app (WindowUWPClient) installed that is v. 4.6.2

The normal SA is installed at: C:\Program Files\Dell\SupportAssistAgent

The SA app is installed at: C:\PROGRAM FILES\WINDOWSAPPS\DELLINC.DELLSUPPORTASSISTFORPCS_4.6.2.0_X64__HTRSF667H5KN2

My DTPDB.DB file's size is 334 MB, so not in the gigabytes that my committed memory soars.

In C:\ProgramData\dell\DTP\Logs\DTP.Diagnostics.SubAgent there's a part in the log file relating to the date (i.e. yesterday) that the observed behavior was verified in the Task Manager (see image in my original post) that concludes with "MemoryDi: MemoryDiagnostic: Completed execution of RunTestAsync: 100% done with result Passed", before moving over to CpuDiag.

Precision 7740, Windows 10 version 1809 build 17763.6775, Dell SupportAssist 4.6.3.23467 .. the observed behavior was verified in the Task Manager (see image in my original post) that concludes with "MemoryDi: MemoryDiagnostic: Completed execution of RunTestAsync: 100% done with result Passed", before moving over to CpuDiag.

Hi Zazulas:

How long dos the excessive RAM usage by C:\ProgramFiles\Dell\DTP\DiagnosticsSubAgent\Memory.exe last?  Does it drop back to "normal" after a short time (i.e, after SupportAssist finishes running what appears to be a background hardware diagnostic of your RAM)?  If it only occurs for a brief time I wouldn't be too surprised to learn that a high amount of memory is used while SupportAssist is running a diagnostic of your RAM.

I'd suggest your run a proper F12 ePSA (enhanced Pre-boot System Assessment) on-board hardware diagnostic from your Dell BIOS as instructed in the support article How to Run Dell Preboot Diagnostics and Hardware Tests on Your Dell Computer (see the companion video Performing ePSA Diagnostics). Start with the Quick Test, and then move on to the Advanced Test section and run the advanced test for your RAM. If any of your ePSA scans reports an error code (e.g., 2000-0132) write it down and post back to let us know the error code(s).

Your Win 10 v1809 OS does meet the absolute minimum system requirements for SupportAssist v4.6.x posted <here> in the SupportAssist v4.6.x release notes, assuming you have a 64-bit OS, but support for Win 10 v1809 ended on 11-May-2021.  Is there a reason why you haven't updated to the latest Win 10 v22H2? 

I would advise that you update to Win 10 v22H2 and ensure your OS is fully patched.  If that doesn't decrease any "unusual" RAM usage by SupportAssist v4.6.3 you could try a clean reinstall of SupportAssist as instructed in the support article Dell SupportAssist for PCs and Tablets Installation Issue (see the companion video Dell SupportAssist Clean Reinstallation) just in case remnants of older SupportAssist versions are causing problems with the current v4.6.3.

One other option, if you haven't already done so, is to uninstall SupportAssist v4.x and see if a Dell Update v5.x app (which, unlike SupportAssist v4.x, does not automatically load at Windows startup or run background scans like hardware diagnostics) can check for available updates without hogging excessive RAM and CPU.  Go to  https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/products and enter your unique Service Tag, which should redirect you to the Precision 7740 support page and display a filtered list of Dell software and hardware drivers on the Drivers & Downloads page at https://www.dell.com/support/product-details/en-us/product/precision-17-7740-laptop/drivers that are compatible with your specific hardware components .  My best guess is that the "This Device" tab will recommend the Dell Command | Update v5.4.0 application and /or the Dell Command | Update for Windows Universal v5.4.0 app for your system.  The latter "Universal" app is the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) edition, which is less popular these days, so if you are offered both I would probably choose the non-UWP installer (i.e., Dell-Command-Update-Application_6VFWW_WIN_5.4.0_A00.EXE, rel. 31 Jul 2024).

I no longer have SupportAssist installed on my Inspiron 5584***, but just note that Dell SupportAssist v4.x consists of two components listed at Settings | Apps | Apps and Features that have different version numbers - the main Dell SupportAssist application (currently v4.6.3) and a small SupportAssist APPx module that contain files and credentials required to install and run the main application.  See my 16-Sep-2024 post in AnotherJamieRI's "Dell SupportAssist" vs "SupportAssist" vs "Dell Update" vs "Dell Update for Windows Universal" for more information. I would always go to Control Panel | Programs | Programs and Features to find the correct version number of my main SupportAssist application, which should be the same version shown in the SupportAssist interface.

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*** FYI, I uninstalled all SupportAssist-related programs from my Inspiron 5584 after my service warranty expired - they were too buggy, consumed too much RAM and CPU, and the "system optimization" scans in SupportAssist (Clean Files / Tune Performance / Optimize Network) were too aggressive and had the potential to do more harm than good.  For example, see my 12-Jul-2021 posts in ex-jedi's Prevent Automatic Recycle Bin Emptying about the over-aggressive registry cleaner included with the Tune Performance scan (now called Boost Performance in SupportAssist v4.x).

When I still used SupportAssist v.3.x I would turn off all automatic background scanning at Settings | Scans and Optimizations (see the SupportAssist v4 User Guide <here>) and would only run "Update Software" and "Scan Hardware" tasks manually when needed from the Home tab of SupportAssist to prevent any unexpected updates or unwanted changes to my system. 

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Dell Inspiron 15 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.5371 * Firefox v134.0.2 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.24090.11-1.1.24090.11 * Malwarebytes Premium v5.2.5.158-1.0.5135 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7783 * Dell Update for Windows Universal v5.4.0 * My Dell v2.2.6.0 * Fusion Service 2.2.14.0

@lmacri​ It is April 2025 and this problem still happens on my Dell 9730, 13900H, 96GB RAM. It starts cooking my CPU and drains my battery. This is very inconvenient when remote working using battery. I can't afford battery being spent on your diagnostic software. 

Can Dell take this problem more seriously ?

It is April 2025 and this problem still happens on my Dell 9730, 13900H, 96GB RAM. It starts cooking my CPU and drains my battery ... I can't afford battery being spent on your diagnostic software. Can Dell take this problem more seriously ?

Hi minimink537:

I'm not a Dell employee, just a regular Dell customer like you, so I have no idea if Dell is even investigating this issue. If your Dell service warranty has not expired yet I'd suggest you contact Dell customer support directly by clicking the blue Get Help Now button in the bottom-right corner of each page on the forum to start a Live Chat.  After you type in your question an automated chat bot will ask for your email address and your unique Service Tag.  Once it confirms you still have a valid service warranty it should connect you to a live customer service rep

.

Have you tried any of the troubleshooting steps I posted in my 04-Feb-2025 post <above>? Please note that my suggestion to try a clean reinstall of SupportAssist should now install the latest SupportAssist v4.8.1.27758 (released 23-Mar-2025).  Unfortunately, the release notes <here> for SupportAssist v4.x for Home PCs have not been updated since November 2024 so I have no idea what bug fixes are included in v4.8.1.27758.

If none of my previous suggestions help let us know your full Dell computer model, the version and OS build of your Windows operating system [open a Run dialog box (Windows key + R) and enter winver], antivirus, and BIOS version.  To find your current BIOS version open a Run dialog box, enter msinfo32 to open your System Information, and look for the field named "BIOS Version / Date" in the summary. 

Also confirm that your system has 96 GB of RAM.  If your problem is related to high CPU usage by C:\ProgramFiles\Dell\DTP\DiagnosticsSubAgent\Memory.exe while it performs a scheduled background hardware diagnostic scan of your RAM (which can be disabled in your SupportAssist settings - see the instruction in the SupportAssist v4.x for Home PCs  User Guide <here>) as I speculated in my 04-Feb-2025 post then your large amount of RAM might explain why this problem is so noticeable on your system.
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Dell Inspiron 15 5584 * Intel i5-8265U CPU * 8 GB RAM * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.5608 * Firefox v137.0.1 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.25020.1009-1.1.25030.1 * Malwarebytes Premium v5.2.10.182-130.0.5212 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7783 * Dell Update for Windows Universal v5.5.0 * My Dell v2.2.6.0 * Fusion Service 2.2.14.0

Thanks, indeed it's possible to disable some tests, after disabling all of them, I have uninstalled the whole application. 

I am making my living on this notebook. Bye Bye Support Assist. You won't reboot my pc do auto driver upgrades without letting me know, let alone do performance tests while I work on it. Pure disrespect !

Cheers lmacri and thanks.

Peter