Support Assist

We tried reaching you on a private message asking for the Service Tag number to ascertain the warranty but did not receive a response. Please feel free to reply to the private message whenever you are available.

I was having the same problem since June 26, 2022. Dell Support contacted me via private message and suggested the following solution, which worked for me:

• Uninstall any previous builds of SupportAssist using the MS Install Uninstall Tool and restart the system. (I had already uninstalled SupportAssist, so this step was moot for me.)
• .NET Runtime 5.0.17 is a pre-requisite for SA v3.11.x to install successfully. It needs to be installed before installing SA. Link to the installer: Download .NET 5.0 Runtime (v5.0.17) - Windows x64 Installer (https://dell.to/3bxKbiv)

After I did that, I was able to successfully install SupportAssist manually using SupportAssistInstaller.exe, which I had previously downloaded.

I have followed all instructions to remove the old version of Support Assist and install the new one, AND IT DOES NOT WORK!!!!  This is for sure an issue that Dell needs to fix!!! It is not an individual compouter issue, too many users are having the same problem, and yet Dell says the opposite, instead of FIXING THE ISSUE ONCE AND FOR ALL.  

Why are the problems with installation of Dell support assist not being resolved? Please review Dell youtube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1oUJY0vB4A In the last few months over 100 complaints that the instructions from DELL do not work, and in some cases have frozen users' computers. I get several messages per day that my 2in1 7706 laptop can not get a Dell support assist update because "No valid source could be found for product Dell SupportAssist." I recognize that some automated process(es) is trying to contact my laptop several times a day. The laptop came with Support Assist installed supposedly. It is there, but is obviously not working and/or not found.

Can I simply use Windows update as an alternative to Dell support assist? I have loaded Dell driver/bios upgrades via Windows update primarily because Dell Support Assist is not working, and there does not seem to be a coordinated Dell response to fix the installation issue(s).

My laptop Dell info attached below.

Thanks in advance

---

@orangedell2 wrote:

... I get several messages per day that my 2in1 7706 laptop can not get a Dell support assist update because "No valid source could be found for product Dell SupportAssist."....

Can I simply use Windows update as an alternative to Dell support assist? I have loaded Dell driver/bios upgrades via Windows update primarily because Dell Support Assist is not working, and there does not seem to be a coordinated Dell response to fix the installation issue(s)...

---

Hi orangedell2:

Sorry, your image isn't displayed correctly and it might still be stuck in moderation. Assuming you meant that you have an Inspiron 7706 2-in-1, please let us know your Windows operating system [if Win 10 or Win 11 include the edition (e.g., Home, Pro, etc.), version and OS build number shown at Settings | System | About | Windows Specifications] as well as your current BIOS version [open a Run dialog box (Windows key + R), enter msinfo32 to open the System Information panel, and look for the field titled "BIOS Date/Version"].

If you enter your unique Service Tag at https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us?app=products this should automatically redirect you to the support page for the Inspiron 7706 2-in-1, and the list of available updates on the Drivers and Downloads tab <here> should be filtered so that you only see Dell software and driver updates that specifically match your computer model and hardware components. If you haven't already done so, I would suggest installing the Dell Update Windows Universal Application v4.6.0 (Dell-Update-Windows-Universal-Application_MGVT1_WIN_4.6.0_A00.EXE, released 24-Aug-2022) currently listed on the Inspiron 7706 2-in-1 support page and see if Dell Update v4.x runs correctly and is able to find available updates for your Dell software and drivers.

Dell employee DELL-Nathalia M posted instructions for installing the current SupportAssist v3.12.3.5 in Michael.Strachan's Dell Support Assist Fails to Install on 19-Oct-2022 that might work for you. Step # 1 of those instructions advise that users begin by removing all traces of previous SupportAssist installations using the Microsoft Install and Uninstall troubleshooter. That troubleshooter should guide you through the process of removing SupportAssist from your computer but if you need help with this troubleshooter then read Method V of the Dell support article Windows 11, and Windows 10: Various Methods to Uninstall Problematic Programs and Apps. (Note: Step # 2 of DELL-Nathalia M's instructions also advise that you have the older .NET Runtime v6.0.9, and not the current v6.10.0, installed on your system before you reinstall SupportAssist).
________________________________________

Just an aside, but I personally don't like SupportAssist - it's too buggy, consumes too many system resources, and the "system optimization" scans (Clean Files / Tune Performance / Optimize Network) are too aggressive and have the potential to do more harm than good - see my 12-Jul-2021 comment in ex-jedi's Prevent Automatic Recycle Bin Emptying. I have disabled my Dell SupportAssist and Dell TechHub services so that SupportAssist can't launch automatically on my Inspiron 5584 at boot-up, and I've started using Dell Update v4.x to check for Dell software and driver updates. If I ever need to run a hardware scan I can still run Dell's F12 ePSA (enhanced Pre-boot System Assessment) hardware diagnostics from my BIOS, and my Windows 10 OS also has its own built-in hardware diagnostics at Settings | Update & Security | Troubleshoot | Additional Troubleshooters. Note that I've also disabled Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery (also known as Dell SupportAssist Remediation / System Repair) and now use Macrium Reflect Free imaging software as part of my emergency recovery plan , but that's a whole other discussion - see my 28-Jul-2021 post in Desmodus1984's Inspiron 5570 - SupportAssist OS Recovery Tools Downloads But Not Installing.

Also note that I only install driver updates posted on the support page for my Insipron 5584 (and offered by Dell Update v4.x) and do not install firmware or drivers offered by Windows Update just to ensure the hardware drivers I install are compatible with the Dell BIOS recommended for my system.
-------------
64-bit Win 10 Pro v21H2 build 19044.2130 * Firefox v106.0.1 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2209.7-1.1.19700.3 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.5.16.217-1.0.1792 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.6979 * Dell SupportAssist v3.12.3.5 * Dell Update Windows Universal v4.6.0 * Inspiron 5583/5584 BIOS v1.21.0
Dell Inspiron 15 5584, Intel i5-8265U CPU, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB Toshiba KBG40ZNS256G NVMe SSD, Intel UHD Graphics 620

Thanks for responding. My Bios date is BIOS Version/Date Dell Inc. 1.18.0, 12-Sep-22.

OS Name Microsoft Windows 10 Home
Version 10.0.19044 Build 19044

After having issues with support assist and the video, I tried again to install it. Then got the same  notice it timed out. I have also noticed all sorts of attempts from Dell that there was "No valid source could be found for product Dell SupportAssist". As a side note, in the current billing period from my ISP, my data usage has increased by a factor of 8-10 times over my historic usage. 12-16gB /day as compared to 1-2 gb/day. I had a cap at 140 gb/month and only reached it once when my grandkids were here for a week. When I called the ISP re current usage figures, they immediately gave me unlimited and reduced my monthly fee by $8.50.

I have just uninstalled Support Assist and will monitor my data usage. I may have to uninstall other components from Dell--unsure of status. I did get a driver updates from Windows Update.

My usage pattern has not changed. My attempt to install Support Assist is the only thing I can think of that has changed recently and it corresponds to the high network/data usage.

I was hoping to get email notifications of forum updates, but i just happened upon this after looking at my network usage with Resource Monitor. The Dell support software seems flaky at best.

---

@orangedell2 wrote:
...After having issues with support assist and the video, I tried again to install it. Then got the same  notice it timed out. I have also noticed all sorts of attempts from Dell that there was "No valid source could be found for product Dell SupportAssist". As a side note, in the current billing period from my ISP, my data usage has increased by a factor of 8-10 times over my historic usage. 12-16gB /day as compared to 1-2 gb/day....

---

Hi orangedell2:

Note that you can find information about the programs using the most network bandwidth on your Win 10 computer in the past 30 days at Settings | Network & Internet | Status | Data Usage. My second image below shows that my Firefox browser uses the most bandwidth on my computer, but as mentioned in my post <above> I have disabled SupportAssist v3.12.3.5 so that it doesn't launch automatically at boot-up and I only launch SupportAssist manually on occasion, so the data usage by SupportAssistAgent.exe on my Inspiron laptop in the past 30 days is near the bottom of that list at only 2 MB. If you scroll to the very bottom of that Data Usage page there is a "Reset Usage Stats" button that will reset your data usage statistics from the past 30 days back to zero.

I suggested using Dell-Nathalia M's 19-Oct-2022 instructions <here> for installing the latest SupportAssist v3.12.3.5 (rel. 11-Oct-2022) because they are specifically intended to address known issues with the current SupportAssist v3.12.3.5 installer (e.g., you must downgrade to .NET Runtime v6.0.9 before running the SupportAssist v3.12.3.5 .msi installer if the newer .NET Runtime v6.0.10 is already installed).  If you decide to try Dell-Nathalia M's instructions and run into any problems see the hints I've posted in GrannyFL's thread SupportAssist is Very Sick.

If you do manage to get SupportAssist v3.12.3.5 installed and running correctly also keep in mind that there are options that you can disable in your SupportAssist settings at Options (gear icon) | Settings (e.g., Automate Scans and Optimizations | Scan Your System and Drivers at: | DISABLED; Privacy | I Authorize Dell to Collect My Service Tag and System Usage Details Mentioned Above | DISABLED;  etc.) to minimize the amount of bandwidth that SupportAssist uses throughout the day.

-------------
64-bit Win 10 Pro v21H2 build 19044.2130 * Firefox v106.0.2 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2209.7-1.1.19700.3 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.5.16.217-1.0.1792 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.6979 * Dell SupportAssist v3.12.3.5 * Dell Update Windows Universal v4.6.0 * Inspiron 5583/5584 BIOS v1.21.0
Dell Inspiron 15 5584, Intel i5-8265U CPU, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB Toshiba KBG40ZNS256G NVMe SSD, Intel UHD Graphics 620

I did uninstall SupportAssist. My usage pattern is now back to "normal". My usage to day is 1.48 gb. For the past ~10 days my usage has been 12--16GB/day. I  surpassed my monthly limit (140 Gb) in a week. I did get a series of updates to day from Dell and installed 4 of the 5 received.