SupportAssist OS Recovery firmware fail

SupportAssist OS Recovery firmware fail

I kept getting a request to install a BIOS update with something called SupportAssist OS Recovery, which was described as a BIOS level startup check that, if it found hardware problems, would give some kind of report or open a safe mode so hardware problems could be addressed.

I had warning bells going off, as it coincided with offers to get a trade in offer on my Inspiron 7773, which, at the grand old age of 3 years no longer qualified for hardware support. The bells going off was a frankly surprising gut reaction, suggesting a lack of trust in Dell's marketing.

During a Windows 11 update, a Dell firmware update was noted and installed. Turns out it contained the SupportAssist OS Recovery check.

So the Win 11 restart began with percentages of completion on the screen, then a system restart. I let it go for about 20 minutes, assuming I'd come back to find Windows asking me for a PIN. Instead I had a BIOS screen titled SupportAssist OS Recovery check, with a frozen "Checking hardware and memory (sic), time remaining 1 sec" progress bar.

A lower left line advised ESC to quit the check, F2 to access the BIOS.

ESC turned off the 7773. I restarted and was graced with the SupportAssist OS Recovery check starting. The progress quickly got to "1 sec left" and froze. I gave it another 5 minutes. Nothing.

So, F2 it is. I was presented with a BIOS menu, the last item of which was SupportAssist OS Recovery with two sub-items. One contained an unset checkbox having to do with SupportAssist OS Recovery. The other had 4 options, OFF, 1, 2 and 3, with an explanation of stages of checking (or something). It said that OFF would turn off any recovery efforts.

Hoping that OFF would also disengage any kind of SupportAssist OS Recovery restart check, I checked it and hit Exit.

My 7773 restarted normally, Windows 11 showed another update completion percentage screen, drives were all checked, etc, and I was back in business.

You'll have to decide for yourselves, but for me those warning bells were definitely called for. I don't know if a next restart will attempt another check that has to be turned off or not, but I can tell you that I just ran an updated SupportAssist hardware check that passed.

And no, I won't be checking on my trade in value. Trust is a precious thing.