SupportAssist OS Recovery Tool "unable to connect to the backend"

- Installed new hard drive on Dell XPS 15

- Used OS Recovery Tool on a different computer and loaded onto USB stick

- Used USB to boot SupportAssist OS on the XPS

- Connected WIFI 

- Reset Computer   

- Each time it gets to about 20-30% completion before I get hit with a variant of "currently unable to connect to the backend. Please check your internet connection and try again" 

or "Unexpected Error" 

Tried both wifi and wired but no luck. I've googled around and this issue seems to posted about over the years - is there a solution?