15 R3, SA OS Recovery says 'Unable to locate all system content to download.'

Question

Trying to restore my Alienware 15 R3. Got the Support Assist USB created, it boots up, I connect to the network (I've tried both wireless and wired connections), and less than a minute after it tries to start the download, it says "Unable to locate all system content to download. Please check your network connection and try again."

Should I just keep trying as maybe something on Dell's end is down, or are there other things I can try on my end? I've tried 2 different internet sources as well, my home internet and then I tried tethering off my phone. Both have the same result. Here is a screenshot.Thanks for your help!

temp78759 · Accepted Answer

Anybody else looking for a solution I found one last night while working with a Dell chat support tech.

Click the link on the OS Recovery Tool that says switch to advanced mode.

After that, choose the version that is NOT automated by SupportAssist. This worked for me. Best of luck to you.

jrob200 · Answer

I am having the same issue today as well on a different laptop model.

crmurphey · Answer

I have the same issue, 'Unable to locate all system content to download' on an XPS desktop. Tcpdump logs show the system connecting to and receiving responses from dell and akami servers on ports 80 and 443, so it's not a network issue on the client side.

Arcendus · Answer

Same issue when trying to restore an Aurora R7 this evening.

dognvan · Answer

Same issue on an Inspiron 15-5576 Gaming 2 evenings in a row

Rygar76 · Answer

Thanks to everyone for their responses. It's nice to know I'm not the only one and that the problem is not on my end. I guess we all just need to wait and keep trying.

dogvomit · Answer

Same on my Inspiron laptop. I was growing tired of the Win 10 BSOD every few hours. I've tried every thing I can think of to do an OS Recovery with the same result ya'll are reporting. Been trying for a couple of weeks so I don't know if waiting will help.

Snowayne · Answer

I have the same issue. Let's hope this gets Dell's attention and is fixed soon.

filipesilverio · Answer

Same here with my Inspiron 5378.

DanFreeman88 · Answer

I am having the same issue on Inspiron 15 5579

Rygar76 · Answer

Could we please get a moderator or someone official from Dell to respond on this thread since it's affecting a lot of people?

Eimy_B · Answer

Hi,

For every Alienware owner having this is issue, please send me a private message with the Service Tag so I can review and escalate your cases.

For every other Dell system owner, please post this question in your specific DCF boards.

temp78759 · Answer

This is obviously not an Alienware specific thing.  It is a Dell thing.  It is happening on my precision 5520 as well.  Which 'specific DCF board' should I use as there is not one for Precision that I see.

sez84 · Answer

I am having the same issue with Dell Support Assist OS Recovery unable to locate all system content to download the service tag to my laptop is .

Rygar76 · Answer

Checking this works but all it does is install the OS only. No drivers, software, etc. The whole point of the support assist tool is that it handles all of the additional installs of software and drivers for you which is a lot of manual work otherwise. You could simply just install Windows 10 yourself from a USB for DVD which accomplishes the same thing as selecting this option.

I don't think this question should marked as solved because this option will still leave a lot of work to the user. It does NOT return the machine to the factory state. It simply installs Windows 10 and that's it. See for yourself in the comparison chart below.

Alienware

15 R3, SA OS Recovery says "Unable to locate all system content to download."

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