I'm putting this in General Hardware because I don't really know where else to put it so I hope this is not the wrong place for this. :D
Can someone tell me what Dell Foundation Services is exactly? It has started to show up as a recommended driver beginning in November and has never been there before. I'm not sure exactly what this is or if it is necessary for an Alienware 17 R2 Laptop running Windows 10 64bit?
Thanks for any information you can provide!
I'm equally puzzled. It's the first I've seen it too. There's no such thing showing in Programs & Features, & it isn't one of my Dell services on this Inspiron 3542...
Did you take it? Nearly all else there is a later version than I've got. (Only Dell Touchpad Driver definitively isn't - 19.0.9.4 vrs. 19.0.15.2 - did it come from Dell or MS?) I'm weighing whether to take them or to wait for Dell Update Service to notice. But it says...
Also, while Support Assist informed me recently of a BIOS update & allowed a download & flash - I ended up with BIOS A08 (7/13/15) instead of the A09 (11/18/15) that shows for me at the site.
So, I'm puzzled, but likely will end up taking them. The last time I did (back when I was Win 8.1) it seemed to go well enough. None crashed, & they did check whether a later version was already installed. The Realtek ALC3223 High Definition (HD) Audio Driver actually did a complete uninstall of its predecessor & reboot before its install & reboot. Hopefully, it does the same this time, though it's now named: Realtek ALC3234 Audio Driver.
EDIT 12/17/15: The Dell Drivers & Downloads site was in flux. On the day I decided to install the updates (12/4/5), I went to check what was still offered for my service tag. Dell Foundation Services was withdrawn (after a previous visit where I saw the offering downgraded from v.2.3.3800.0 to v.2.2.65.0). So, I deleted the version already downloaded & was happy I had waited. Easy decision. All else appropriate for my machine installed well, (including that Realtek audio driver - but give it a full minute to begin after clicking to install). Later, I uninstalled Dell Update for its failings.
However, today I see Dell Foundation Services v.3.1.1900.0 is offered. Its "details" says...
=== Quote details ===
Dell Foundation Services
This package provides foundational services facilitating customer serviceability, messaging and support functions. Supports Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10
Fixes & Enhancements
Fixes
- Bug Fixes
Enhancements - Security enhancements
=== EOQ details ===
...but I remain undecided.
Thankfully, all else I had installed (14 items) remained the same version & release date(though some "last updated" dates changed). That is, except Intel HD Graphics Driver, v.10.18.15.4274, is gone from the site. But I certainly won't uninstall it.
PCR Just PCR
157 Posts
0
November 21st, 2015 19:00
I'm equally puzzled. It's the first I've seen it too. There's no such thing showing in Programs & Features, & it isn't one of my Dell services on this Inspiron 3542...
Did you take it? Nearly all else there is a later version than I've got. (Only Dell Touchpad Driver definitively isn't - 19.0.9.4 vrs. 19.0.15.2 - did it come from Dell or MS?) I'm weighing whether to take them or to wait for Dell Update Service to notice. But it says...
Also, while Support Assist informed me recently of a BIOS update & allowed a download & flash - I ended up with BIOS A08 (7/13/15) instead of the A09 (11/18/15) that shows for me at the site.
So, I'm puzzled, but likely will end up taking them. The last time I did (back when I was Win 8.1) it seemed to go well enough. None crashed, & they did check whether a later version was already installed. The Realtek ALC3223 High Definition (HD) Audio Driver actually did a complete uninstall of its predecessor & reboot before its install & reboot. Hopefully, it does the same this time, though it's now named: Realtek ALC3234 Audio Driver.
EDIT 12/17/15: The Dell Drivers & Downloads site was in flux. On the day I decided to install the updates (12/4/5), I went to check what was still offered for my service tag. Dell Foundation Services was withdrawn (after a previous visit where I saw the offering downgraded from v.2.3.3800.0 to v.2.2.65.0). So, I deleted the version already downloaded & was happy I had waited. Easy decision. All else appropriate for my machine installed well, (including that Realtek audio driver - but give it a full minute to begin after clicking to install). Later, I uninstalled Dell Update for its failings.
However, today I see Dell Foundation Services v.3.1.1900.0 is offered. Its "details" says...
=== Quote details ===
Dell Foundation Services
Fixes & Enhancements
- Bug Fixes
Enhancements
- Security enhancements
ieee488
4 Operator
•
11.1K Posts
0
November 21st, 2015 20:00
Google is your friend https://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=W2V25