Dell Command Update v4.4.0 will hangs after install and first run

Question

I have been having problems with Command Update on a Dell Inspiration 7779 2in1 since version 3.1.3. It would install and run once, then install the updates including installing V4.0 and next time would hang in the startup screen. I would have to uninstall and the next time I wanted to run command update reinstall 3.1.3 again and repeat. Reinstalling V4.0 would not run.

I recently installed the latest v4.4.0 and now the same thing happens. It runs once and then the next time it hangs in the startup screen and eventually disappears. I try to start the dell service manually and it says it times out waiting for the service to start. I even went into the registry to extend the service timeout value as per online posts for this issue and no luck. I have checked windows and it is fine (sfc), and the SSD scans OK. I also disabled SEP. antivirus and installed and ran command update as Administrator.

I am at a loss to find a solution. I administrate over 30 Dell computers and have seen some odd things with command update, but never seen this behavior that I could not repair with a uninstall and reinstall of a newer version. A lot of people online seem to have similar problems and Dell has not posted a solution I could find. On guy posted he was selling his laptop just to get rid of it due to this problem.

I have spent hours on this one laptop and have had enough, can someone please help? Perhaps there is a Dell registry cleaner that removes all traces of command update from the registry? Why would this one Dell service not start?

siegfried5qc · Answer

Same problem here. This happens ALL THE TIME and on different Dell computers/laptops (I work in schools / have had this problem hundreds of times), with Dell Command Update version 4.3 and 4.4. I have not tried the previous versions.

When I see that Dell Command Update doesn't open after 10 seconds, I know that it will close itself after 2-3 minutes, so I uninstall Dell Command Update and reinstall it.

I have spent hours without figuring out how to solve this problem. This is the fastest thing I have found to update my drivers with Dell Command Update. Please Dell: put some time into this software!

WPITech · Answer

I've been struggling with DCU v4.5.0 crashing/hanging, too. DCU-CLI can't run any commands and crashes after 3 minutes with "fatal error" while the GUI displays the splash screen and eventually disappears. Uninstalling & reinstalling works for a bit, but inevitably I end up in this same spot. Your post clued me in that there's a "Dell Client Management Service" that sure enough, doesn't start, so this is the core culprit. Knowing that an uninstall/reinstall fixes it, I set out to reverse engineer this the best I could & came up with the following workaround.

When I delete the "C:\ProgramData\Dell\UpdateService" folder in its entirety, the service is able to start & re-populate with fresh files.

I went further with this trying to delete temp files, review the UpdateScheduler.dat file contents, etc, but never could get to a more granular fix other that nuking the entire folder & letting it repopulate.

Hope this helps you at least not have to uninstall/reinstall. Thank goodness it can be automated, too. If you or anyone else gains any further insight, please share! TY! --Matt

DimentoGraven · Answer

I too continue to have this problem, even after trying the solution listed below of deleting the UpdateService folder.

I've long since being surprised at Dell's lack of service and it's lack of ability to resolve LONG standing issues. It's well over a year now, and this still continues to occur?

Seriously?

WPITech · Answer

Interesting... I haven't had an issue since using my script. Are you checking to ensure the DellClientManagementService is stopped before deleting the UpdateService directory, then restarting the service?

In any case, although my script is working thus far to workaround the issue, it's definitely crazy this has been an issue for so long! I'm right there with you.

Vangaux · Answer

I too have the same problem and every solution I have tried has not fixed the issue.  Mine worked perfectly for a long time and then the splash screen would just freeze and eventually go away.  I have uninstalled the program and reinstalled it after trying everything suggested in all of the forums.  Dell just does not seem to care, and I don't know why.  I have used Dell computers forever and even have two right now, but the lack of response on this issue is really disappointing.

Vertech228 · Answer

I have had the exact same issue for a long time. I even got Dell Support involved with it and once I told them I imaged my computers to set them up, they said they were out on supporting it (DCU). I was shocked to hear that. None the less, the issue persisted. The only means I've found to work around the problem is to take ownership of the DCU directories, apply new permissions to them, and then restart the Dell Client Management Service. Works every time, but still a PITA and you have to re-apply it every time you run DCU. It would be nice if Dell would address this issue. Here are the commands I use in my script:

takeown /f "C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell\UpdateService" /A /r /d y

icacls "C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell\UpdateService" /grant administrators:F /T

takeown /f "c:\programdata\dell\UpdateService" /A /r /d y

icacls "c:\programdata\dell\updateservice" /grant administrators:F /T

net start DellClientManagementService

Inspiron

Dell Command Update v4.4.0 will hangs after install and first run

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