How to UN-install the Dell Support Center Software?

Yup.  That software is one of my pet peeves, though I'll confess I haven't messed with it for a couple years.   Kept it only to help other users, but finally dumped it and never bothered with it again.

More details would help.  What model PC, what OS, when it was bought, what happens when you try to uninstall it from Add/Remove, what you've already tried (since you mentioned reading several threads).   Problem is, Dell's had several versions of this program out there - I had 4 versions in the space of a year when I bought my PC in 2007.  But there should still be a way - or at minimum, at least a way to stop it from running all the time, if that's what's bugging you.

Got the BSOD and running a "restore" did not completely fix the problem.  Had to do a complete "C" drive re-installation from a back up drive using Retrospect 7. Thank goodness I got a back up drive and run a back up every week,  keeping two weeks worth of back ups before overwriting.

I do not understandd why Dell does not address this problem with a fix for everyone who cannot do what I did.

My computer is a Dell Dimension 9200 (Desktop) (about 4 years old).

I am running XP Professional Service Pack 3 & Internet Explorer 8.  Everything is up to date.

On 12-10-10, I got a message to install an update to the Dell Support Center Software - so , I did just that.

But, it could not install the upgrade becasue it could not delete the older version. It keeps telling me that "The feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is unavailable".

I have Administrative rights, so I should be able to access everything.

I have tried going back to several preveious Restore Points (both normally and in Safe Mode).

At first, this would cause the BSOD, but what I did apparently stopped that at least.  But, everytime I boot up my Desktop, I am prompted to try to install those updates again.  So, I have to cancel out of that & not let it even try - because the same result always occurs.

Now, I just want to get rid of those pesky prompts to update software that I now no longer want.  Best way to do that would be to just get rid of the software all together.

Just as an aside.  With all of the variations of Questions in these forums complaining about the same thing, it amazes me that someone from Dell has not recognized this as a major problem & done something about it.

I have an XPS 410 with XP bought about the same time (March 2007), which is  identical to the 9200.  I did find your previous post HERE, but the 8086 error worries me -  it appears to be an Intel raid controller error code (for RAID/AHCI on the hard drive).  Hopefully it's really a software bug and not a sign of hard drive doom.  Software can't physically kill your hard drive, but age can.

Originally those models came with Dell Support 3.4, which had an orange E icon.  In late November 2007 Dell changed the software to Dell Support 2.0, with a blue wrench icon.

- Have you tried Add/Remove in Safe Mode?  It could be a running process that's interfering with the uninstall/update.  Alternatively, assuming this is Dell Support 2.0, you can try going it to Task Manager and killing its 2 main processes - dsca.exe and sprtcmd.exe, then trying again.

- If you haven't removed the original Dell folders,  you may be able to find the actual original installer instead of relying on Add/Remove.   Go to C:\Dell\Drivers, there should be a list of RXXXXX files.   R157977 is the file I have for the original 3.4 version, R171755 is for 2.0.  Alternatively, do a search on your PC for D*msi to see if you can find them - right-click properties should give you the version

-As for getting rid of the "updater"  - go to Start-Run, type MSCONFIG, look under the startup tab.  Look for any entry under "Command" that originates from a Dell file. Unclick it, Apply, OK, then restart.  You'll get a "selective startup" warning, just select "don't show this again".

To get any further than that, given that this new "Dell Support" seems to be yet another  new version, I'd have to reinstall the old one and see what happens - may take until tomorrow. 

This is a reply to Alexandra_P

I have an XPS 410 with XP bought about the same time (March 2007), which is  identical to the 9200.  I did find your previous post HERE, but the 8086 error worries me -  it appears to be an Intel raid controller error code (for RAID/AHCI on the hard drive).  Hopefully it's really a software bug and not a sign of hard drive doom.  Software can't physically kill your hard drive, but age can.

The fact that so many are having the same problem would lead me to believe it is not my hard drive failing.

Originally those models came with Dell Support 3.4, which had an orange E icon.  In late November 2007 Dell changed the software to Dell Support 2.0, with a blue wrench icon.

My icon is a CD with a little orange man sitting atop a stack of books or something.

- Have you tried Add/Remove in Safe Mode?  It could be a running process that's interfering with the uninstall/update.  Alternatively, assuming this is Dell Support 2.0, you can try going it to Task Manager and killing its 2 main processes - dsca.exe and sprtcmd.exe, then trying again.

Yes, I did both trying to Restore to a previous point AND Add/Remove both the old fashioned way and in Safe Mode.  Neither dsca.exe nor sprtcmd.exe were listed there.

- If you haven't removed the original Dell folders,  you may be able to find the actual original installer instead of relying on Add/Remove.   Go to C:\Dell\Drivers, there should be a list of RXXXXX files.   R157977 is the file I have for the original 3.4 version, R171755 is for 2.0.  Alternatively, do a search on your PC for D*msi to see if you can find them - right-click properties should give you the version

I do NOT have either the R157977 nor the R171755.  Aslo, I did a search for D*msi & it found nothing.

-As for getting rid of the "updater"  - go to Start-Run, type MSCONFIG, look under the startup tab.  Look for any entry under "Command" that originates from a Dell file. Unclick it, Apply, OK, then restart.  You'll get a "selective startup" warning, just select "don't show this again".

I found & unchecked DMXLauncher and sprtcmd in the startup tab - but it still offers me the update at startup and I still cannot uninstall the software.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

There are actually two (2) items listed under Add/Remove.

Dell Support 3.2.1 which gave me the uninstall problem I noted in my oriiginal post.

There is also Dell Support Center (Support Software) which gives me the message "This patch package could not be opened" when I try to uninstall it.

As I had asked in my original post: Just what was this Dell Support Center Software suppossed to do & why did I ever need it?

Just a quick update:

I couldn't reproduce the problem - I reinstalled the last version (2.2, blue wrench icon), downloaded the updated, and it uninstalled the older version and installed the new one without a hitch.  

Your description of the older 3.2.1 icon doesn't ring a bell with me - this is the one I remember from when the PC was new (had to extract the image from the old 3.4 installer files).

But RE the updater:  The newest version uses a program called "aulauncher.exe" to remove the older versions and download and install the newest one.   The update installs a "runonce" key in the registry, which will keep popping up a reminder until the install is successful.  Unfortunately I didn't write down the exact key location for a manual edit, but the free version of WinPatrol picked up the autostart key - you can give that a try and at least remove the update reminder (look for aulauncher under Startup).    Then just delete "auluauncher.exe" and you're done.

http://www.winpatrol.com/download.html

I neglected a couple files to look for to stop the older versions from running:

Under Services:  SupportSoft Sprocket Services (go to Start - Run - type Services.msc, or just use WinPatrol's services tab).

Under Startup programs and/or in task manager:  dsagnt.exe, dsca.exe, sprtcmd.exe

May have to resort to brute force to get rid of the old stuff.  I'm checking out RevoUninstaller now to see if it will do it, or there's always the old-school Windows Installer Cleanup utility.

I downloaded the wrench Support Center and it put my XPS1530 into a nutroll of restarts, restores and attempted windows repairs.  It has some good features, but the interference is intolerable.  Removed it with Revo Uninstaller that also clears registry of the fragments of the original support center.

dell request go to dell support center and insert a disk from support software (Installation package (MSI).I'm not able to find support software in dell support center?