XPS 8940, Windows Updates 02162023

I'm getting several strange updates too but the install fails so I'm pausing updates for 7 days to see if this is a problem or or mistake. I checked Dell Downloads and I did not have any updates from Dell not even the latest bios update that is causing problems. 

EDIT-- after pausing updates, I rebooted and then turned on the updates and it cancelled all the pending updates.       

Well, I didn't pause the install nor did I select to install, but looks like it installed these at least a couple of times anyway plus some others I don't recall seeing listed.  Here's what I got installed today:

I restarted and so far no issues.

@ishmael 

I looked at my updates, Patch Tues ones are I got:

Now for Drivers, NONE recently:

which is 'odd' as I have CAPSULE UPDATES turned OFF (but I know some still sneak in it seems)

Surprising on the Nvidia as I install it via GeForceExprience when it tells me there is an Update:

that translates into 15.2849?

I looks like it did sneak in the Printer driver though?

I suggest you turn off CAPSULE UPDATE if it is ENABLED... otherwise V2.11.0 of the BIOS might install.

NOTE: I am still on V2.10.0 and have no intentions of going up at this time. Even if Dell updates it or removes it and goes to the next version, I am waiting.

Hi Irv,

I do have Capsule update disabled (checked it the other day after reading about BIOS 2.11.0), and it is still disabled.  I don't know what these Dell and Intel Extensions even are.  Do you?  Of course, one difference between my system and yours is that I am running Win10 versus your at Win11. 

I also got those quality updates on the 15th

@ishmael 

Unfortunately, it takes some detective work and Googling to figure out what drivers you got, like the first one, https://drivers.softpedia.com/get/NETWORK-CARD/INTEL/Intel-Killer-Networking-Software-3-1122-329-2-Windows-10-64-bit.shtml  which is Killer S/W.

Same for the MS KB updates, Google the KB#, like this for the first one you'll find https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/february-14-2023-kb5022834-os-builds-19042-2604-19044-2604-and-19045-2604-ffb56254-3fee-44f1-9574-b8a0c19bde77 and read about them.

KB''s are generally OK. and can easily be backed out via MS Windows Update.

As for Capsule Update, some suggests opening the BIOS, changing the setting, that is if Disabled, Enable it, save and exit and then come right back into and Disable it again and save and exit to boot.

Suspect it is possible something re-wrote the bit for it in the EProm, might even be a BIOS Update?

@ishmael  Those might be updates for Killer Ethernet and/or Killer WiFi.

I recently was force-fed an Intel SoftwareComponent and an Intel Software Extension by Windows Update. Both were for Killer internet.

They only seemed to have updated the Killer Control Panel because the installed Ethernet driver version didn't change.  All Killer services got re-enabled in services.msc, even though I always disable them. So that's how I figured out those Intel Updates were for Killer.

My XPS 8930 has Killer E2400 Ethernet, but not Killer WiFi. XPS 8940 has Killer E2600 Ethernet, so the version numbers likely won't be the same, and I can't guarantee that's what's offered to you.

You could (at least temporally) disable all Killer services in services.msc and install those updates. Then look in services.msc to see if they're all enabled again. That way you'd know they're for Killer.

Up to you to decide whether you want them enabled or disabled. On my XPS 8930 the Killer services cause more Ethernet issues than they're worth. And my Ethernet works fine without them...

Ron, Thanks for the input .  Under Network adapters, looks like I have Killer E2600 Gigabit Ethernet and Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650i 160MHz.  I only connect via WiFi. 

---

@ishmael wrote:

Ron, Thanks for the input .  Under Network adapters, looks like I have Killer E2600 Gigabit Ethernet and Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650i 160MHz.  I only connect via WiFi. 

---

Same devices show for all Killer devices in Device Manager, no matter what is in use.

I however must DISABLE one. I've got a cable into the Ethenet running to my router (ugly, along a wall), so if it isn't disabled (either Ethernet or Wireless) I'll have 2 Internet connections that can mess things up.

If you have NO cable connected, don't worry about it.