"Successful Application Reconfiguration" and SupportAssist

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@lmacri wrote:

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Hi ThomasAAT:

 

Do you mean that the new Dell SupportAssist (DSA) v3.9.1 re-installed the same Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery Plugin for Dell Update v5.4.1.14954 that you uninstalled on 09-May-2021?

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Oh, yes, the same thing happened to me, i.e. when DSA v3.9.1.245 was installed on May 26, it in turn re-installed Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery Plugin for Dell Update v5.4.1.14954 and gave it the same date of May 26. 

And before that, when DSA v3.9.0.234 was installed on May 5, it in turn re-installed Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery Plugin for Dell Update v5.4.1.14954 and gave it the same date of May 5. 

And before that, on April 16, Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery Plugin for Dell Update v5.4.1.14954 was separately installed (i.e., separately=not at the same time as the installation of DSA) when SupportAssist-OS-Recovery-Plugin-for-Dell-Update_JVFGH_WIN_5.4.1.14954_A00.EXE was delivered by DSA.

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@lmacri wrote:

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Hi DELLKaren:

 

Just a few side comments while you're waiting for feedback from Dell:

 

I posted < here> on 04-May-2021 that System Repair can be enabled / disabled in the Dell SupportAssist settings, but since then I've learned that System Repair can also be enabled / disabled in the SupportAssist OS Recovery settings manager at Control Panel | System and Security | SupportAssist OS Recovery | Settings.

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Yes, I am familiar with the Control Panel | SupportAssist OS Recovery | Settings method for turning System Repair to ON or to OFF.  I learned about that in reading posts <here>.  That thread starts in September, 2020.

Please keep us posted on what happens when the Start Type of the Dell SupportAssist Remediation service is MANUAL.

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@DELLKaren wrote:

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Oh, yes, the same thing happened to me, i.e. when DSA v3.9.1.245 was installed on May 26, ....
And before that, when DSA v3.9.0.234 was installed on May 5, ...
And before that, on April 16, Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery Plugin for Dell Update v5.4.1.14954 was separately installed ...

It was too late to edit that reply above with an additional piece of information, which I will add here:

And before that on April 11, DSA Remediation 5.4.1.14954 was installed when SupportAssist OS Recovery Tools was delivered via Dell Update, the only source for delivering it since it was not listed by DSA nor was it listed for my machine at dell.com/support.

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@DELLKaren wrote:
...Please keep us posted on what happens when the Start Type of the Dell SupportAssist Remediation service is MANUAL.

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Hi DELLKaren.

I doubt I'll be doing any more testing with the Dell SupportAssist Remediation service.

I'm going to wait a few days just to be sure Dell support doesn't want any further diagnostic logs and then I'm going to remove Dell SupportAssist (DSA) and all it's components like Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery Plugin for Dell Update, Dell SupportAssist Remediation, etc. as instructed in Dell employee DELL-Chris M's pinned post SA Uninstall/Reinstall  (using Revo Uninstaller Free to ensure a clean removal) and see how things go if I don't reinstall any of these DSA-related applications.

Based on past experience my Dell Update application probably won't work correctly unless I re-install DSA.  The last time I tried this Dell Update (as well as the "Check for Updates" button on on the support page <here> for my Inspiron 5584) needed DSA installed in order to correctly detect my unique Service Tag and search for the correct updates for my system, but I don't want DSA back on my system now that my basic service warranty has expired. As previously noted, I use Macrium Reflect Free to create the occasional full disk image for emergency recovery, and I've also enabled System Restore in Windows 10 (disabled by default) as instructed in the Windows Central article How to Use System Restore on Windows 10, so I also don't need SupportAssist OS Recovery installed and creating GBs of unnecessary repair points / snapshots on my 250 GB SSD drive.

I currently have automatic updating disabled in my DSA settings (Settings | Automate Scans and Optimizations | Scan Your System and Drivers | DISABLED) and seem to recall that once the "optional" SupportAssist OS Recovery Tools is detected as an available update I can't run another manual "Get Drivers & Downloads" check for other updates until I either install SupportAssist OS Recovery Tools or force a fresh update check by clicking the "Run All" button, and neither of those options is acceptable to me given the harm they can do to my system. I'm hoping (but not very optimistic) that the latest Dell Update v4.2.0 will be able to detect my Service tag and find the correct updates for my system without DSA and all this other buggy, bloated Dell software on my system.
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64-bit Win 10 Pro v20H2 build 19042.985 * Firefox v88.0.1 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2104.14 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.3.0.98-1.0.1292 * Dell SupportAssist v3.9.1.245 * Dell SupportAssist Remediation v5.4.1.14954 * Dell Update v4.2.0 * Revo Uninstaller Free Portable v2.2.5 * Macrium Reflect Free v7.3.5925 * TreeSize Free Portable v4.4.2.514
Dell Inspiron 15 5584, Intel i5-8265U CPU, 8 GB RAM, Toshiba KBG40ZNS256G 256 GB NVMe SSD, Intel UHD Graphics 620

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@lmacri wrote:

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I'm going to wait a few days ... and then I'm going to remove Dell SupportAssist (DSA) and all its components like Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery Plugin for Dell Update, Dell SupportAssist Remediation, etc...
I'm hoping (but not very optimistic) that the latest Dell Update v4.2.0 will be able to detect my Service tag and find the correct updates for my system without DSA and all this other buggy, bloated Dell software on my system.

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So, if you are going to remove DSA and all of its components, and if Dell Update v4.2.0 can't find the correct updates for your system without DSA, then I am guessing that will use use your service tag and the dell.com/support URL to manually find new driver updates for your device??

On my Inspiron 7469, I no longer have the basic service warranty either.  Recently, when I temporarily removed DSA, Dell Update was still able to find updates.  Maybe, that's because I did not remove all of the other DSA components, and if that's the case, then perhaps you are right that Dell Update won't be able to detect your service tag and find updates, if you remove everything.

One observation that I've been able to make since I've been keeping records is that while both DSA and Dell Update would report the need to install DSA OS Recovery Tools (which shows up in Apps & Features as Dell SA Remediation), DSA typically failed to install it, but Dell Update would.  But, I suppose that info is "water under the bridge," if you are going to remove DSA and as a consequence, Dell Update won't be able to detect your service tag and find updates.

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@DELLKaren wrote:

So, if you are going to remove DSA and all of its components, and if Dell Update v4.2.0 can't find the correct updates for your system without DSA, then I am guessing that will use use your service tag and the dell.com/support URL to manually find new driver updates for your device??...

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Hi DELLKaren:

That's what I'm hoping but the "Detect Product" button on the support page <here> for my Inspiron 5584 was recently removed and I can no longer enter my Service Tag manually on that page.  I've also had problems in the past finding the correct updates for my Inspiron 5584 unless I am using the default settings in Dell SupportAssist (DSA).

For example, if I disable the Privacy setting in DSA (Settings | Privacy | I authorize Dell to Collect my Service Tag and System Usage Details Mentioned Above | DISABLED) and click the blue "Check for Updates" button on the support page <here> for my Inspiron 5584 then that check for updates either throws a "You need SupportAssist" error like the one shown below or just reports "No updates were found" even though DSA is installed and I know that updates are available for my system. See my 04-Mar-2020 post in Caramel4406's thread Dell Support Website Doesn't Recognized that Support Assist is Installed for further details.

I found a support article titled Dell SupportAssist (formerly Dell System Detect): Overview and Common Questions (last updated 21-Feb-2021) that states in part:

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"Dell SupportAssist app (formerly Dell System Detect) is an application that runs on your Windows-based PC or tablet with your permission and interacts with the Dell Support website so that we can provide a better and more personalized support experience...

1. Detect Product

This is the most common use of the Dell SupportAssist app. At various points on the Dell Support website, you have the option to have your product detected so that Dell can provide targeted support. When you click Detect Product, the application runs on your system and detects the Service Tag of your Dell computer. Dell then uses the Service Tag to look up product information, such as your original system configuration and warranty end date, to provide a product-specific support experience..."

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I've run further tests since posting in Caramel4406's thread and the wording of the error message sometimes changes but the behaviour is fairly consistent - if I don't enable that Privacy setting in DSA and allow it to automatically detect my Service Tag and send telemetry data back to Dell then that "Check for Updates" button on my Inspiron 5584 support page doesn't behave correctly. I haven't tested as thoroughly with Dell Update but I've also noticed that this utility behaves oddly if the Privacy setting in DSA is disabled, and given how tightly DSA and Dell Update are now integrated I suspect the problem would be even worse if DSA was uninstalled. I guess it's just Dell's way of forcing you to send them masses of telemetry data that "may not necessarily reveal your identity directly but may include unique identification identifier and other information about the specific device you are using, such as your service tag, the hardware model, operating system version, hardware settings and system crashes, installed applications, their settings and usage, and/or (MAC) address, and other data that may uniquely identify your device or system" and allow Dell to share that telemetry with their third-party partners if you want to keep your system updated correctly.
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64-bit Win 10 Pro v20H2 build 19042.985 * Firefox v88.0.1 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2104.14 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.3.0.98-1.0.1292 * Dell SupportAssist v3.9.1.245 * Dell SupportAssist Remediation v5.4.1.14954 * Dell Update v4.2.0
Dell Inspiron 15 5584, Intel i5-8265U CPU, 8 GB RAM, Toshiba KBG40ZNS256G 256 GB NVMe SSD, Intel UHD Graphics 620

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@lmacri wrote:

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That's what I'm hoping but the "Detect Product" button on the support page < here> for my Inspiron 5584 was recently removed and I can no longer enter my Service Tag manually on that page.  I've also had problems in the past finding the correct updates for my Inspiron 5584 unless I am using the default settings in Dell SupportAssist (DSA).

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For the "here" link, do you have DSA [and its components (DSA Remediation, DSA OS Recovery Plugin for Dell Update)] removed?  What happens if you click on the link for 'Change Product;?  My warranty expired two years ago, but yet when I click on 'Change Product', it comes back with my device and my service tag # and when I click on the link for my device, everything follows thereafter as it should (i.e., clicking on the Drivers & Downloads tab, then being offered the two choices: 'Check for Updates' or 'Manually find a specific driver for your [device]' .' Manually checking' expands the screen so that I can filter and turn ON the button for "This PC'.  So, these screens work even though the warranty has expired.  This link might work for your 15 5584, as well.  I should note, though, that I have DSA [and its components] installed and the Privacy boxes are checked.

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@DELLKaren wrote:

....do you have DSA [and its components (DSA Remediation, DSA OS Recovery Plugin for Dell Update)] removed?  What happens if you click on the link for 'Change Product;? My warranty expired two years ago, but yet when I click on 'Change Product', it comes back with my device and my service tag # ...I should note, though, that I have DSA [and its components] installed and the Privacy boxes are checked.

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Hi DELLKaren:

I haven't uninstalled Dell SupportAssist and all its association components yet but it looks like clicking the "Change Product" link can only be used to detect the Service Tag if Dell SupportAssist is installed and the Dell SupportAssist service is running.

As as quick test I temporarily stopped the Dell SupportAssist service at Start | Windows Administrative Tools | Services ...

... and then tried to use the "Change Product" link or "Check for Updates" button on the support page <here> for my Inspiron 5584, and in both cases I was unable to detect my Service Tag and was told that SupportAssist was missing and needed to be installed.

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64-bit Win 10 Pro v20H2 build 19042.985 * Firefox v88.0.1 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2104.14 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.3.0.98-1.0.1292 * Dell SupportAssist v3.9.1.245 * Dell SupportAssist Remediation v5.4.1.14954 * Dell Update v4.2.0
Dell Inspiron 15 5584, Intel i5-8265U CPU, 8 GB RAM, Toshiba KBG40ZNS256G 256 GB NVMe SSD, Intel UHD Graphics 620

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@DELLKaren wrote:

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...Since March, 2020. I’ve been keeping a record of whether SA and Dell Update agree or not.  For my 7569, there are 16 occasions to date on which one or the other, but not both, listed a driver or BIOS.  When both do not agree, it is more often Dell Update that will tell me that a driver is needed and SA that will tell me that a new BIOS is needed...

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Hi DELLKaren:

I should add that when everything is configured "normally" [i.e., the Dell SupportAssist service is set to Automatic (Delayed Start) and running and both Privacy settings are enabled in DSA] then my DSA v3.9.1 and Dell Update v4.2.0 currently recommend I update my Dell Power Manager Service from v3.8.0 to v3.9.0 (rel. 20-May-2021).  However, the "Check for Updates" button on the support page <here> for my Inspiron 5584 doesn't find that Dell Power Manager Service update, even after that support page has correctly identified my Service Tag.

This isn't surprising since I've also noticed that DSA and Dell Update sometimes recommend different updates for my Inspiron 5584, but it's incredibly annoying that I can't rely on a check for updates with these various Dell utilities to produce the same list of recommended updates and don't know which utility is the most accurate.
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64-bit Win 10 Pro v20H2 build 19042.985 * Firefox v88.0.1 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2104.14 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.3.0.98-1.0.1292 * Dell SupportAssist v3.9.1.245 * Dell SupportAssist Remediation v5.4.1.14954 * Dell Update v4.2.0
Dell Inspiron 15 5584, Intel i5-8265U CPU, 8 GB RAM, Toshiba KBG40ZNS256G 256 GB NVMe SSD, Intel UHD Graphics 620

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@lmacri wrote:

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This isn't surprising since I've also noticed that DSA and Dell Update sometimes recommend different updates for my Inspiron 5584, but it's incredibly annoying that I can't rely on a check for updates with these various Dell utilities to produce the same list of recommended updates and don't know which utility is the most accurate.

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Hi Imacri,

Yes, as you've pointed out there's actually a triad for finding updates for a specific machine: DSA, Dell Update, and the dell.com/support page.  Quite often an update is missing on one or the other.

I could rant more.There are problems not only with its products and software, but also its websites. 

I'm looking at other vendors the next time around.

I have been reading with great interest regarding this problem as I recently discovered that it was occurring for me too. You all have done a great job in testing and researching this issue. DSA can be useful, but in my experience it has ALWAYS been buggy.  I'd be very interested in finding out what everyone's status is regarding this problem. Any solutions?

Thanks!

Thanks for the updates, everyone. I guess we'll just have to hope that Dell will get on the ball with correcting this issue

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@SilverLogan wrote:

... DSA can be useful, but in my experience it has ALWAYS been buggy.  I'd be very interested in finding out what everyone's status is regarding this problem. Any solutions?

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Hi SilverLogan:

No change on my end since my last post of 29-May-2021. I DISABLED the Dell SupportAssist Remediation service in my Windows services around 10-May-2021 and since then there have been no "Successful Application Reconfiguration" messages logged in my Win 10 Reliability Monitor and Event Viewer (Source = MsiInstaller, Event ID = 1035).

Simply turning off System Repair in the SupportAssist settings [Options (gear icon) | Settings | System Repair | System Repair is Turned On | DISABLE] or in the SupportAssist OS Recovery settings manager (Control Panel | System and Security | SupportAssist OS Recovery | Settings | System Repair | OFF) should also stop these "Successful Application Reconfiguration" messages.  See my 26-Jun-2021 post in Guilherme Bezzon's Snapshot Backup for details on how to disable System Repair.

My basic service warranty expired on Oct 2020 so I cannot open a formal support ticket with Dell Customer Support about this problem. If Dell doesn't get back to DELLKaren soon to confirm that they have isolated the cause of this issue and are actively working on a fix I will uninstall Dell SupportAssist Remediation (a.k.a. the SupportAssist OS Recovery Tools) from my Inspiron 5584 and will rely on full disk images created with Macrium Reflect Free for emergency recovery.
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64-bit Win 10 Pro v20H2 build 19042.1052 * Firefox v89.0.2 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2105.5 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.4.0.117-1.0.1344 * Macrium Reflect Free v7.3.5925 * Dell SupportAssist v3.9.1.245 * Dell SupportAssist Remediation v5.4.1.14954 * Dell Update v4.2.1
Dell Inspiron 15 5584, Intel i5-8265U CPU, 8 GB RAM, Toshiba KBG40ZNS256G 256 GB NVMe SSD, Intel UHD Graphics 620

Hi, I have noticed a significant reduction in the volume of application reconfigurations since the previous two Support Assist updates. However, they are still happening and I did reinstall all the various plugins and Support Assist. The PC runs noticibly quicker when the reconfigurations are not active. I do notice that the mouse and keyboard strokes can start to slow and when this happens the PC can crash. I have a 10th Generation Intel i7 and a 512GB SSD running all the latest updates, so really this shouldn't be happening. I think this issue does merit Dell's attention and I know most of us have now been waiting some time for a fix to this ongoing issue. 

On May 8, at Dell's request, I made a dropbox link to a Dell SA Remediation logfile accessible to the SA Team.  To date, I have heard nothing, except the message from Dell Cares that says "I am following up to let you know that case is active. We are waiting for an update from our team. We will get back with an update as soon as possible."  This has been going on for six weeks now. 

I am not too amazed.  Even though the problem has been diagnosed and the solution seems to be a matter of recoding so that the MsiInstaller is not triggered every time System Repair kicks in to update its images, the SA Team is still sitting on its hands..