support assist

Hi delross:

What is your Windows operating system [if Win 10 or Win 11 open a Run dialog box (Windows key + R) and enter winver to find the version and OS build number] and BIOS version?  To find your current BIOS version open a Run dialog box, enter msinfo32 to open your System Information, and look for the field named "BIOS Version / Date" in the summary.

You said in your 26-Mar-2024 topic network adapter update that you had a Win 8.1 OS at that time, so if you haven't upgraded your OS since then your Inspiron 3646 does not meet the minimum system requirements published <here> in the current SupportAssist v4.10.x release notes.

Is there a specific reason why you want to use SupportAssist? Your Inspiron 3646 support page at https://www.dell.com/support/product-details/en-us/product/inspiron-3646-small-desktop/drivers shows Dell hasn't released a BIOS update for your computer model since 17-Mar-2018, and if you click the "This Device" tab on that support page and enter your unique Service Tag *** you'll probably find that Dell hasn't released any hardware drivers that match your system components since 2019.

*** NOTE:  If you go to the support page for your Dell computer model and enter your unique Service Tag on the Drivers & Downloads panel the “This Device” tab should present a filtered list of Dell software and hardware drivers that match your system components, but that does not mean they are required. Some of those compatible Dell programs could be unnecessary bloat that you don’t need to install (for example, I did not purchase any third-party software like Adobe Photoshop Elements, CyberLink PowerDVD, etc. when I purchased my Inspiron 5584 so I don’t need Dell Digital Delivery), and some matching firmware and hardware drivers might already be installed on your computer. When you look for available updates on your support page this way it’s your responsibility to check your installed software versions at Settings | Apps (or Control Panel | Programs | Programs and Features) and/or hardware driver versions in Device Manager to see what is already installed on your system.
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Dell Inspiron 15 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.6456 * Firefox v144.0.2 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.25090.3009-1.1.25090.3001 * Malwarebytes Premium v5.4.3.221-144.0.5414 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7783 * My Dell v2.2.6.0 * Fusion Service 2.2.14.0

hi yes still the same i Win 8.1 OS i wanted to optimise & run checks

cheers

@lmacri​

Hi I used service tag checked drivers they are uptodate

it shows latest driver as 1705 802 version 10.0.0.270 (2014)

but I had an updated driver on 26 oct 2025 of 1705 802 version 10.0.0.352 (2017) ?

from Qualcomm Atheros Communications Inc ?

also I did get a support assist Message on my taskbar saying intel driver & support assistant upto date but like you send I can run any tests Because my dell does not meet the minimum system requirements

I used service tag checked drivers they are uptodate

it shows latest driver as 1705 802 version 10.0.0.270 (2014)

but I had an updated driver on 26 oct 2025 of 1705 802 version 10.0.0.352 (2017) ?

Hi delross:

According to the Google search I ran <here> the Qualcomm Atheros 1705 is also known as the Dell Wireless 1705 or Atheros QCWB335.

I presume that the Win 8.1-compatible driver for your Qualcomm Atheros 1705 802.11n card is listed on your Inspiron 3646 support page at https://www.dell.com/support/product-details/en-us/product/inspiron-3646-small-desktop/drivers as Dell Wireless 1705 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Driver.  If that is correct I can confirm the latest driver released by Dell that they certified for your system is indeed v10.0.0.270 (3647_Network_Driver_MD68G_WN_10.0.0.270_A00.EXE, rel.04-Jun-2014). That is the same v10.0.0.270 driver Chino de Oro recommended in their 26-Mar-2024 post in your topic network adapter update.

I can only speculate that your current v10.0.0.352 driver was delivered in 2017 by Windows Update (see the Microsoft Update Catalog listing at https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=Qualcomm Atheros 1705 Windows 8.1) or some other update mechanism, but if your WiFi and Bluetooth connections are working correctly you don't need to be concerned.

It appears my 03-Nov-2025 post in this topic about tools built in to your Win 8.1 OS that can be used to improve your system performance was automatically removed and sent to moderation because I edited my reply [see my 17-Sep-2024 topic My Posts Keep Disappearing (Sent to Moderation?)], so I'll contact one of the Forum Mods to see if I can get it taken out of moderation and re-posted. 
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Dell Inspiron 15 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.6456 * Firefox v144.0.2 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.25090.3009-1.1.25090.3001 * Malwarebytes Premium v5.4.3.221-144.0.5414 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7783 * My Dell v2.2.6.0 * Fusion Service 2.2.14.0

@lmacri​

 hi I did have a few problems with realtek pci gbe family controller disconnecting from the network I had to do ipconfig /flushdns & netsh winsock reset but its seems ok now except for metadata staging failed

moderation re-posted would be most helpful

cheers

yes still the same i Win 8.1 OS i wanted to optimise & run checks

Hi delross:

My 03-Nov-2025 reply still hasn't come out of moderation so here's a re-post.

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Then you don't meet the minimum system requirements for the latest SupportAssist v4.10.x or Dell Update v5.5.x.  However, the method I described <above> (i.e., browse to your Inspiron 3646 support page at https://www.dell.com/support/product-details/en-us/product/inspiron-3646-small-desktop/drivers and choose Select Drivers, click the "This Device" tab and enter your unique Service Tag) should display a filtered list of the last drivers that were certified by Dell for the latest Dell BIOS for your computer model (i.e., Dell Inspiron 3646 System BIOS version A10, rel. 17-Mar-2018) and the hardware components installed in your Inspiron 3646 at the factory.

Don't forget there are tools built in to your Win 8.1 OS like Disk Cleanup, Disk Defragmenter (for SATA HDDs, not newer solid state SSDs) and Check Disk (chkdsk /r) and  that might help improve your system performance - see the MS support article Speed up a Windows 8.1 computer.

For additional guidance see the NeoSmart articles at Disk Cleanup , Delete Temporary Files and Folders (for instructions on how to purge temporary files in your hidden %TEMP% folder at C:\Users\<yourusername>\AppData\Local\Temp that aren't cleaned by Disk Cleanup) and chkdsk.

If you need to run a Dell hardware diagnostic use the F12 ePSA (enhanced Pre-boot System Assessment) on-board hardware diagnostics from your Dell BIOS as instructed in the support article How to Run Dell Preboot Diagnostics and Hardware Tests on Your Dell Computer and companion video How to Run Dell ePSA. Your ePSA hardware diagnostics will run correctly even if SupportAssist is not installed.

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Just FYI, I uninstalled all SupportAssist-related programs from my Inspiron 5584 after my service warranty expired - they were too buggy, consumed too much RAM and CPU, and the "system optimization" scans in SupportAssist (Clean Files / Tune Performance / Optimize Network) were too aggressive and had the potential to do more harm than good.  For example, see my 12-Jul-2021 posts in ex-jedi's Prevent Automatic Recycle Bin Emptying about the over-aggressive registry cleaner included with the Tune Performance scan (now called Boost Performance in SupportAssist v4.x).  See my 08-Feb-2025 post in ygil's BSOD Issues After Windows Updates for further details on the steps I took to replace most of the functionality of these buggy programs.
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Dell Inspiron 15 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.6456 * Firefox v144.0.2 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.25090.3009-1.1.25100.9002 * Malwarebytes Premium v5.4.3.221-144.0.5414 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7783 * My Dell v2.2.6.0 * Fusion Service 2.2.14.0

@lmacri​ hi i have done most of these test no errors found

i will not do advanced diagnostics unless i have future problems

you have put a lot of your time into my problem so cheers