I forgot one additional source.  Norton is also presenting a list of out of date drivers.  However, they don't line up well with the Dell list.  I am less inclined to install from the Norton list, but anyone have experience with this? 

Ron,

Thanks, I was able to verify some of what you said.  Looking at the Device Manager, I was able to match 3 devices with the names that Dell uses.  The date of the driver shown there is indeed a few months earlier than the release date shown in the complete list of drivers but with the same version number.  Other drivers are difficult to match because apparently Dell uses a different name than Device Manager.  Thanks for the input.  I'll stay with the SupportAssist recommendations unless something isn't working, and everything is working fine now.  Cheers. 

SupportAssist typically lags behind offering applicable updates which are already available on the update page for manual download/installation.  So that can cause confusion.

Also keep in mind that Windows Update can install driver and BIOS updates when you're not looking. So the version number and/or date shown in Device Manager may not match what Dell shows on their site.

And for whatever reasons, sometimes Windows Update installs an update, days/weeks/months before the exact same version finally appears on Dell's site.  = More confusion...

Bottom line: If it ain't broke, don't break it!

I'm having similar issue, and this above reply may clarify it.  TO CONFIRM -  SupportAssist ShOULD show me WHAT IS NEEDED, including BIOS and CRITICAL updates.  if they don't show up there, then i don't need them, or they are already done?  becaus the dell WEB SITE shows me FIFTEEN recommended/6 critical updates (specific to my service tag), that SupportAssist is not showing me.  any feedback appreciated, thanks

@TheMachineCraziness - SupportAssist should show you what's needed based on its own separate database, which may lag behind what's shown on the support page for your Service Tag. So if an update isn't shown by SupportAssist, that doesn't always mean you already have it.

Using the Service Tag shows the latest updates that are compatible with your hardware, but that does not distinguish between what's available vs what's already installed. 

You can check to see what driver version is already installed by checking the version number for a component (eg, video card) that's shown on that component's Drivers tab in Device Manager. 

BIOS version number can be checked by rebooting and tapping F2 when you see the Dell screen. When BIOS setup opens, it will show the current version. Then just exit setup and PC will automatically boot to desktop

see attached.  This is from my one-year old dell inspiron (my sister has same one also)

IT HAS a program on it, "DELL UPDATE" (NOT dell updateR).   If i run it (and  she just ran  it on her machine), we SEE UPDATES, including firmware.

BUT, if I run SupportAssist, on same machines, there are ZERO UPDATES to be done (i have NOT run the updates of DELL UPDATE - I checked both programs for thier list first)

I RAN the DELL UPDATE indicated files, it updated 6 items, including firmware.

WHY IS THE SupportAssist so useless at showing what is needed?

and HOW TO FIND AND INSTALL DELL UPDATE,as its own software, onto my NEW DELL inspiron, because all the NEW one has is the SupportAssist.

SupportAssist and DELL  UPDATE are provided by the SAME VENDOR, DELL !  It is absurd that they provide different lists of what needs updated, the DELL UPDATE being much more  current

It is totally frustrating.  Any assistance with this is appreciated.  And i appreciate your comments above, explaining supposedly how the supportassist works

This all confirms my perception from my original post, namely that this is all confusing as hell.  And this is for drivers, not some lightly-used app.  SupportAssist has my Service Tag.  Why doesn't it at least default to looking up my info in Dell's online database instead of the offline one saved with the installation on my PC.  It's bad practice to have multiple copies of what should be the same info.  Why doesn't it present the info in the same format in both/all places.  It's not like Dell is some little company who has never done this before.  Dell makes great computers - I may never own another brand - but their support when users/customers are sent to online support is lacking sometimes. 

@TheMachineCraziness  Exactly what PC model do you have?

What version of SupportAssist is installed?

models - Dell  inspiron 14 2-in-1 laptops.  one is 1 year old (the one that has "DELL UPDATE" on it)

and one is couple months old.

both of them have  SupportAssist, 4.6.2 version