Dell Laptop Crashing Problems

Steve C · 15 Aug 2022

Ghot said:

Have you tried making a full backup, then deleting the Windows partitions, and doing a clean install?
We all know there ARE things an In-Place Upgrade.... won't fix.
If that works, then you know it was a software issue. If it doesn't work, then you have a hardware issue.

Any DELL specific things to worry about... I have no idea.

That's my next step when I've finished fiddling about trying to identify and remove dodgy drivers as above. No crashes today as of 22:35.

itsme1 · 15 Aug 2022

There were 2 messages before I posted this message... it may be too late I'm posting anyway.
I didn't understand your response to my post. It doesn't matter.
Dell Data Vault is not the same as Dell SmartByte. I must have Dell Data Vault if it is part of supportassist.
In this link of MiniTool. com it says how to uninstall it, you did it, and check if Dell Data Vault is cleanly deleted, C:\Program Files and registry. In the dell community forum, C:\Program Files also but service in task manager.

What Is Dell Data Vault and How to Remove It?

https://www.dell.com/community/Windo...775650#M370062

Ghot · 15 Aug 2022

Steve C said:

That's my next step when I've finished fiddling about trying to identify and remove dodgy drivers as above. No crashes today as of 22:35.

I always try to jump to the final move, in the beginning.
My troubleshooting method is best explained by Sam Rockwell's line at the end of this clip...

itsme1 · 15 Aug 2022

I watched on my laptop all supportassist services:

Dell Data Vault Collector
Dell Data Vault Processor
Dell Data Vault Service API
Dell SupportAssist

Dell TechHub <-- not sure about this one

Steve C · 19 Aug 2022

Update - the laptop now appears stable with no crashes after 5 days after I uninstalled Dell Data Vault showing in Device Manger and the driver. I had uninstalled Dell Support Assist but due to their poor software engineering this did not remove the residual Dell Data Vault.

itsme1 · 19 Aug 2022

Not too long ago in the dell community forum there was a bsod problem with supportAssist, someone with a rockstar badge gave as a solution to uninstall until it was fixed. Your friend's support assist may have been a problem version. You can try the latest version of supportassist.

https://www.dell.com/support/content...tassist?lwp=rt

Steve C · 19 Aug 2022

itsme1 said:

Not too long ago in the dell community forum there was a bsod problem with supportAssist, someone with a rockstar badge gave as a solution to uninstall until it was fixed. Your friend's support assist may have been a problem version. You can try the latest version of supportassist.

https://www.dell.com/support/content...tassist?lwp=rt

I've had enough pain and grief with this PC. I usually ignore such bloatware and check the Dell web site every few months for new drivers.

itsme1 · 20 Aug 2022

I understand... With supportassist you can do individual hardware tests on the supportassist page when booting the laptop. If one day you need to do hardware tests you can install supportassist only to do the tests and uninstall it with third-party software.