Last week we had an old customer source a couple of Dell Inspiron 16 Pro laptops and those laptops had a pile of Dell software on them that he did not recognize. As such he asked us if any of this Dell software was useful or whether he could uninstall it all.
Before we get into that let’s explain that this is a corporate customer who’s used to buying Dell Optiplex PCs and Dell Latitude laptops. Latitudes and Optiplex‘s are corporate grade hardware and Dell does not ship with very extra Dell software on them. Inspiron’s on the other hand are Dell’s primary retail line of laptops and those units arrive with not only Dell software, but other useless clutter-ware like McAfee Antivirus tools.
We immediately uninstall Mcafee, Symantec or whatever other retail antivirus OEM’s like Dell or HP install because Windows Defender:
- is an excellent antivirus
- that is free with Windows 11 operating system
- doesn’t slow down your machine
- doesn’t have nag screens or excessive popup alerts
Also, in corporate settings it’s usually combined with other protections like Sentinel One and protected by real firewalls from companies like Palo Alto.
But I digress, let’s answer the question you came here for which is one of this software is useful and what should be uninstalled.
Dell Software Explained:
1. Dell Core Services
- Really needed: We keep it. If you use other Dell utilities (like SupportAssist for driver updates or system health checks), then Dell Core Services is generally needed. If you prefer to manually manage drivers and system settings without any Dell software, it might not be strictly “needed” in that sense, but uninstalling it could impact the functionality of other Dell tools you might decide to use later
- Size: About 250 MB
- What it does: Dell Core Services is a foundational component for many other Dell applications, particularly those related to system management, diagnostics, and updates. It provides shared resources and communication channels for these Dell utilities to function correctly. Think of it as a set of backend processes that other Dell software relies on
- Tied to other software: Yes, it is tied to other Dell software like Dell SupportAssist, and MyDell. These applications often require Dell Core Services to be installed and running
- First released: The concept of core services for Dell has been around for many years, evolving with their software suites.
- Interesting: Its significant size for a “core service” indicates it contains a broad range of functionalities and libraries to support various Dell applications
2. Dell Digital Delivery
- Really needed: We uninstall it as we don’t ever want the “free” software Dell is paid to put on our computers. It’s needed if only you want to re-download or manage software titles that came digitally with your Dell PC
- Size: Less than 1 MB (very small)
- What it does: Dell Digital Delivery is an application that allows users to download and install software applications that were purchased with their Dell computer. This typically includes pre-installed software like Microsoft Office, antivirus programs, or other paid applications that are digitally delivered rather than on physical media
- Tied to other software: It functions independently for its core purpose but might integrate with Dell’s online services for license validation and download management
- First released: Dell Digital Delivery has been a staple for many years, offering a convenient way to manage digital software purchases
- Interesting: The extremely small size.
3. Dell Digital Delivery Services
- Really needed: We uninstall it, but if you use “Dell Digital Delivery” to manage your purchased digital software, then this service is essential
- Size: About 70 MB
- What it does: This is the underlying service component for Dell Digital Delivery. It handles the actual downloading, installation, and license management of the digital software titles. While “Dell Digital Delivery” might be the user-facing interface, this service does the heavy lifting in the background.
- Tied to other software: Directly tied to “Dell Digital Delivery”
- First released: As with Dell Digital Delivery, the services have evolved over many years.
- Interesting: Its role as the primary engine for the digital delivery system
4. Dell SupportAssist
- Really needed: We keep it. Highly recommended for most Dell users. It simplifies driver management, system diagnostics, and can proactively identify and resolve potential issues, often before they become critical. If you prefer to manually manage everything, you could uninstall it, but you’d lose out on the automated assistance and diagnostic capabilities
- Size: Less than 1 MB (very small)About 1 GB
- What it does: Dell SupportAssist is Dell’s primary proactive support tool. It automates support tasks like detecting issues, sending alerts, and gathering system information for troubleshooting. It can also manage driver and BIOS updates. This specific entry looks like the main user interface or a lightweight launcher
- Tied to other software: Heavily tied to the larger “Dell SupportAssist” installation and “Dell Core Services”
- First released: Dell SupportAssist (and its predecessors like Dell System Detect) has been around for many years as Dell’s flagship support utility
- Interesting: The extremely small size again suggests this is a client or launcher that relies on a larger underlying application and services
5. Dell SupportAssist (Small)
- Really needed: Yes, unless you are also uninstalling the larger Dell SupportAssist
- Size: Less than 1 MB (very small)
- What it does: This is typically a lightweight launcher, stub, or a Microsoft Store (UWP) app component. It’s essentially the user-facing part that you might click on to open SupportAssist. Its main purpose is to initiate the larger application or services.
- Why it’s small: It doesn’t contain the core logic, diagnostic tools, or driver databases. It’s just a tiny piece of code that tells your system where to find and run the main SupportAssist application. Sometimes, this can be a UWP (Universal Windows Platform) app package, which often appears with very small sizes in the app list
6. Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery Plugin for Dell Update
- Really needed: We uninstall it as Windows does a good job of recovery natively
- Size: About 60 MB
- What it does: This plugin integrates Dell SupportAssist’s OS Recovery capabilities with Dell Update. It facilitates the creation or management of recovery media, or provides access to recovery options directly from the operating system, often linked to driver or BIOS updates that might affect system stability
- Tied to other software: It is tied to Dell SupportAssist
- First released: This is a newer component within the broader Dell SupportAssist ecosystem
- Interesting: The “OS Recovery” aspect highlights Dell’s efforts to provide comprehensive recovery solutions, not just driver updates
7. Dell SupportAssist Remediation
- Really needed: We uninstall it
- Size: About 90 MB
- What it does: Dell SupportAssist Remediation focuses on system repair and recovery. This component is responsible for backing up key system files, creating restore points, or providing tools to revert system changes that caused issues. It works in conjunction with SupportAssist to diagnose and fix problems
- Tied to other software: Directly tied to “Dell SupportAssist.”
- First released: This is a more recent addition or a more prominent component within the Dell SupportAssist suite, focusing on proactive problem resolution
- Interesting: The term “Remediation” indicates active problem-solving and repair capabilities, beyond just diagnostics
8. MyDell
- Really needed: We always uninstall it
- Size: About 90 MB
- What it does: MyDell is designed to be a centralized hub for Dell users, offering a more user-friendly interface to access various Dell services and features. This can include system information, warranty status, quick links to support, driver updates (often leveraging SupportAssist), power management settings, audio profiles, and display settings. It aims to simplify the user experience by bringing many functions under one umbrella
- Tied to other software: Integrates with “Dell Core Services” and often links to or launches “Dell SupportAssist” for diagnostics and updates
- First released: MyDell is a relatively newer application compared to the long-standing SupportAssist, aimed at providing a more modern and integrated experience. It has replaced or evolved from earlier “Dell Digital Locker” or “Dell Mobile Connect” type applications in some aspects
- Interesting: MyDell represents Dell’s push towards a more unified and accessible user interface for their ecosystem of software and services. Its focus is on user convenience and accessibility
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