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SupportAssist Scan: How to Run a Full Check on Your Dell PC

Use SupportAssist’s Run all or Full system scan option to check the tasks available on your Dell PC, then review each result and its next steps.
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To run a full SupportAssist scan, open SupportAssist and select Start Now, or open the menu beside it and choose Run all. In some versions, the equivalent route is Full system scan, followed by the tasks you want to run and Start. Save your work and connect the PC to power before hardware diagnostics; the available scan tasks and labels vary by PC, software version, and service plan.

What a full SupportAssist scan checks

A full scan bundles the checks and maintenance tasks available on your Dell PC. Depending on the device and service plan, the options can include:

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  • Check for updates: looks for software updates intended to address issues or improve stability.
  • Scan hardware: checks hardware for problems.
  • Boost performance: frees drive space and removes clutter through file optimization.
  • Optimize network: adjusts device settings intended to improve network efficiency and reliability.
  • Remove virus: isolates and removes infected files.

Not every SupportAssist installation offers every task. Dell’s guide describes the available functions, but the scan does not guarantee that it will find or resolve a problem. See Dell’s full system scan instructions for the task list and version-dependent details.

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How to run the full scan

  1. Open SupportAssist.
  2. Select Start Now. If that option is not shown, open the down-arrow menu and select Run all. In versions with a separate scan page, open Full system scan, choose the tasks you want, and select Start.
  3. Follow the task name and progress shown above the tiles or on the tiles themselves. Stay at the PC in case a test asks you to interact.
  4. When the scan finishes, review the result on each tile and follow any details or next-step options shown.

Dell’s US instructions, last modified 19 May 2026, use Start Now and Run all. The Home PCs guide describes the related Full system scan flow. Labels may differ by SupportAssist version. Dell also cautions that canceling an optimization does not reverse changes that have already completed. Read Dell’s current full-scan instructions if you need to confirm the steps for your installation.

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Prepare before running hardware diagnostics

  • Save your work and close open files and applications.
  • Connect the PC to a power source.
  • Remain near the computer: some hardware tests require you to respond to prompts.

For the version-specific diagnostic route documented by Dell Australia, open Support, select Get started under Test my hardware, expand I want to troubleshoot my PC, choose I want to scan my entire PC, and select Start. Dell’s instructions reference SupportAssist version 4.0.3, so treat these labels as guidance for that interface rather than universal labels. The test can include the display and connected devices. See Dell Australia’s diagnostic instructions.

Choose the right kind of scan

Option Purpose When to use it
Run all / Full system scan Runs the available bundle of update, hardware, and optimization tasks. When you want a broad check and maintenance pass; task availability varies by PC and service plan.
Quick hardware scan Checks hardware without running the full bundle of system tasks. When you want a hardware-focused check.
Specific-component test Tests a selected component rather than scanning the entire PC. When you want to investigate a particular device or component.

Dell’s diagnostic flow also offers full-system or stress testing. If a recent hardware change means a device is missing from the component list, Dell advises refreshing the hardware list. A test result is diagnostic information; it does not, by itself, establish which replacement part to buy.

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What to do with the scan results

No issue or update found

SupportAssist may show a success summary or a message on the relevant tile. That means the scan did not report a problem in the checks it ran; it is not a guarantee about conditions the scan did not test.

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Updates are available

Review the update type and count shown under Get Drivers & Downloads, then use SupportAssist to review and install relevant recommended updates. The listed updates are not the same as a hardware fault.

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A hardware issue is reported

Open the issue details and follow the support route displayed. Some issues may show a support-request option, while others may show a title or notification after the scans finish. The notification and whether support handling is automated can depend on issue severity and service plan.

Potentially unwanted software or malware is detected

Review the detection details and use the removal instructions provided in SupportAssist. A detection result is not a substitute for broader security judgment about the PC or any files and accounts used on it.

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The scan fails

In the guide, expand What happened to read the error description before trying again or troubleshooting. The error text is more useful than assuming the failure means the hardware is faulty.

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Schedule scans and optimizations

To configure supported scheduled checks, open Settings and select the Scans and optimizations card. You must be signed in as an administrator. Scan frequency can depend on service plan. Automatic software installation is available only on certain PCs; automatic performance boosting, network optimization, and virus or malware removal are also limited to supported systems. Active ProSupport Plus or Premium Support Plus can affect automatic optimization behavior. Consult Dell’s scheduling guide for the controls applicable to your installation.

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  • Designed for easy learning: Energy-efficient batteries and Express Charge support extend your focus and productivity.
  • Stay connected to what you love: Spend more screen time on the things you enjoy with Dell ComfortView software that helps reduce harmful blue light emissions to keep your eyes comfortable over extended viewing times.
  • Type with ease: Write and calculate quickly with roomy keypads, separate numeric keypad and calculator hotkey.
  • Ergonomic support: Keep your wrists comfortable with lifted hinges that provide an ergonomic typing angle.

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