Solved Dell System Diagnostic, or something else?

[newpgm]

Hi,

decided to run a system diagnostic on my Dell PC today - just because it had never been done on this particular PC. Received a msg telling me Microsoft .Net Framework 4 Full would be required in order to install the Dell Diag. We have the lesser version .Net Framework 4 Client Profile. Was about to install the full version over top of Client Profile when it occurred to me that perhaps there was a better System Diagnostic tool out there anyway.

In fact it looks like there are quite a few. So I am here for recommendations. Would prefer not to pay for one if possible but certainly don't want to be cheap since this is our primary PC. Or should I install the Full Version of .Net Framework 4 & stick with the Dell diag?

Perhaps a little more info:

I ran something called Free PC Health Scan on the Dell website which then called into play iolo System Mechanic & it found a number of issues. Two items removed from startup which I already knew about & was going to remove myself when was certain there would be no negative repercussion. But what concerns me:

1) are the over 100 registry entries it flagged - I do run CCleaner several times throughout the week to remove old/left over/invalid registry entries. But apparently iolo found around 104 that need to be removed? & yes I know we're not supposed to muck about with registry but have been letting Norton, McAfee & CCleaner do their thing for a number of years now & to my knowledge have not damaged a registry yet. No longer run Norton or McAfee, have installed only Microsoft Security Essentials & Malwarebytes at this time.

2) Also indicated there may be some data corruption on the HD. It was a bit ambiguous on that point.


This is when I decided to run the diag.

iolo System Mechanic is not free, guess just the PC Health Scan was. Found some Dell threads where users had run System Mechanic on brand new Dell machines & because of all the Dell bloatware System Mechanic found all kinds of problems - on brand spanking new PC's.


Thank you

 

[fireberd]

Dell used to have hardware diagnostics on the hard drive, accessed by F12 at power on? Have they stopped that?

However, all the "repair" programs such as System Mechanic and the one advertised on TV, etc that fix and speed up your PC and remove hundreds of registry entries are very suspect. Most techies compare them to "snake oil".

Ccleaner has a registry scanner program, if you really want to do that. Its the least intrusive.

 

[newpgm]

Dell used to have hardware diagnostics on the hard drive, accessed by F12 at power on? Have they stopped that?

F12 -

That's too simple !!

I knew that, I really did. Have used it several times. Must have just slipped my mind. Nothing knew, quite often don't remember why I walk from one room to the other anymore.
Anyway it passed with flying colors - the short test. Guess I had become addicted to the pretty 3D looking space graphics in the Dell System Diagnostic.

Thanks

 

[SandeepP]

Dell used to have hardware diagnostics on the hard drive, accessed by F12 at power on? Have they stopped that?

F12 -

That's too simple !!

I knew that, I really did. Have used it several times. Must have just slipped my mind. Nothing knew, quite often don't remember why I walk from one room to the other anymore.
Anyway it passed with flying colors - the short test. Guess I had become addicted to the pretty 3D looking space graphics in the Dell System Diagnostic.

Thanks

Hi newpgm,

If you wish to run the diagnostics on the system then please check the link below which would help you run hardware diagnostics on the system:

http://dell.to/11NpLCy

You can also download the Net Framework 4.0 from the link below:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-in/download/details.aspx?id=17718

Also, it is advisable to have only one antivirus of firewall running on the system. If you are not getting any issues in the performance of system then it is advisable not to fix the same using different softwares.

Hope it helps.

 

[newpgm]

Hi SandeepP,

Last weekend I did do just that, ran hardware diags (F12) & installed Microsoft .Net Framework 4 Full so that I could run the Dell Diags as well.

No problems were found, as I suspected. I believe fireberd is correct when he referred to System Mechanic as "snake oil"

thanks

 

[gregrocker]

Factory preinstalled Win7 is corrupt to begin with, larded with bloatware and useless duplicate utilties that have better versions built into Win7, and cause problems. That's why most tech enthusiasts will not run such an install but prefer to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

Stick with the steps in the blue link and you'll get and keep a perfect install.

 

[newpgm]

Factory preinstalled Win7 is corrupt to begin with, larded with bloatware and useless duplicate utilties that have better versions built into Win7, and cause problems. That's why most tech enthusiasts will not run such an install but prefer to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

Stick with the steps in the blue link and you'll get and keep a perfect install.

Hi gregrocker,

Wow what a great forum, the Dell & HP Community forums could learn a thing or two from Windows Seven Forums.

This PC originally had Vista with a free upgrade to Win 7, which was avail four months later. What a mess the upgrade process is, never again. Always going with the clean install going forward.

So yes I did perform a clean install & left Dell bloatware on the CD. Thought about putting the Dell Dock back on but even that was a little too gimmicky. PC runs great. Guess that's why I was surprised the iolo System Mechanic found so much stuff.

I do keep the PC pretty clean but there always seems to be something. Just recently discovered older versions of Java need to be uninstalled as they present a security risk.

thank you

 

[SandeepP]

Hi SandeepP,

Last weekend I did do just that, ran hardware diags (F12) & installed Microsoft .Net Framework 4 Full so that I could run the Dell Diags as well.

No problems were found, as I suspected. I believe fireberd is correct when he referred to System Mechanic as "snake oil"

thanks

Hi newpgm,

Its great to hear that everything is working fine on the system. Please check the link below for installing Dell dock if you require:

Download The Dell Dock

We are trying out best to reach out to all customers and provide them with the best possible advice regarding their system.

If you have any feedback or suggestions feel free to share with us at the link below:

Idea Storm

Glad to be of assistance to you.

 

[fireberd]

The Dell dock is not needed and the user did a clean install. Not everything that Dell offers or supplies is needed or even of value, such as System Mechanic.

 

[gregrocker]

You do not need System Mechanic or any other gimmicky system cleaner or optimizer with Win7 - it will only cause problems. What you need to get and keep perfect performance is to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 following the steps in the blue link. It discusses how to judge reimporting any Dell software.