SupportAssist "Task in Progress" error for Update Drivers

Hi ToSt1:

What is the edition (e.g., Pro, Enterprise, etc.), version (e.g., 22H1, 22H2, etc.) and OS build number of your Windows 10 OS shown at Settings | System | About | Windows Specifications, and what version of Dell SupportAssist is shown at Control Panel | Programs | Programs and Features?

If you go to Start | Windows Administrative Tools | Services (or search for "services" from your Start button) do the three services called Dell Client Management Service, Dell SupportAssist and Dell TechHub all have a Status of "Running"?

Have you installed the Dell Update for Windows Universal v4.8.0 app (rel. 31-Jan-2023, Dell-Update-Windows-Universal-Application_0RCG0_WIN_4.8.0_A00.EXE) that is listed on Driver & Downloads tab of your Inspiron 3880 support page at https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-ca/product-support/product/inspiron-3880-desktop/drivers, and if so is Dell Update able to run a check for available updates?

If you enter the unique Service Tag for your computer on the Overview tab of the Inspiron 3880 support page at https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-ca/product-support/product/inspiron-3880-desktop/overview and then click the blue "Check for Updates" button on the Drivers & Downloads tab, does the check for updates run to completion?
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64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.2486 * Firefox v109.0.1 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2211.5-1.1.19900.2 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.5.22.236-1.0.1915 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7279 * SupportAssist v3.13.2.14 * Dell Update for Windows Universal v4.7.1 * Dell SupportAssist Remediation v5.5.5.16206 * Inspiron 5583/5584 BIOS v1.21.0
Dell Inspiron 15 5584, Intel i5-8265U CPU, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB Toshiba KBG40ZNS256G NVMe SSD, Intel UHD Graphics 620

Thanks for the helpful information!

All three of the services are running. I was able to update the driver from the dell website. The bios completed successfully.
I am unable to run the other things in Support Assist, like Clean Files and Scan Hardware, etc.
It is now locked up showing 1 update available. When you click update, it shows no drivers to update, and one program which is says is not applicable. However, the error message A task is currently in progress. Wait for the previous task to finish. still shows.

Sorry, I don't understand how to tell what versions I'm on. Should I just run the driver update from the Internet instead of using the Support Assist? Or is there a way to Uninstall and Reinstall it?

Thanks so much for your help!

- ToSt1

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@ToSt1 wrote:

...Sorry, I don't understand how to tell what versions I'm on.

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Hi ToSt1:

As noted in my post <above>, you should be able find your Dell SupportAssist version number at Control Panel | Programs | Programs and Features. Be sure to let me know if you see Dell Update for Windows Universal v4.7.1 or v4.8.0 ( or some similar edition of Dell Update) listed there as well. From my Inspiron 5584 / Win 10 Pro v22H2 laptop (sorted by the Publisher column) that shows that  my current SupportAssist v3.13.2.14 was installed on 08-Feb-2023.

To open Control Panel just enter "control panel" (without the quote marks) in the search box on your Windows taskbar and click on the shortcut for the Control Panel app in your search results.

If SupportAssist is working correctly you should also be able to launch SupportAssist and go to Options (the gear icon in the top-right corner) | About to see your current version. This will also trigger SupportAssist to run a self-update check to see if a newer version of SupportAssist has been released.

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...I am unable to run the other things in Support Assist, like Clean Files and Scan Hardware, etc.

It is now locked up showing 1 update available. When you click update, it shows no drivers to update, and one program which is says is not applicable. However, the error message A task is currently in progress. Wait for the previous task to finish. still shows....

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When you click the Update button under "Get Drivers & Downloads" what program does SupportAssist say is "not applicable"? If it is the Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery Tools see Ling Kwa's image and comments they posted today in their thread SupportAssist OS Recovery Tools 5.5.5.16458 Fail to Install about problems they're having with this update. If you click on the History tab of SupportAssist and look at the log there you might find some additional information that tells you what tasks have either run successfully or failed in recent weeks.

I normally have SupportAssist disabled so it can't launch automatically at boot-up, but I ran a few tests after I received the latest v3.13.2.14 update on 08-Feb-2023. I don't know if this is expected behaviour or a bug, but I noticed that once I ran a manual "Get Drivers & Downloads" scan that I had to wait until the next day to run a new update check. If absolutely necessary you could probably start a new check for updates by selecting the "Run All" button, but it's not something I'd recommend (see my warning below).
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Just an FYI that I don't like SupportAssist v3.x - it's to buggy and uses too many system resources - so I usually check for updates using my Dell Update for Windows Universal v4.x app. If you want to continue using SupportAssist v3.x I'd suggest you turn off all background "system optimization" scans at Options (gear icon) | Settings | Set Your System to Automatically Run Scans and Performance Optimization  (see my image below - be sure to click the blue Save button to save any settings you change)  and just run the occasional "Get Drivers & Downloads" and/or "Scan Hardware" scans manually from the Home tab. The "system optimization" scans (Clean Files / Tune Performance / Optimize Network - and possibly Remove Viruses & Malware if you have a Premium Support Plus warranty that hasn't expired) are too aggressive and have the potential to do more harm than good - see my 12-Jul-2021 comment in ex-jedi's Prevent Automatic Recycle Bin Emptying.

My Dell Update for Windows Universal v4.x app can't run hardware scans, but if I ever need to run a hardware scan I can run Dell's F12 ePSA (enhanced Pre-boot System Assessment) hardware diagnostics from my BIOS (see the instruction video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cfFECs5Qa0), and my Windows 10 OS also has its own built-in hardware diagnostics at Settings | Update & Security | Troubleshoot | Additional Troubleshooters.
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64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.2486 * Firefox v110.0.0 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2301.6-1.1.200000.2 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.5.22.236-1.0.1915 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7279 * SupportAssist v3.13.2.14 * Dell Update for Windows Universal v4.7.1 * Dell SupportAssist Remediation v5.5.5.16458 * Fusion Service v2.1.31.0 * Inspiron 5583/5584 BIOS v1.21.0
Dell Inspiron 15 5584, Intel i5-8265U CPU, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB Toshiba KBG40ZNS256G NVMe SSD, Intel UHD Graphics 620

Thanks for the instructions. I understand now. Dell SupportAssist is 3.13.2.14.  The Universal app is 4.7.1.

I unchecked automatic update. However, I don't understand. It just comes up with a message that it's been over a month. I have to manually run the updates.

I didn't write down the name of the unapplicable file. I hit the Update Drivers button which shows 1 Update Available, and it has been stuck on preparing for over an hour. When I try to click on anything else I get nothing. I believe it's locked up. When I restart it, I can get to History. It shows successful driver download from the Web yesterday. Today, it shows no activity.

Thanks so much for your help!

ToSt1

Hi ToSt1:

If SupportAssist v3.13.2.4 is still stuck on "Task in Progress" and you decide you would like to continue troubleshooting be sure to post back. I don't know if I'd actually be able to help you fix your problem (my own SupportAssist v3.13.2.4 and Dell Update for Windows Universal v4.7.1 still aren't working normally - see my 26-Feb-2023 post in my thread Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery Plugin for Dell Update Rolled Back to v5.5.4.16189) but if I you don't understand any of my instructions just let me know - it's my fault if my instructions are difficult to follow, not yours.

If you ever want to unmark this topic as Solved then log in to the forum and go to each of the posts you marked as the solution, click the ellipsis (three vertical dots) to view the reply options, and select "Not the Solution".  You created this thread so you are are the only person (other than a Dell employee) that has the ability to mark your thread as "Solved" or "Unsolved".

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64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.2604 * Firefox v110.0.0 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2301.6-1.1.200000.2 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.5.23.241-1.0.1927 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7279 * SupportAssist v3.13.2.14 * Dell Update for Windows Universal v4.7.1 * Dell SupportAssist Remediation v5.5.5.16458 * Fusion Service v2.2.14.0 * Inspiron 5583/5584 BIOS v1.22.1
Dell Inspiron 15 5584, Intel i5-8265U CPU, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB Toshiba KBG40ZNS256G NVMe SSD, Intel UHD Graphics 620