Dell Client Management Newsletter – January 2024

WEBINAR – Dell Optimizer deep dive 

Thursday, February 8, 09:00 – 10:00 CET 

Dell Optimizer will take personalized PC performance to the next level with built-in AI-based optimization software that learns and responds to the way you work.

In this webinar we will do a deep dive on the latest version of Dell Optimizer. This will be delivered by Luc Van Houdenhove our CST from Belgium.

Registration Link


Techdirect & SupportAssist news 

Dell Supportasist v3.5 has been launched with a lot of new enhancements.

  • New and improved deployment experience.
    • Ability to install and independently configure SupportAssist at a later time.
    • Ability to complete SupportAssist deployment using Administrative Template Files (.admx/.adml).
    • Ability to activate SupportAssist using the activation file, if not activated already.
    • Ability to independently download software add-ons like Dell Trusted Device and Central Resource Manager at any time.
  • Ability to remotely initiate a system restore to rollback driver updates on a single PC.
  • Ability to view the status of PC health, application experience, and security for PCs with Basic service plan.
  • Support to create remediation rules using predefined Dell library scripts.
  • Availability of context-sensitive help and online resources such as information about webinars, white papers, videos, and so on, in the TechDirect > Connect and manage user interface.
  • Ability to manage user permissions for a required site and group.
  • Enhancements to custom catalog capabilities.
    • Ability to view the status of catalog deployment for each PC.
    • Ability to view the status of individual updates deployed on a PC through custom catalogs.
    • Ability to automatically apply custom catalogs for PCs newly added to the site and group.
  • Support to update Central Resource Manager to the upcoming version automatically.
    NOTE: This is supported only after Central Resource Manager is manually updated to version 3.5.
  • Support for predictive hardware failure alerts from PCs with an active ProSupport service plan.
  • User interface enhancements:
    • Option to view and export the BIOS version from the PC inventory page.
    • Option to view service plan and warranty details for a single PC.
    • Option to view details about Dell monitor and Dell docking station connected to a PC.
  • Performance improvements and bug fixes.

Some examples below …

System Bios now in inventory 

Dell Monitor & Dock in PC Inventory 

Connect to your CST for a full demo! 


Dell Trusted Device – version 6.0.2.0

The Dell Trusted Device agent is part of the Dell SafeBIOS product portfolio. The Trusted Device agent includes the following:

  • BIOS Verification
  • BIOS Events & Indicators of Attack
  • Image Capture
  • Intel ME Verification
  • Secured Component Verification (On Cloud)
  • Security Risk Protection Score
  • Dell Event Repository and SIEM integration

BIOS Verification provides customers with affirmation that devices are secured below the operating system, a place where IT administrator visibility is lacking. It enables customers to verify BIOS integrity using an off-host process without interrupting the boot process. After the Trusted Device agent runs on the endpoint, a pass or fail result (0 or 1) displays in some of these locations:

  • Web browser
  • Command line
  • Registry entry
  • Event Viewer
  • Logs

BIOS Events & Indicators of Attack enables administrators to analyze events in the Windows Event Viewer that may indicate bad actors targeting BIOS on enterprise endpoints. Bad actors change BIOS attributes to gain access to enterprise computers locally or remotely. These attack vectors can be monitored then mitigated through the BIOS Events & Indicators of Attack features’ ability to monitor BIOS attributes. The Intel Management Engine (Intel ME) is an independent microcontroller that is built into Intel processor chipsets manufactured starting in 2008. Intel ME provides an interface between the operating system, hardware, and BIOS. Additionally, Intel ME is granted extensive system-level privilege and runs in every power state. The Trusted Device agent scans and verifies that Intel ME firmware is present and untampered. Secured Component Verification (On Cloud) is a supply-chain assurance offering that enables you to verify the integrity of the components inside your Dell computer. Security Risk Protection Score enables administrators to determine the security risk level of computers in their enterprise. Trusted Device scans for security solutions and assigns a score per overall risk assessment. Trusted Device includes the Dell Event Repository and can be integrated with SIEM solutions with support for following features:

  • BIOS Verification
  • BIOS Events & Indicators of Attack
  • Image Capture
  • Security Risk Protection Score

Use Trusted Device with Intune

The Trusted Device Agent Script folder contains the required script and configuration file. The following content details creating a custom discovery script in the Microsoft Endpoint Manager admin center for Trusted Device status retrieval.

To get trusted Device results in the Microsoft Endpoint admin center, you will need to create a custom script.

Find all details here: admin guide


Dell Collaboration Touchpad – Setup 

How to get the Collaboration Touchpad working.

Dell Optimizer Collaboration Touchpad (CTP) Feature Does Not Work | Dell US

Please remember to use Dell Command Update to update BIOS, drivers, and firmware. Teams also need to be at the latest version.

This feature only works with Microsoft Teams for work or school and not Teams for home.

When all is updated correctly you need to use Dell Optimizer to enable the collaboration keyboard. When all is configured, you will get a pop-up when you start the meeting, asking if you want to approve the pairing, you should accept that.

Enjoy your enhanced meeting experience.


Dell Optimizer – Good to know about telemetry

We often get questions about data capturing in Dell Optimizer. Below some info and useful commands.

  • /TelemetryConsent=Falseis the command to pre-set opt-out for Dell Optimizer Customer Experience Improvement Program and will block the Telemetry Consent screen from showing up during first time launch of the application asking the user if they want to opt-in.
  • /get -name=Telemetry.Statecommand will display the current participation status in the Dell Optimizer Customer Experience Improvement Program.
  • Dell Optimizer also collects Basic Telemetry:
  • One Time Ping – first time Dell Optimizer service starts on a new machine
  • Heartbeat – sent every 30 days to understand how many users keep Dell Optimizer
  • App Start and App Close – to understand the interaction of the end users with Dell Optimizer
  • Dell Optimizer Experience Improvement Program and Basic Telemetry are PII Compliant (removes personable identifiable information) and approved by Dell Legal.

Get your CO2 report on your Dell Clients (and other products)

If you would like a full CO2 report on what Dell has on record for you as a customer, connect to your CST and ask for a CO2 report.

You can ask for a report for up to 3 years back in time.

You will get a report with data like below. ( also, orderid & date + Servicetag and more)


Fun Fact – Reset Windows Hello Biometrics 

Follow these steps to reset the windows Hello biometrics on your Dell computer:

Note: Be aware, these steps reset Windows Hello for every user who is registered on the computer.

  1. Open the Services Panel and Stop the biometric service:
    1. Press the Win + R keys together to open a Run dialog box.
    2. Type services.msc.
    3. Select Windows Biometric Service from the left-hand side column.
  1. Right-click it and select Stop from the list that appears.
    1. Backup the old database:
    2. Open Windows Explorer.
    3. Go to C:\Windows\System32\WinBioDatabase.
    4. Copy and paste the .DAT files into a new folder that you have created.
  1. Delete the old database:
    1. Open Windows Explorer.
    2. Go to C:\Windows\System32\WinBioDatabase.
    3. Delete the .DAT files.
  1. Open the Services Panel and Start the biometric service:
    1. Press the Win + R keys together to open a Run dialog box.
    2. Type services.msc.
    3. Select Windows Biometric Service from the left-hand side column.
    4. Right-click it and select Start from the list that appears.
  1. Register your Biometrics again:
    1. Go to Account Settings.
    2. At Sign-in options, go through the registration process to re-register your biometrics.

Recorded sessions 

  • TechDirect & SupportAssist – Recording
  • Passcode: EyhZ^*02
  • Intune – Advanced – Recording
  • Passcode: @PY.y3j6 
  • Dell & Absolute – Recording
  • Passcode: 2ET3G?Q* 
  • Dell Client Security – Recording
  • Passcode: 1spy^J4N 
  • Dell Clients & Intel vPro – Recording
  • Passcode: e*+7%ZN5