Fix: Get Drivers and Downloads Shows Unexpected Error in Dell SupportAssist

If you use Dell SupportAssist, chances are you must have encountered the An unexpected error occurred message when clicking on Run under Get drivers and downloads.

The Unexpected error in Dell SupportAssist is caused by outdated or corrupt BIOS, missing critical components, and conflicts triggered by the firewall.

Before you proceed, reboot the PC, install pending Dell SupportAssist updates, disable any active third-party antivirus, and make sure the Internet connection is stable. For most of you, these basic checks should fix the issue!

How can I fix An unexpected error occurred in Dell SupportAssist?

1. Update the BIOS

In almost 3 out of 5 cases, updating the BIOS fixed the Get drivers and downloads’ Unexpected error in Dell SupportAssist. So, visit the manufacturer’s official website and download the latest available BIOS version.

Also, if a newer version is not available, reinstalling the same BIOS version should get rid of the error. Since the process is tricky, critical, and different for all manufacturers, I recommend checking the official support website for the exact steps.

2. Download Microsoft .NET Runtime

1. Go to Microsoft’s official website and download the relevant .NET Desktop Runtime, depending on the Windows architecture.
2. Run the setup and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
3. Once done, reboot the PC to apply the changes, and check for improvements.

3. Install Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables

1. Go to Microsoft’s website, and download the latest Visual C++ Redistributable package(s). For 32-bit Windows, you will need the x86 version, while for 64-bit Windows, download both x64 and x86 versions.
2. Run the installer setup and follow the on-screen instructions.
3. After installing, restart the computer to apply the changes and verify whether the Unexpected error in Dell SupportAssist with Get drivers and downloads is fixed.

4. Whitelist Dell SupportAssist in Firewall

1. Press Windows + S to open Search, type Windows Defender Firewall in the text field, and click on the relevant result.
2. Select Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall from the left pane.
3. Click on the Change settings button.
4. Click on Allow another app.
5. Now, click on Browse.
6. Go to Dell SupportAssist’s installation path, select its launcher (.exe file), and click on Open.
7. Click on Add.
8. Now, tick the checkboxes for both Private and Public next to Dell SupportAssist.
9. Click OK to save the changes, then restart the PC and check for improvements.

When Windows Defender Firewall is blocking Dell SupportAssist, it’s likely to trigger the An unexpected error occurred message when you go to Get drivers and downloads. In this case, whitelisting the program will prevent any further conflicts between the two!

5. Reinstall Dell SupportAssist

1. Press Windows + R to open Run, type appwiz.cpl in the text field, and hit Enter.
2. Select Dell SupportAssist from the list, and click on Uninstall.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstall process.
4. Similarly, uninstall the Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery Plugin for Dell Update.
5. Now, press Windows + E to open File Explorer, and go to this path: C:\ProgramData\Dell
6. Delete any folders related to Dell SupportAssist here and then restart the computer.
7. Finally, go to Dell’s official website and download the latest version of SupportAssist.

For many users, reinstalling Dell SupportAssist helped fix the An unexpected error occurred message with Get drivers and downloads.

If a quick removal doesn’t work, it’s likely that there are some leftover files still conflicting with the latest installation. In this case, using a top-rated software uninstaller for Windows will allow you to wipe all traces of the previous installation!

6. Install the latest updates from Dell’s official website

When nothing else works, you can directly download updates from Dell’s official website. Simply enter the service tag number or let it auto-detect the Dell PC, and you will find the updates listed here.

Remember, all updates available via Dell SupportAssist can also be downloaded from the official website. And that’s a major reason many ditch Dell SupportAssist altogether!

In my opinion, you don’t need Dell SupportAssist. Most of its features are already available in Windows, be it malware scans via Windows Security or hardware checks via Windows Memory Diagnostic and Check Disk.

If the problem still remains unresolved and you are looking for other options, discover the top Dell SupportAssist alternatives and get one today!

For any queries or to share more fixes with our readers, drop a comment below.