Are HP Support Assistant & Related Diagnostic Apps Safe To Use?

Questions
1

What are your thoughts on using system apps such as HP Support Assistant, HP PC Hardware Diagnostics Window, HP Smart or other such manufacturer specific diagnostic tools?

I’m trying to figure out how to safely manage my software, drivers, and hard drive and I’m a bit overwhelmed with all these apps. I’m finding some of them a bit invasive, so I am just curious which ones I should blow away and if there are any specific hardening I should consider for them? Are there other non-manufacturer specific tools people use for updates and system maintenance? Just doing a deep dive into more advanced windows administration…

1 Like
2

just let windows update install whatever is necessary and avoid that junk

3

No you don’t need all this bloatware. That doesn’t mean you should not check each service and see whether it is critical or not.

Easiest way of doing this is to do a fresh install of Windows 11 Professional.

2 Likes
4

I would never trust or let manufacturer apps on my computer. The OS can manage it all well, you don’t need anything extra unnecessarily.

If you ask me, I’d delete it in full and still not worry about it.

5

Normaly you would not need them.

When you refer to HDD, what are you trying to achieve ? update firwmware, check for smart info ( Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) ?

6

I reinstalled windows pro OS with factory reinstall and lost all my drivers and accidently blew away my recovery drive and was a bit overwhelmed with what drivers and firmware I actually needed. I am just learning about system hardware and maintenance and such and I wasn’t sure how to monitor what I have and figure out what I lost and what I need to make sure is up to date. Windows did not install all the “critical” drivers HP said I needed and the list was too long to figure out what versions of what I had. Some of the firmware indicated that it might be bad to reinstall something I might already have. I did end up installing a bunch of crap that I will probably end up blowing away but I just wasn’t sure how people monitor the physical aspects of their computer system to make sure everything is up to date.

2 Likes
7

I think you confuse the terms firmwares and drivers. Thoses are 2 differents things.

Once firmwares are updated, they will remain in hardware even if you reformat and reinstall winows (or another OS).

1 Like
8

I was referring to both drivers and firmware updates, I do know they are different things I just don’t know exactly how they are different. Thanks for confirming that firmware remains in hardware, that is a relief.

Regarding the drivers, is that a software thing or related to operating system? If I completely re-install windows from the ground up, does it remove those drivers and only include what is included in the factory windows install? Is that why I had to reinstall drivers? Or is that because I blew away my recovery partition?

If I do a windows factory reset without completely reinstalling the OS that is just wiping out my storage right?

Thanks for answering my dumb questions! I will remove the HP apps…

1 Like