Patrick Domingues

This PowerShell script is designed specifically to automate the removal of Dell SupportAssist and Dell Command | Update applications from systems. These Dell utilities are often pre-installed on Dell machines, and while useful for some environments, they may need to be removed for compliance, standardization, or even mitigating a potential vulnerability.

Script Overview:

• Targeted Uninstallation: The script uses application name matching to locate and uninstall Dell SupportAssist and Dell Command | Update silently.
• Automation-Friendly: Ideal for use in large-scale deployments, this script can be run remotely or as part of an automation process.
• Silent Execution: The uninstallation process runs quietly without user prompts, making it suitable for background execution.

This script provides an efficient and streamlined way to remove these common Dell utilities across multiple devices in your environment.

Steps to Run the PowerShell Script:

1. Open PowerShell with Administrator Privileges:

• Click on the Start menu, search for “PowerShell.”
• Right-click on Windows PowerShell and select Run as Administrator. This is crucial because uninstalling applications requires elevated permissions.

2. Copy the Script:

• Copy the entire PowerShell script into your clipboard.

# Function to uninstall an application by its name
function Uninstall-Application {
    param (
        [string]$AppName
    )

    $app = Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Product | Where-Object { $_.Name -like "*$AppName*" }

    if ($app) {
        Write-Output "Attempting to silently uninstall $($app.Name)..."
        try {
            # Uninstall silently
            $result = $app.Uninstall()
            if ($result.ReturnValue -eq 0) {
                Write-Output "$($app.Name) has been uninstalled successfully."
            } else {
                Write-Output "Failed to uninstall $($app.Name). Return code: $($result.ReturnValue)"
            }
        } catch {
            Write-Output "An error occurred while trying to uninstall $($app.Name): $_"
        }
    } else {
        Write-Output "$AppName not found."
    }
}

# Uninstall Dell Command Update
Uninstall-Application "Dell Command | Update"

# Uninstall Dell SupportAssist
Uninstall-Application "SupportAssist"

3. Paste the Script into PowerShell:

• In the PowerShell window, paste the script you copied.

4. Run the Script:

• Press Enter to execute the script. The script will search for Dell SupportAssist and Dell Command | Update, then attempt to uninstall them silently.

5. Monitor the Output:

• The script will provide real-time feedback in the PowerShell window, including whether the applications were found and if the uninstall process was successful.

6. Verify Uninstallation:

• After running the script, you can verify that the applications were uninstalled by checking:
  • Control Panel > Programs and Features
  • Running Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_Product | Where-Object { $_.Name -like "*Dell*"}
  • Ensure Dell SupportAssist and Dell Command | Update are no longer listed.

7. Repeat for Multiple Systems (if needed):

• You can deploy the script remotely using tools like Group Policy, SCCM, or a remote management tool if you need to remove these applications from multiple machines.

Conclusion:

This PowerShell script offers a straightforward and effective solution for removing Dell SupportAssist and Dell Command | Update from systems. By leveraging silent uninstallation and CIM-based querying, the script ensures a smooth, automated process that can be scaled across multiple machines. Whether you’re managing a large IT environment or simply looking to streamline system performance by removing unwanted software, this script provides a reliable method for removing these pre-installed Dell applications.

Patrick Domingues

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