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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →On a supported Dell laptop, restart the computer, tap F12 at the Dell logo, select SupportAssist OS Recovery, and press Enter. Run hardware diagnostics and try repair options before resetting Windows. A reset can permanently erase files and remove installed programs, so back up what you can first.
Check whether your Dell laptop supports SupportAssist OS Recovery
SupportAssist OS Recovery is available on selected Dell systems that shipped with factory-installed Windows 10 or Windows 11; it is not included on every Dell laptop. Dell’s general guidance excludes systems with Qualcomm processors and recommends Windows Push-Button Reset as their initial reinstall route. Availability and menu options depend on the model and recovery-image condition.
Before following the steps below, look up your exact model on Dell Support and in Dell’s SupportAssist OS Recovery Support Matrix. Dell’s SupportAssist OS Recovery overview describes the tool and its features. These pages are the best way to check whether your model and its configuration are covered.
Start SupportAssist OS Recovery from the F12 menu
- Turn the laptop off, then power it on or restart it.
- When the Dell logo appears, tap F12 repeatedly to open the one-time boot menu.
- Select SupportAssist OS Recovery and press Enter.
- If Windows starts instead, restart and try again as soon as the Dell logo appears. On some systems, the recovery environment may start automatically after repeated unsuccessful Windows startup attempts.
For model-specific startup instructions, see Dell’s support matrix.
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Run diagnostics and try repair before resetting
If SupportAssist OS Recovery opens, use its hardware scan when available and note any diagnostic error code. The environment may also offer system or software repair. The options vary with the Dell model and the condition of Windows and the factory recovery image.
A recovery tool cannot fix a failed physical drive or another hardware fault. If a scan reports a hardware issue, use the error code when contacting Dell Support for diagnosis rather than repeatedly attempting an operating-system reset. Dell describes the recovery environment’s functions in its SupportAssist OS Recovery guide.
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- Designed for easy learning: Energy-efficient batteries and Express Charge support extend your focus and productivity.
- Stay connected to what you love: Spend more screen time on the things you enjoy with Dell ComfortView software that helps reduce harmful blue light emissions to keep your eyes comfortable over extended viewing times.
- Type with ease: Write and calculate quickly with roomy keypads, separate numeric keypad and calculator hotkey.
- Ergonomic support: Keep your wrists comfortable with lifted hinges that provide an ergonomic typing angle.
Back up files before choosing a reset
Where the recovery environment offers backup, copy selected personal files to a USB flash drive or external drive before resetting. It does not preserve installed programs or system settings. Check the selected backup’s total size in the interface and choose a destination with more capacity than that amount.
If BitLocker or device encryption is enabled, have your recovery key available. Dell’s backup instructions explain the available file-backup process.
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Choose the reset route that fits your situation
| Reset option | What it does | Important conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Reset to factory settings | Restores the operating system and default applications to the state they were in when the computer shipped. | May be unavailable if the factory image cannot be detected. Erases drive data and removes installed software and drivers; licensed applications may require their keys again. |
| Reset and update | Downloads and installs a newer operating system with critical drivers and applications. | Available only on certain Dell models. Dell says this may be the only displayed option when the factory image is unavailable or the system is irreparable. |
Both options can delete personal files as well as installed software. Dell warns in its SupportAssist OS Recovery User’s Guide: “The reset process permanently deletes all data on the hard drive and uninstalls any programs or drivers that you installed on your computer.” Do not proceed until you have backed up files you need, or accepted that they may be lost.
Windows 10 should not be treated as currently supported by Microsoft: Microsoft ended Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025. Check current Microsoft guidance and your Dell model’s available operating-system options before selecting a reset that returns the laptop to its original Windows version.
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- Ready for business: Flip between effortless productivity and captivating entertainment on a large, immersive screen powered by Intel Core 7-150U processor and graphics.
- Built for virtual connection: Bring your connections to life with an up-to FHD camera, designed with wide dynamic range and temporal noise reduction to deliver crisp, sharp images, no matter the lighting conditions.
- Adaptive thermals: Built-in technology allows your PC to sense when it's on a stable surface and adjusts its power and thermals to run more efficiently.
Prepare for Cloud Restore or use local recovery
If you choose Cloud Restore, Dell lists two requirements: an active internet connection and a USB drive with at least 16 GB of capacity. Cloud Restore downloads recovery files, so use a stable connection and a USB drive with enough free space. Dell documents the options in its SupportAssist OS Recovery guide.
Local restore uses the recovery image stored on the laptop’s internal drive and is available only on selected product families. It cannot work if that image is missing or corrupted. A local image may be the simpler route when it is present and usable; Cloud Restore is the alternative when the model supports it and you can meet its internet and USB requirements.
Best Value
- Effortlessly chic. Always efficient. Finish your to-do list in no time with the Dell 15, built for everyday computing with Intel processors.
- Designed for easy learning: Energy-efficient batteries and Express Charge support extend your focus and productivity.
- Stay connected to what you love: Spend more screen time on the things you enjoy with Dell ComfortView software that helps reduce harmful blue light emissions to keep your eyes comfortable over extended viewing times.
- Type with ease: Write and calculate quickly with roomy keypads, separate numeric keypad and calculator hotkey.
- Ergonomic support: Keep your wrists comfortable with lifted hinges that provide an ergonomic typing angle.
If SupportAssist OS Recovery is missing or will not start
First confirm the exact model’s eligibility in Dell’s SupportAssist OS Recovery Support Matrix. If the feature is not supported, or the F12 menu does not list it, do not assume the laptop has a local recovery image.
On supported systems, BIOSConnect may download the service operating system when local recovery files are missing or damaged. Availability and network behavior vary by model and BIOSConnect implementation; some configurations require wired internet. Check the model’s matrix entry and Dell’s BIOSConnect recovery instructions. If BIOSConnect is unsupported or cannot connect, consult Dell Support for the recovery route available to that model.
Quick Recap
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