What is the actually needed Dell software for an old Precision laptop with Windows 10?

[Zazula]

Made a fresh Windows 10 installation to my M6800 the other day, and one of my goals was to minimize the use of hardware-specific software when installing its drivers, coz I don't fancy ending up with a bunch of programs that will potentially hog my system, plus they'll possibly be checking for updates periodically — as if we didn't have enough of them programs doing so already.

 

Anyhow, I had downloaded all applicable driver software for my tag number from the Dell site, and extracted any driver that was easy to do (i.e. simply by unzipping the executable or by selecting the extract-only option wherever it was present). I then used DISM to load those .cat, .inf, .sys etc files (that were specific to Win10 x64 that I'd be using, so I didn't add additional drivers for x86) to install.wim before launching the installation; its report stated that 44 drivers were added in total.

 

When the Win10 installation concluded, with the Windows out of the box (having aforementioned install.wim with strapped drivers — but it also may very well be just what is included with 21H2) installation, there already were Realtek's HD Audio driver and Audio COM components showing in 'Programs and Features'; the Airplane Mode and Bluetooth worked as intended; and there were the Intel Graphics cpl as well as the Dell Audio cpl present in the taskbar.

 

Moreover, I had 4 exclamation marks in Device Manager; two of them were related to Intel's Management Engine components, and the remaining two to Dell's ControlVault components (this M6800 has a fingerprint sensor and the NFC thingy). Okay then, for Intel ME it's a straightforward setup executable that also installs a program showing 'Intel Management and Security status'; for ControlVault one gets presented with a selection of components to install (Credential Vault USB driver, Credential Vault WBF USB driver, USHWmiProvider, TPM, and NFC driver), so one can customize what exactly wants be added. Naturally said programs also get added in 'Programs and Features'.

 

So, now I'm facing the question what should I do regarding all other programs provided by Dell — am I to install them or not? What is the expected utility value to receive out of them, or are any of them indispensable to begin with?

• Obviously if one wants to have NView and/or any of they other NVIDIA-related stuff, one will need to install them (personally I don't thing they relate to me use case, though, as I do zero gaming).
• Intel Graphics also seem to have an app connected to them, I'm not entirely sure it's something on top of that cpl I see at the taskbar.
• I also see that this M6800 had something called Maxx Audio from the factory, but I have no idea whether I need it or not.
• I believe Dell's package for the touchpad also installs some app for its settings, bu I can't remember ever using any touchpad app in my whole life — traditionally it's been yet another zero-utility icon in the taskbar.
• I see among Dell's offerings for this laptop an 'Intel Bluetooth.msi', but I fail to grasp whether it provides anything of substance above the standard Windows settings. Plus there's also an app, from my understanding, for Airplane Mode as well; not convinced I need that, either.
• Intel's RST I'm sure won't be needed coz I'm not gonna use RAID, but I'm okay to be corrected if I'm wrong there.
• And I kinda get it that, in case I want data protection features, I'll have to install those STsetup and DDSSetup guys.

Now for the actual questions (but of course you can also comment on or correct my above assumptions):

1. Dell Command | Update — do I need it?
2. Dell Command | Power Management — is it worth it, do I need it?
3. Dell Digital Delivery app — do I have to install this?

[Aaron44126]

My take.

 

Intel Graphics Control Panel — Should have been automatically installed with the driver, nothing else is needed.

 

Maxx Audio — You might need that tool installed if you want to be able to change any of the audio settings. I have found it needed to disable some of the audio processing "features" that the audio driver has (makes things sound weird in teleconference meetings, to my ears). But if you are happy with the audio as is then you don't need to worry about this.

 

Touchpad — Yeah, you probably want to install that package, the touchpad is too old to have controls for it presented in Windows settings so you have to use its dedicated app. I like to have the setting that automatically outright disables the touchpad if a separate mouse is connected clicked on. You can also change the scroll direction, set what certain gestures do, etc.

 

If you have the Bluetooth driver happy in Device Manager, you don't need to install anything else related to Bluetooth. You can use the Windows UI to manage Bluetooth devices.

 

You don't need Intel RST if you're not going to use the RAID functions. (I don't think you even need it if you are going to use the RAID functions. You can define arrays in a pre-boot BIOS screen.)

 

Dell Command | Update and Dell Digital Delivery, I do not think that you need.

 

Dell Command | Power Manager is useful, just for being able to set the system's "thermal mode" (Balanced / Cool / Quiet / Performance) which can impact the behavior of fans, and some modes will also put a cap on the CPU/GPU speed. This system doesn't have a setting for that exposed in BIOS setup, the only way to set it is to use the app.

[Zazula]

Thank you very much, @Aaron44126, your advice and insights are priceless! 🤗