Difference between HP support assistant and HP Image assistant

[BensonSam68]

What is the difference between the HP support Assistant tool and the HP Image assistant tool?  Are they used differently or in different settings or are they used side by side on a  desktop or notebook?  I work in a school setting that has several client computers on a network and wanted to use the most appropriate tool on them.   Some of our computers are running Windows 10 Pro and other Windows 11 Pro depending on the age of the PC.  

[Dragon-Fur]

@BensonSam68 

So many differences, in fact.

Best you read about each of them and decide what is best for your situation.

HP Image Assistant is a commercial product and supports business class / commercial machines.

HP Support Assistant will run on either platform (consumer or commercial).

HP Image Assistant is "less" plug and play - that is, you need to understand more about the machine(s) being managed and how to adjust the HPIA software to use it effectively.

HPIA is smarter in some ways - for example, it can handle fussy (and risky) BIOS updates without tripping over itself.

HP Support Assistant is generally simpler to run, provides links to other tools, and is suited to a single machine environment or one in which the user is less familiar with the operation of the computer.

Additional Information

Use or Ignore as best suits your expectations

=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

HP Image Assistant is a free tool that aids IT Administrators improve the quality and security of their PC Windows image by diagnosing the image, identifying problems, recommending solutions, and analyzing their PC’s readiness for migration between Windows 7 and Windows 10.

HP Image Assistant can be downloaded at the HP Manageability website.

HP Image Assistant (HPIA)

From the Image Assistant Web page:

• HPIA User Guide
• HPIA Supported Platforms

HP Image Assistant Installation Path Notes

The software installs into C:\SWSetup\<sp#> where “sp#” is the name of the installation package.

Once installed, (Optionally) PIN the software executable to Windows Start and or Taskbar

Optionally, the software executable can be “sent to Desktop” as a shortcut

When changing versions of the software, links and PINNED shortcuts must be checked and updated manually

For example,

When updating to version C:\SWSetup\SP121443

Before updating to the current / latest version

If you have the older version "Pinned" to Start

Then

Open Windows Start (Windows key)

Find and UNPIN the (old) HP Image Assistant

Open Windows Explorer

Navigate to C:\Users\YourAccount\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

Remove / Delete the link to the older version of the software

If you have an older version icon shortcut set on the Desktop

Either manually remove the old icon / shortcut from the Desktop

OR

Open Windows Explorer

Open / Navigate to your user account.

Open the Desktop Folder

Right-Click on the shortcut and remove / delete the old shortcut

Next,

Download and install the latest version of HP Image Assistant

Next,

For the purposes of this example,

Open File Explorer and Navigate to the new / current path to the software:  C:\SWSetup\SP121443

Find and Right-Click on HPImageAssistant.exe

PIN to Start

Optionally

Send to Desktop (create shortcut)

=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

Download, Save, Install the latest supported HP version of the HP Support Assistant

Website / Information / Video / White Paper / Download

HP Support Assistant

HP PCs - How to download, install, and use HP Support Assistant (Windows 11, 10)

Technical white paper - HP Support Assistant 9.0

=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

HP Device Home Page - References and Resources – Learn about your Device - Solve Problems

When the website support page opens, Select (as available) a Category > Topic > Subtopic

NOTE:  Content depends on device type and Operating System

Categories:  Alerts, Warranty Check, HP Drivers / Software and BIOS, How-to Videos, Bulletins/Notices, How-to Documents, Troubleshooting, Manuals > User Guide, Service and Maintenance Guide (Replacement Parts and Procedures), Product Information (Specifications), more

Open

 Product Home

Enter the device type and model name of your HP device

Thank you for participating in the HP Community.

Our Community is comprised of volunteers - people who own and use HP devices.

Click Helpful = Yes to say Thank You

Question / Concern Answered, Click "Accept as Solution"