View Full Version : WIN 7 Install Tomorrow - Couple ????
Herdfan
10-26-09, 11:40 AM
I am finally getting the time to install WIN 7. I have all my program discs etc., but my question is related to drivers. I am doing a clean install on a Dell XPS and I went to Dell's support site to get drivers. There are no WIN 7 drivers for any of my drives, video cards etc.
So do I need to try and track these down by manufacturer, hope the Vista drivers work, or will WIN 7 most likely have the required drivers. My computer passed the WIN 7 Upgrade Advisor.
Thanks.
There is a plethora of drivers with Windows 7, many more than came with Vista. I have found few things not supported. Unless you have some really old stuff, you should find everything. When you go install the device, make sure you click on the "Check for Updates" option so you get the latest off the web that may not be on the disc.
Dave
wingrider01
10-26-09, 11:49 AM
I am finally getting the time to install WIN 7. I have all my program discs etc., but my question is related to drivers. I am doing a clean install on a Dell XPS and I went to Dell's support site to get drivers. There are no WIN 7 drivers for any of my drives, video cards etc.
So do I need to try and track these down by manufacturer, hope the Vista drivers work, or will WIN 7 most likely have the required drivers. My computer passed the WIN 7 Upgrade Advisor.
Thanks.
Have put it on a couple of Optiplex's and D8XX laptops, but never on a XPS. If the hardware is stock chances are it will have drivers, or will get them on a Windows Update, but not always.
Here is Dell's upgrade page for their hardware
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/document?c=us&cs=04&docid=360683&l=en&s=bsd#1
Download and run the Upgrade advisor for a look into what issue you may have
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/get/upgrade-advisor.aspx
LarryFlowers
10-26-09, 12:04 PM
Unless you have a raid drive setup in that xps, you should have no problems. When you complete the install, be sure to run Windows Update first thing. I had a Dell the other day, that didn't get the correct video driver but the update picked it up immediately.
phat78boy
10-26-09, 12:51 PM
At worst case, you will more then likely be able to use the Vista drivers if the Win 7 ones aren't listed.
You probably wont need many drivers, at most maybe a Video Card driver if you have discrete graphics (ATI/nVidia...you can get the drivers directly from them) and maybe a other small device.
Win 7 does a pretty good job on its own though, especially with windows update. Just check the Device Manager after installation and running Windows Update.
Some Dell's require a BIOS update. I did the BIOS update first then ran the Upgrade Advisor. The Upgrade Advisor said that I needed to Unistall the Itel LAN utility before running the upgrade because it was not compatible. Problem was that my MS disk did not have the drivers for the LAN so installed the Vista driver for the LAN which worked. ran my updates then re-installed iTunes.
Herdfan
10-27-09, 11:26 AM
Some Dell's require a BIOS update.
I tried to do one, but it wouldn't take. But I have the file in case I need to try in WIN7. According to the documentation, it just fixes a Gig E problem and I am not running Gig E so it shouldn't matter.
Taking it down now. Wish me luck and thanks for the tips.
Herdfan
10-27-09, 07:56 PM
Ok, back up and running.:)
It was easy, but not as easy as it should have been. Since I already had Vista, I bought the upgrade version. But it seems the upgrade version really only wants you to actually upgrade and not do a clean install on a new drive.
It would not take my Activation Code. I typed and retyped it, had my wife type it. Nothing worked. I finally called MS support, and they changed a registry entry, had me remove the disc and restart. Then reinsert the disk and run the setup.exe file. I then had to reinstall WIN7 all over again, except this time using the upgrade option and not the custom option.
But it is working great. Found the internet and my USB connected printer with no intervention from me. Starting to get some program reloaded.
One thing I notice is how fast it is. One reason could be WIN7 is faster than Vista and the other is there is no bloatware on here.
Again, thanks for the help.
Ok, back up and running.:)
It was easy, but not as easy as it should have been. Since I already had Vista, I bought the upgrade version. But it seems the upgrade version really only wants you to actually upgrade and not do a clean install on a new drive.
It would not take my Activation Code. I typed and retyped it, had my wife type it. Nothing worked. I finally called MS support, and they changed a registry entry, had me remove the disc and restart. Then reinsert the disk and run the setup.exe file. I then had to reinstall WIN7 all over again, except this time using the upgrade option and not the custom option.
But it is working great. Found the internet and my USB connected printer with no intervention from me. Starting to get some program reloaded.
One thing I notice is how fast it is. One reason could be WIN7 is faster than Vista and the other is there is no bloatware on here.
Again, thanks for the help.
what is in windows 7 that requires 1 gb of ram.
jerry downing
10-27-09, 08:33 PM
Ok, back up and running.:)
It was easy, but not as easy as it should have been. Since I already had Vista, I bought the upgrade version. But it seems the upgrade version really only wants you to actually upgrade and not do a clean install on a new drive.
It would not take my Activation Code. I typed and retyped it, had my wife type it. Nothing worked. I finally called MS support, and they changed a registry entry, had me remove the disc and restart. Then reinsert the disk and run the setup.exe file. I then had to reinstall WIN7 all over again, except this time using the upgrade option and not the custom option.
But it is working great. Found the internet and my USB connected printer with no intervention from me. Starting to get some program reloaded.
One thing I notice is how fast it is. One reason could be WIN7 is faster than Vista and the other is there is no bloatware on here.
Again, thanks for the help.
I also had a bit of a problem with activation but it was because I mistook a B for an 8. A magnifying glass was used to straighten it out.
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