Q: Installing drivers after OS reinstall

Hi mbliss,

Refer to my Windows installation link below. A description of driver installation is provided.

I have reviewed your instructions for a clean install of Win7 OS and at least I got that right. To bad Dells instructions aren't nearly as clear! Thanks!

But onward from there I am still shaky.

On the drivers install, I see recommendations to start with BIOS and Firmware. Since this is a BRAND NEW computer and a reinstall, not upgrade, am I safe in assuming this is unnecessary? SATA drivers unnecessary as Win7 installed and functioning?

Next in order is Win7 SP, which requires going online and my fresh install doesnt recognize my router, so do I install my internet providers disc at this point?

Next is the Dell/utilities, but am I there yet?

Ready proceed on your orders kind sir!

Whoa, I think I need a guide to using your guide! Looking at it now and quickly got lost!

Thank you for the reply, I am studying your info now, as well as the info on the offline install from the previous response on this. Looks complicated.

But before proceeding, can you confirm or reply to the question on BIOS/Firmware drivers? Skip?

If you have a second working system then its recommended to download WSUS Offline Update and run it to download the Windows 7 updates:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/wsus-offline-update/

Next you can copy the update folder to the C: drive and tell it to update Windows fully. This will not only apply the service packs but all of Windows updates and Internet Explorer and Security Essentials also providing optimal performance. It will also make the system safe upon the first connection. I explain it in some videos on the guide also.

You will need to get the drivers from the Dell website, as there are usually variants in wireless cards and video cards, please follow the instructions here and provide the hardware IDs:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/downloading-drivers-checking-hardware-ids-and-downloading-and-installing-dell-system-drivers-in-the-correct-order/checking-hardware-ids-in-the-device-manager/

We can tell you precisely what to download and install once we have the hardware IDs.

SATA drivers are unnecessary as Windows 7 is already loaded, they are only needed if Windows 7 doesn't recognise the hard drive.

Inspiron 3647 with Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit 

Due to a glitch or mistake on initial setup I have had to do an OS reinstall and have questions on proceeding to whats next. 

I have the drivers disc and have studied the instructions provided at:

In looking at the disc and those instructions I am lost, The files and folders on the disc seem to have no correlation to what is advised.

Note that I want to avoid any bloat or extras that aren't really needed. Theres some stuff there that is recommended and suggestions that the order of installation is important, but I am just unsure of any of it. 

Any tips? Should I just install my internet provider and hardware specific drivers and ignore the OEM disc? I think there is some optimization possible but have no idea what or how........

You can ignore the drivers disc, but don't ignore the drivers.  Get the latest versions from support.dell.com.  The order is only important with two drivers:  Install the System Software first and Chipset second.

If you have a Windows installation DVD, then it will have none of the factory software (bloat), but you will need to install drivers.

Check the BIOS is at version A04. Power down the system and power up the system and press F2 when you power it back up at the Dell logo. It will tell you the BIOS revision. Likely its at A04 which was released a few months ago, if it is you don't need to update.

There is no firmware listed as this model doesn't have an OEM SSD.

The WSUS offline update looks a lot more complicated than it actually is. I have listed pretty much all the steps with a lot of diagrams to explain it in detail.

The hardware IDs are just for identifying the devices, in your case just give me the network controllers and display adapters. You may install the following after the WSUS Offline Update.

Here are direct links to the system drivers for Windows 7 64 Bit. Download these on another system and save to a USB and then install in the order I list. The overall order isn't too important (just as long as the chipset drivers are first).

Intel Chipset Device Software:

http://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER02058105M/1/Chipset_Driver_9X4VP_WN_10.0.13_A01.EXE

Intel Management Engine Interface:

http://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER02048800M/5/iMEI_Intel_WIN_A01_Setup-P73WW_ZPE.exe

Intel USB 3.0 Driver:

http://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER01766934M/1/Chipset_Driver_41Y6X_WN_2.5.0.19_A00.EXE

Card Reader:

http://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER01767015M/1/Storage_Driver_DXMF8_WN_6.2.9200.30164_A00.EXE

Intel Rapid Storage Technology:

http://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER01766954M/5/AHCI_Intel_WIN_A00_Setup-N7YYC_ZPE.exe

Ethernet Driver:

http://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER01766952M/1/Network_Driver_VHDM2_WN_7.072.0410.2013_A00.EXE

Audio:

http://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER01768787M/1/Audio_Driver_R7W6R_WN_6.0.1.7004_A00.EXE

Video (Integrated):

http://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER02048908M/5/Video_Intel_WIN64_A01_Setup-WNMY4_ZPE.exe

You might have a dedicated graphics card. Provide the hardware IDs of video controllers to confirm.

Wireless

You need to give the hardware IDs so we can identify whether or not you have a Dell Wireless 1704 or 1705 Wireless Card.

Dell Unifying Application:

http://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER01211130M/75/APP_IO_W7_W8_A00_Setup-9PPPW_ZPE.exe

This is only if you got the Dell Wireless Keyboard and Mouse KM714 with your system.

I really appreciate the efforts to help.

But honestly, I am way out of my comfort zone and way over my head on this. I have no idea. And I do not have time to muddle my way through it. I have had the computer for a month and it doesn't work. Plain and simple. I think I am am to the point of lobbing the ball back to Dell. Refund or replace I really could care less. Shopping for a replacement elsewhere looks to be my next step.

I am not a PC tech and have no desire to be. 

Don't give up! You've done most the hard work getting the clean install of Windows 7 on your system.

Download the files I listed in my last post using another computer and simply save them to a USB stick and then install them in the order I listed in the post. Double click them and select next, next, finish. This will give you basic functionality.

Regarding the WSUS Offline Update, if you find the instructions too complex then leave it. You can get the updates later from Windows Update which will be more automatic and any new media should have Service Pack 1 already.

The only trouble you have is there are multiple wireless card and video variants for this model. The support site should list only the correct ones when the service tag is input but I have found this to be a bit unreliable. If you find the guide on the hardware IDs too complex, you can simply download both the wireless card drivers. The one that applies to your system will install and the one that doesn't will fail to install (saying hardware not found or something similar).

The Dell Wireless 1704 and Dell Wireless 1705 drivers are here:

http://ftp.us.dell.com/FOLDER02013195M/1/Network_Driver_NT9P6_WN_6.30.223.99_A00.EXE

http://ftp.us.dell.com/FOLDER02013099M/1/Network_Driver_DVTW2_WN_10.0.0.276_A00.EXE

For the video install the integrated one (listed in the list in my last post) and the following:

http://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER01960713M/4/Video_NV_WIN64_A01_Setup-6NNW3_ZPE.exe

http://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER01745627M/13/VideoM301N_P1_64_A01_setup-5CV16_ZPE.exe

http://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER01539258M/1/Video_Driver_K5GN3_WN_311.47_A01.EXE

Let me know how you get along.

Phillip, I really am appreciative of your help and attitude. But a quick count gives me 14 links to follow and each one has complex lists and I have read your site until I feel like I am going blind. 

But if Dell could only put 1% of the effort you have into helping me things might be different. I have put many hours over the last few weeks trying to learn how to fix this on my own, and by far you have been the most help I have found. But I have no more hours to spend on it. I need a functioning office computer two weeks ago, not in another week. or two, or..... I dont have the time and am out of patience.

P.S what I have listed above in the last 2 posts are just the direct download links to the drivers. The forum was updated recently and distorts the formatting of the links (making them look more complex)

For what its worth, (very little) after two OS and driver reinstalls, and installing an imaged replacement HD, the computer still malfunctions frequently and regularly. Software is faulty, computer is worthless and customer is steamed. 

Total loss and write off I guess. Never again.