Hardware Drives for an upgrade to Windows 7

###UPDATE###

Windows 7 has been running smoothly over the weekend, starts and shuts off quickly, browsing the internet with firefox is good.

Downloaded the Windows recommended driver which took me to the Dell site: Ricoh R5C833 for the Memory Card Reader, R188776.  I've seen a drive on Dell's website for a Ricoh Card Reader R5C833 that is compatible for Windows 7 64-bit, R227769.  Also read R234107 is a good driver to download.  Should I download this latest version?

I've also gone to Intel's website, they recommended to install drivers for the intel chipset.

I've looked at my hardware in Device Manager, everything is properly functioning, but I've noticed many of the components like my Sony compact disk CRX880A 24X, Intel Processor T5250 Core Merom, Audio, Dell Broadcom 1390 Wireless Mini Card, Dell Wireless Bluetooth 355 are supported by the native Microsoft drivers that came with the clean installation of Windows 7.  Most of the Microsoft drivers come with the serial number  6.1.7600.16385 or ending in 17586.  I just checked the hardware on a new Acer Aspire One, and a lot of hardware like functions for the motherboard are Microsoft supported native drives, but hardware like CD/DVD compact disk, Wireless Card, Processor have manufacturer drives.  I know my current drives are able to function with the native Microsoft drives, but I feel like I can get better performance if I installed the proper drives for Windows 7.

I think the Processor and the Wireless card are the most important.  Intel recommends for processor-notebook-Intel Core2 Duo Mobil Processor-Windows 7 64-bit either Intel Processor Identification Utility-Windows Version or Intel Processor Diagnostic Tool (64-bit).  Which one should I download or both?

I'm also concerned with allowing Windows Update install updates for 1)Broadcom Driver Update for Dell Wireless1390 WLAN Mini-Card  2)Broadcom - Bus Controllers and Ports - Dell Wireless 355 Module with Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR Technology.  One of these drivers is causing my wireless connection to drop occasionally, and I've read on forums it might be due to the drivers being outdated for Windows 7.  I've done a restore to a pre-install point of these drivers.  What should I do?

I've also read I should download Synaptics Touch Pad and Intel Matrix Storage Manager.  Where can I find the downloads and what version is best for my Inspiron 1520 with Windows 7 64-bit?

Lastly, I've read that the Dell BIOS should be updated to version A09 or A10.  I checked on msinfo32 and it gave a reading of my version as A00 5/16/2007.  Where can I find an update to download, and which version would be best?  I saw on Dell that a download was available for the Inspiron 1545 compatible with Windows 7 64-bit.  Also, what other Inspiron models with updated drivers for Windows 7 64-bit are safe to download for my Inspiron 1520.

Thanks for any help and recommendations.

Thanks natakuc!  I am unable to install the Broadcom 440X Driver Diagnostic, never got the disc since I downloaded an iso file of Win7 from the Microsoft Store.  I use Firefox as my default browser, should be fine downloading the drivers from Mozilla Firefox 5?

My main concern is the  Dell 1390 Wireless Card and the 355 Bluetooth drivers, I've read problems with the wireless connection dropping quite often and it happened to mine as well (back to Microsoft native driver).

The Intel Chipset R153997 driver, is that for the processors or something else?

Is the Ricoh Chipset R168331 for the Memory Card Reader?

What's the Dell Notebook Software, Dell Quickset, and Dell Support Centre for?

What should I do about updating the BIOS?

Thanks Again!  Great community!

These are the standard set of drivers you would install.

"Dell Notebook Software is a utility that provides critical updates and patches for client operating systems running on Dell client hardware. It is necessary for correct operation of your Dell computer. The program automatically detects your computer and operating system and installs updates appropriate for your configuration."

Intel Chipset is for the motherboard.

Ricoh is for the Card Reader.

The Broadcom driver is on the disc, I mean within the Windows 7 installation, regardless what media you used. i.e. when you plug in an ethernet cable, the internet works fine.

The Vista driver for the 355 in this case crashes Windows Explorer when you use it with Windows 7. The Bluetooth 370 driver works perfectly with my Bluetooth 355 card on Windows 7 (32 bit) and this driver is compatible with 64 bit aswell so will be the best one for you.

The Dell 1390 Wireless Card is the Vista 64 bit driver, it again should be better then the generic driver for Windows 7. Because Windows 7 and Windows Vista are almost the same (very similar), then a driver for one generally works for the other.

Dell Quickset is essential for the Fn keys e.g. Fn and F2 to switch off wireless, on screen volume meter, on screen brightness meter, media buttons. It may also help prevent the bluetooth/wireless drop.

Dell Support Centre includes PC Checkup which does periodic hardware scans to check that your system is okay. It also troubleshoots some common errors. Has alot of tools which give you system information about your system. Its actually quite handy.

Also if you have a webcam, download and install R230103 (this is the Dell Webcam Centre).

Yes you should be fine downloading the drivers from there so long as you don't use the dell download manager and instead select to download from your web browser (the download manager is "Dell recommended" but causes more problems than its worth.)

Finally before installing these drivers I would install Windows 7 Service Pack 1 if you don't have it and IE9 (even though you probably won't be using it seems SP1 is more stable with it). Press [Windows] and [Pause|Break] and see if there is a mention of Service Pack 1.

windows6.1-KB976932-X64.exe and IE9-Windows7-x64-enu.exe" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">IE9-Windows7-x64-enu.exe.

So for the moment I'm going to pass on the Dell Notebook Software, many have said it's unnecessary for Windows 7, and since I'm installing most of the drivers myself with your great links.  Also, Dell Support Center might be bloatware for my needs, not everyone's, but just mine.  I have a manual restore point to the fresh install of Win7, so I might experiment and go back, install Dell Notebook Software, followed by all the recommendations and see how that runs compared to the bare bones version atm.

Finally, my only question is where would I find an updated driver to the current native Microsoft to support my processor Intel T5250 Merom.  Also, should I update the BIOS?  Any ideas on the driver for the Sony CD/DVD compact disk?

Thanks again!

That was an old post and links can change fast. The Dell Download site is currently under reconstruction. Wait until it's completed--probably later this week. You will not be able to get the win 7 drivers on your personal download page since win7 is not the OS the computer came with. You will have to search for them individually either at the Dell site or the manufacturers site. Make sure to run the Upgrade Advisor first so you can get the needed drivers ahead of time. Windows 7 should have most of the required drivers if your computer is a good upgrade candidate.

If you are going to 64 bit windows from 32 bit--only if your processor is 64 bit capable and you have more than 4gb of memory--you must do a clean install. You cannot upgrade over vista 32 bit. You also cannot upgrade over any version of XP. Follow the custom install with format instructions on the win 7 page at MS here-- windows.microsoft.com/.../Installing-and-reinstalling-Windows-7. Boot to the upgrade disk first to format and install win 7. You will lose everything on your hard drive, so copy your personal files and have the original installation disks for any added programs. You should consider if Win 7 is worth the trouble and the $100 for the upgrade cost. Putting it towards a new $400 laptop might be better.

Hi there,

This thread has been very helpful, as I'm getting ready to upgrade my Inspiron 1520 to Windows 7. My only concern is that some of the links above -- like for DellQuickSet -- no longer lead to the driver. I searched on Drivers and Downloads and can't download Dell QuickSet, Sigmatel Audio, and Chipset.

Without knowing how and where to download the above, I'm hesitant to do the upgrade.

Do you know why these drivers are no longer available?

Thank so much.

Wow, thank you for such a quick reply!  I did run the Windows Upgrade Advisor and it said I was good to go with the upgrade.  Tried 3 times with no success to upgrade from Vista Home 32 to Windows 7 Home 32. NO error messages, just that the upgrade was not successful and it was restoring Vista.  

I followed the instructions -- turned off anti-virus, deauthorized ITunes -- but still no luck with upgrading.

This is why I'm considering a fresh install of Windows 7.  

I have a new laptop but thought I could also use the Inspiron for another year, as the screen (1680 x 1050) is much better than the HP I bought a year ago. Now I'm regretting purchasing the Windows 7 upgrade, as I've spent the last 24 hours and have gotten nowhere.  

Looks like the only option I have is to do fresh install, which I really didn't want to do -- didn't want to reinstall software -- but if I'm going to get any use out of Windows 7 upgrade I purchased, it looks like my only option is to try a clean install.  

Again, thank you for the info. Much appreciated.

Hey Majestic 7 -- thanks for letting me know your clean install worked well.  

I actually tried a clean install last night, but I can't get the computer to boot from the cd.  Can you tell me how to do that, as I would like to get Windows 7 on my Inspiron?

It's a really good computer and I upgraded everything when I purchased - best processor, 1680 x 1050, etc, so I would like to use the laptop for another year or two.  

How do I boot from the installation disk so that I can install the Windows 7 64 bit?

I did a clean install to Windows 7 Professional 64-bit, working great.  It's really not much of a pain doing a clean install.  The Microsoft native drives will work for most of the hardware on the Dell.  Only thing I did was flash the BIOS to A09 (not necessary), downloaded all the updates for Windows 7 and SP1, Intel Chipset and Intel Rapid Storage Technology from Intel's website, driver for Nvidia GeForce graphics card on Nvidia's website (if you have a Nvidia card), Ricoh chipset, and Dell Quickset.  Don't need the drive for Sigmatel Audio.  Microsoft has drivers already installed for everything else with Win7.  Some drivers from Inspiron 1545 might work as well.

A great blog for installing Win7 on a 1520 is Mileski's Weblog.

I'm running Win7 Professional 64-bit perfectly fine on 2GB of RAM, Intel Core2Duo @ 1.5GHz

I booted from a USB flash drive.  Is the cd a full Windows 7 version or an Upgrade CD to Win7?  If an upgrade version, you'll have to call Microsoft Support and they can walk you through the process of downloading from the MS website to your flash drive, make sure to tell them it's a clean install.  Good luck.

Either way upgrade or retail refer to my wiki (a clean install of windows 7 link below) it will take you through everything.

Since I've had a few draaanks tonight, just go for a Hackintosh OS X Lion with your 1520! Though if it's a total fail, don't blame me  :P   Tonymac is what you want to look up for a how to guide, mwahahaha.