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Replace and load os on hard drive for inspiron 1545
I replaced the hard drive on my inspiron 1545 and tried to restore it with the dell data safe disks that I made when I got the machine. Windows 7 loaded but I couldn't do anything with it, It was very slow, I couldn't even get it to update. So I loaded in the windows 7 disk that came with it and now I have windows up and running and updated. My question is what drivers do I need to install. I went to dell/support and entered my service tag number and it came up with a list of drivers (46 of them), some I know I need but others seem to be for things I don't know if I have on the computer. How do I know which ones I need?
Also I read something about a file called Dell System Software but its not on the drivers list. Do I need it or not?
VAVB05_Site_Rep
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January 4th, 2015 13:00
Hi Gary,
Here is a Dell article on the entire Driver process (just to get you started and cover all the possibilities):
http://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/19/SLN128900
There is also a Driver installation order article giving very good information on the ORDER in which Drivers *should be* installed due to possible dependencies they have on each other:
http://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/19/SLN130608/EN
NOTE: There may be certain Drivers which can be skipped IF you will not be using those features. Well, UNOFFICIALLY (IMHO) anyway. I do not load Drivers for "AMT" (Active Management Technology) because the computers I work on will not be managed remotely using this method. Part of the task of doing a "clean" reload is determining which Drivers suit your specific needs.
Here is one other extensive areticle on reinstallation of Drivers under Microsoft Windows 7 (64-bit), just so you have access to more than one source of information on the topic:
http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/laptop/f/3518/t/19390190
Good luck! ~ VAVB
(all opinions expressed are my own and presented for the general benefit of the Community at large)
Gary27848
3 Posts
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January 4th, 2015 14:00
Thank for the info. I have already found the article on driver installation order. I am still a little confused about what drivers to install. Sounds like I may have to wing it and see what happens. The last article talks a little about Device Manager, that might be a good place to look for all the features I have that need drivers. I will check it out.
Thanks again
Philip_Yip
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January 5th, 2015 08:00
Some of the links posted are pretty old, here is an updated guide:
http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/a-clean-install-of-windows/a-clean-install-of-windows-7/
Provide the hardware IDs of any unknown devices and display adapters and network controllers in the device manager:
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/
Gary27848
3 Posts
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January 5th, 2015 20:00
Yes all this info is helping a lot. I now know how to find what drivers I need for what hardware. Downloading them from Dell is my next step. Windows device manager shows everything ok but I am getting the feeling that I need to update some things. I believe my network card is one of them because downloads are really slow.
I do have one more question that still needs an answer. There is a file called "Dell System Software" that I have seen mentioned in one of the above threads. Do I need to install it or not. I will download it as long as I am doing the download.
Thanks again for the help