Put them on a flash drive, as you will need them post-install (start with the chipset driver and work your way through the rest of the list).
The system is likely shipped with GPT for Windows 8, meaning you'll need to do a bare-metal install of 7 - NOT an upgrade, so you WILL LOSE the entire contents of the hard drive, including the backup partition (make sure you make a bootable recovery media before you start, and that you test it to make sure it boots the system).
Also make sure ALL your hardware is working correctly before you start - as you will lose your software support once you change the OS. Further bear in mind that Dell CAN require you to restore the system to Windows 8 before warranty coverage is authorized (assuming you need that at some point).
Thank you ejn63 for your response, :emotion-2: You are a life saver ... thank you
I have been struggling with this clean install since September last. Mostly due to my FEAR of getting it WRONG. I have another laptop with web access so I will not be stranded if I the Dell process goes pear shaped.
Do I come back to this thread for further guidance or do I have to start a new thread each time. ? I find the Dell web experience very difficult to comprehend, nothing like any other forum I am a member of.
The "Did this answer your question? [Yes]" ... looks like it might lock this thread as "Solved" I have spent days going up a lot od dead ends trying to find this community forum. Some of the URLs I have saved must be a temporary random URL.
If the system allows me to return to this thread, I look forward to your continued support :emotion-1:
I cannot find any "subscribe" options and I am not a social media user. Is [LinkedIn] ... Dell's "subscribe" option ?
Do I download every driver in each category ? Chipset x4 Network x3 Video x3 (CPU, Mouse, Serial ATA, are all obviously yes)
ejn63 said ...
The system is likely shipped with GPT for Windows 8, meaning you'll need to do a bare-metal install of 7 - NOT an upgrade, so you WILL LOSE the entire contents of the hard drive, including the backup partition (make sure you make a bootable recovery media before you start, and that you test it to make sure it boots the system).
1. What is GPT an abbreviation for ?
2. I had planned on a clean-install, knowing this is not an upgrade.
A few weeks ago I located How to Downgrade from Windows 8 Pro to Windows 7 Professional ... at:- http://www.dell.com/support/troubleshooting/us/en/19/KCS/KcsArticles/ArticleView?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&docid=590895&dgc=SM&cid=260354&lid=
but 4 images in step #4 are just empty boxes.
I have Mozilla "AdBlock Plus" disabled. (Silverlight disabled .. considerably outdated IE presents the same problem
GPT is GUID partition table - Windows 8 fully supports GPT with UEFI (instead of legacy BIOS). In theory, 7-64 bit (NOT 32-bit though) does as well, but the support isn't complete.
You need all the chipset drivers.
You'll need the Realtek wired Ethernet driver plus the wireless driver for whichever card you have (only one of them).
You need the Intel video driver; which, if any AMD driver you need depends on whether your system has AMD hybrid video and then on which AMD chip you have.
My apologies for being naive in this area. Thank you for your patience :emotion-1:
OFF TOPIC Interesting your comment about 32bit. Originally this downgrade was to be from 64bit Win8 Pro ... to ... 32bit Win7 Home Premium. (I have a legal OEM of the latter, Dell belongs to my a-dult (42 year old) daughter)
From options in http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/Product/inspiron-15-3521 there are no 32bit drivers available. Does that mean the [Dell Inspiron 15 3521] can never be 32bit. ? I understand 2 GB RAM is hardly 64-bit OS specs (?)
BACK TO THE TASK ...
• Chipset Drivers:- all of them ... done • Ethernet/Wireless drivers:- Inspiron 15 3521 has both Wifi + wired LAN , I have used both of them
You'll need the Realtek wired Ethernet driver plus the wireless driver for whichever card you have (only one of them).
According to "System Spec 3.06"
>> I have no knowlwege of network connections other than I plug/connect <<
Network Connections
- Realtek PCle FE Family Controller
WiFi Properteis
- Dell Wireless 1703 802.11b/g/n (2.4GHz)
----
No mention of AMD that I can see on the specs. Would full specs report from "System Spec 3.06" help
• Intel Video Driver:-
Do these specs indicate what I need ?
According to "System Spec 3.06"
Display
- Adapters:= Intel(R) HD Graphics
- Technology:= Raster Display
- Motherboard:= Dell Inc. 0mnd5y
Network:
- Adapters/Shares/Drives:= Bluetooth Device + Microsoft WiFi Direct Virtual Adapter
Once again ... thank you for your patience :emotion-1:
If you ordered the system with 2G of RAM, it's likely a very low-end model that has only Intel video.
You can run 32-bit WIndows 7 but will likely wind up having to hunt elsewhere for drivers (which you should do before you begin the process). If the system came with 8 Pro, though, it automatically qualifies for a license for 64-bit WIndows 7 (see here):
ejn63
9 Legend
•
87.5K Posts
0
February 14th, 2014 09:00
There is quite a bit more to it than that - first thing you'll need is the hardware drivers for your system
http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/Product/inspiron-15-3521
Put them on a flash drive, as you will need them post-install (start with the chipset driver and work your way through the rest of the list).
The system is likely shipped with GPT for Windows 8, meaning you'll need to do a bare-metal install of 7 - NOT an upgrade, so you WILL LOSE the entire contents of the hard drive, including the backup partition (make sure you make a bootable recovery media before you start, and that you test it to make sure it boots the system).
Also make sure ALL your hardware is working correctly before you start - as you will lose your software support once you change the OS. Further bear in mind that Dell CAN require you to restore the system to Windows 8 before warranty coverage is authorized (assuming you need that at some point).
The general order of driver installs is here:
http://www.dell.com/support/troubleshooting/us/en/04/KCS/KcsArticles/ArticleView?docid=266457
You're going to need several hours to set aside just for Windows updates alone - this is NOT a quick process.
bawldiggle
8 Posts
0
February 14th, 2014 13:00
Thank you ejn63 for your response, :emotion-2:
You are a life saver ... thank you
I have been struggling with this clean install since September last.
Mostly due to my FEAR of getting it WRONG.
I have another laptop with web access so I will not be stranded if I the Dell process goes pear shaped.
Do I come back to this thread for further guidance or do I have to start a new thread each time. ?
I find the Dell web experience very difficult to comprehend, nothing like any other forum I am a member of.
The "Did this answer your question? [Yes]" ... looks like it might lock this thread as "Solved"
I have spent days going up a lot od dead ends trying to find this community forum.
Some of the URLs I have saved must be a temporary random URL.
If the system allows me to return to this thread, I look forward to your continued support :emotion-1:
I cannot find any "subscribe" options and I am not a social media user.
Is [LinkedIn] ... Dell's "subscribe" option ?
Thank you again :emotion-1:
bawldiggle
8 Posts
0
February 15th, 2014 03:00
ejn63 suggested must download drivers ...
Do I download every driver in each category ?
Chipset x4
Network x3
Video x3
(CPU, Mouse, Serial ATA, are all obviously yes)
ejn63 said ...
1. What is GPT an abbreviation for ?
2. I had planned on a clean-install, knowing this is not an upgrade.
A few weeks ago I located How to Downgrade from Windows 8 Pro to Windows 7 Professional ... at:- http://www.dell.com/support/troubleshooting/us/en/19/KCS/KcsArticles/ArticleView?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&docid=590895&dgc=SM&cid=260354&lid=
but 4 images in step #4 are just empty boxes.
I have Mozilla "AdBlock Plus" disabled. (Silverlight disabled .. considerably outdated
IE presents the same problem
Would appreciate your guidance :emotion-1:
ejn63
9 Legend
•
87.5K Posts
0
February 15th, 2014 04:00
GPT is GUID partition table - Windows 8 fully supports GPT with UEFI (instead of legacy BIOS). In theory, 7-64 bit (NOT 32-bit though) does as well, but the support isn't complete.
You need all the chipset drivers.
You'll need the Realtek wired Ethernet driver plus the wireless driver for whichever card you have (only one of them).
You need the Intel video driver; which, if any AMD driver you need depends on whether your system has AMD hybrid video and then on which AMD chip you have.
bawldiggle
8 Posts
0
February 16th, 2014 01:00
My apologies for being naive in this area. Thank you for your patience :emotion-1:
OFF TOPIC
Interesting your comment about 32bit.
Originally this downgrade was to be from 64bit Win8 Pro ... to ... 32bit Win7 Home Premium.
(I have a legal OEM of the latter, Dell belongs to my a-dult (42 year old) daughter)
From options in http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/Product/inspiron-15-3521 there are no 32bit drivers available.
Does that mean the [Dell Inspiron 15 3521] can never be 32bit. ?
I understand 2 GB RAM is hardly 64-bit OS specs (?)
BACK TO THE TASK ...
• Chipset Drivers:- all of them ... done
• Ethernet/Wireless drivers:- Inspiron 15 3521 has both Wifi + wired LAN , I have used both of them
According to "System Spec 3.06"
>> I have no knowlwege of network connections other than I plug/connect <<
Network Connections
- Realtek PCle FE Family Controller
WiFi Properteis
- Dell Wireless 1703 802.11b/g/n (2.4GHz)
----
No mention of AMD that I can see on the specs. Would full specs report from "System Spec 3.06" help
• Intel Video Driver:-
Do these specs indicate what I need ?
According to "System Spec 3.06"
Display
- Adapters:= Intel(R) HD Graphics
- Technology:= Raster Display
- Motherboard:= Dell Inc. 0mnd5y
Network:
- Adapters/Shares/Drives:= Bluetooth Device + Microsoft WiFi Direct Virtual Adapter
Once again ... thank you for your patience :emotion-1:
ejn63
9 Legend
•
87.5K Posts
0
February 16th, 2014 03:00
If you ordered the system with 2G of RAM, it's likely a very low-end model that has only Intel video.
You can run 32-bit WIndows 7 but will likely wind up having to hunt elsewhere for drivers (which you should do before you begin the process). If the system came with 8 Pro, though, it automatically qualifies for a license for 64-bit WIndows 7 (see here):
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-windows_install/downgrade-from-windows-8-pro-to-windows-7-pro-for/d361eb81-a5a0-448c-a438-48cbd825c796