Insprion 1525 clean install w/drivers

Thank you. I will keep you posted once I get started. Thanks.

Go to C:\Users\"Your Name"\Favourites copy this to an external hard drive and then copy back to this location when 7 is installed.

Use the Vista drivers 32 bit drivers from the Dell Website. If you have bluetooth do not use the Vista driver for the 355 card as windows explorer will crash. Instead use the Windows 7 drivers for the 370 card R226750. If using 64 bit, then more work will need to be done, looking for drivers which are shared in common with XPS systems, if you plan on using the 64 bit then just ask. Of course ensure that you install in the correct order.

Also you need to copy what you want from the following (to your external hard drive):

• C:\Users\"Your Name"\My Documents

• C:\Users\"Your Name"\My Music

• C:\Users\"Your Name"\My Pictures

• C:\Users\"Your Name"\My Videos

• C:\Users\"Your Name"\Downloads

• C:\Users\"Your Name"\Desktop

The guide I mentioned below tells you how to do everything, you should follow it through. If you are planning on completely wiping due to a virus problem you should use DBAN (listed as optional in the guide).

As for security I have gave my recommendations of using Microsoft Security Essentials and standalone updates (in the useful software wiki) it would be good if you downloaded these onto an external hard drive and install before reconnecting to the internet so you have up to date antivirus when you first connect. I also recommend the Windows 7 Firewall Control Free Version and the Malwarebytes' AntiMalware (Pro however if don't want to pay periodically update and scan with the free version).

Scan the contents of the external hard drive with such softwares before connecting to a fresh system.

Ensure Service Pack 1 and IE9 are installed and then the following drivers are installed in order. These were taken from other systems, they should work but if any don't then let me know and I will try and find some others. Use these in conjunction with the guide.

1. Dell Notebook Software R260746 

2. Intel Chipset R166187 

3. Ricoh Chipset R166188 

4. Intel Video R247701*

5. Conexant Driver R150157, Application R147123, Utility R148605 

6. Marvell Ethernet R167854 

7. Wireless Card**

8. Sigmatel Audio R157052 

9. Touchpad R286709

10. Creative Webcam Driver R165116

11. Dell Quickset R182249 

12. Bluetooth R226750 

13. SATA Drivers: Intel Matrix Storage Manager R190641, Intel Turbo Memory R166201 

14. Dell Webcam Centre R230103 

15. Dell Support Centre

* Not to sure what other Video drivers you will have (some of the devices are optional, you may get some of them here)

** Not to sure what Wireless Card you will have (some of the devices are optional, you may get some of them here)

Also not sure if you have Mobile Broadband.

So I have decided to stick with vista 32 bit by following your instructions, wiping, and using my oem reinstallation DVD. I also have the media direct DVD and the drivers and utilities. I feel very comfortable with your instructions although I have a few questions I want to tie up.

- in step five it states to insert Media Direct and follow steps. It also states to insert media direct in step 11. Is the step five insert to simply prep drive for Media direct, and step 11 to do the install?

- should the drivers and utilities DVD have all I need in that respect? ( I will obviously update drivers once I get windows installed etc)

- i have saved my docs and pics on DVDs and am not backing up anything else b/c I have a Trojan issue. I have norton 360 (have used disc on 3 machines already), office '07 , and quicken willmaker. Will the belarc advisor help mrs with activating those 3 apps? Or do I have to physically contact them?

- do I run get service pack 2 and run updates prior to installing norton/security?

Thank you in advance for your advice.

Yes there should be a booklet with instructions included with the Dell Media Direct disc. If using the DBAN use it before setting up partitions with the Media Direct disc.

In step 5. you have to boot from the media direct disc to make the partitions. It should make a hidden Media Direct partition (so you may press the Media Direct Button and boot into Media Direct when this is pressed and the machine is powered down) and a diagnostics partition. Failure to setup the partitions means pressing the Media Direct Button can corrupt your installation (especially when the system is powered down). This is true for the Inspiron E1405/640m, E1505/6400 and the E1705/9400. I have never installed it on an Inspiron 1525 but looking around it appears to be the same. Read the small booklet that is beside the Media Direct Disc for more information. 

In step 11. you install the application, you are understanding okay.

For the Service Packs since you are sticking with Vista (You may have Service Pack 1 included with your DVD) I recommend downloading these files onto a USB flash stick and installing from the USB immediately after Windows is installed (i.e. an offline install):

• Service Pack 1 (x86) 

• Service Pack 2 (x86) 

Install these before the drivers.

As for the drivers, the disc will have a fully functional set of drivers. My preference is to get them from the Dell Website, I have almost never ever used the Dell Drivers Disc. This means you are installing them once only and is slightly cleaner than updating them. When downloading them ensure that you don't use the download manager, I save them to the USB stick in appropriately labelled folders.

My folder structure for my Inspiron 6400 is a good example as you can see (expanded folders to the left). I have everything named so I know what is what and have them in a numeric structure for the order I will install them in.

You could download and make a similar structure for your Inspiron 1525 adding the Service Packs before the 1. Dell Notebook Software in your case. This is my Dell drivers folder - I am a bit extreme in backing up my software and I have everything for this system on my external hard drive actually. 

For my machine that came with Vista, Service Pack 1 is slipstreamed on the Dell Vista Basic Disc and Service Pack 2 is in my Microsoft Folder. This machine has since been upgraded to 7. Just a note best to save Office installation files to external hard drive also with your product key typed in a notepad file.

Belarc Advisor should be run on the system before beginning the reinstall process (i.e. on the old installation). It will tell you both what your Office 2007 Product Key and what Office 2007 Version you have (most likely home and student). However most likely you will have a Office 2007 Home and Student DVD and case with Product Key so that this step is unnecessary. The Belarc Advisor step is mentioned in case you have downloaded the software or lost the case/Product Key. Once scanned with Belarc, download the correct version here and the Office 2007 Service Pack 2 Update. Save these to an external hard drive/USB stick with the product key typed in a notepad file (as example above).

I am not sure about Norton, I used to use McAfee (and back in the day when I used it my computers with it seemed to run better than folk who had Norton). I think currently McAfee has got worse and Norton has got better. However when I did reinstall from McAfee it was a simple case of going to their website as soon as connecting to the internet, logging in and download their software, I would imagine Norton would be much the same. I am not 100 % sure however.

thanks again. i am almost ready to rock. i dont quite (and never have) unsterstand my external hard drive. i have a Western Digital Passport Essential 250gb.it is currently in fat32 format. i have it set up with my comp and have done a backup or 2 but have since deleted them when i discovered the Trojan. i have tried to bring over my favorites and itunes library but they wont go. my favs are like 24gb and itunes 22gb.from what i have read, it seems that i need to reformat to ntfs. only catch is that there is documentation and setup/sync type files on the external that will be lost if i reformat,from what i understand. it suggested to save the files to another media but its over 70gb worth of files?? my two thoughts/concerns are this. loss of capabiltiy if i reformat and lose files, ( i am sure i would lose built in drivers and all so it would might be useless if attaching to fresh install?) and loss of sync to backup my new system once i have installed it. i have put in a request from WD help and am waiting for them to respond, although any thoughts would be apppriciated. all of the research for this install has really opened my eyes to things i should adhere to and will help going forward. the belarc report is an awesome utility.thanks.

My first external hard drive is160 GB and formatted in fat32. It works fine for copying folders full of files such as the ones you are copying. It does not like 1 individual file > 4 GB (e.g. a 6 GB .iso file I made).

Favourites: 24 GB something terribly wrong there, it should not be that big (even if you have alot). As favourites are usually just an assortment of shortcut files (and are very small 1 KB, so you would need ~1000 to get 1 MB and 1000,000 to get 1 GB). Note this is the size, the size on disk is slightly larger but no way should it lead up to 24 GB.

22 GB seems about right for your iTunes library.

Before copying your files, scan your entire computer and external hard drive with Malwarebytes' AntiMalware. You may use the free version, download, install it, run it then go to update, make sure it is up to date. 

Select perform full scan. Select your C: drive and any other internal driver in addition to your external hard drive (can check what letter it is in computer). This may take some time but this is a good program for finding Malware. Let it remove anything it finds. 

Also download both Microsoft Security Essentials and the Latest Security Definition (32 bit). Don't install yet. Disconnect your computer from the internet. Press Fn and F2 to disable wireless, remove any ethernet cables. Uninstall any other security program you are using (except Malwarebytes'). Then reboot. Install Microsoft Security Essentials it won't be happy when it can't download an update. However ignore the warning and instead install the latest definitions. Go to settings and put a check in the box that says Scan Removable Drives.

Then go to Home and select full then click Scan Now.

This should be both your computer and external scanned with two reliable scanners.

Attempt copying the files over again after doing this.

Ok, I figured out my fav issue and hd issue. Fav folder had a copied music folder in tere ?? 24gb. Hd has WD syncing software that I removed. It kept a master record of the c:drive and was encrypted for access taking 90gb. Bad interface and bad reviews of the syncing software. Going to reformat the external and then I am off to the races to begin fresh install. I ran the scans and found 1 piece of adware ad deleted. Ha someone tell me I had a csrss.exe Trojan. Either way I am taking very little data from this computer. Docs and music only. All have been scanned multiple times and I feel good about it. I will be "starting over" with much new found knowledge and will apply. Thanks for the info. I will let you know how it goes.  

Okay the file size makes more sense now but the folder isn't the best place to store music. :) The HP Format Tool may be good for to format the hard drive (you need to right click it and ensure you run it as an administrator).

Well everything is going well so far. Missing a few drivers under other devices. Gonna check it out in a min. What are your thoughts on downloading apps from Cnet ? I know that the try to add on toolbars etc in their wizard and that some links on there are bad but as far as the "virus free" downloads, I feel pretty good about from what I have read. What are your thoughts?

Check the Dell Drivers and Downloads Page for the Other Missing Devices, could be TV Tuners etc.

CNET is okay generally, alot of the files when you download you get some CNET installer thing which then takes you to the download (needs internet access) and tries to get you to install a CNET technology updater or something (can't remember exactly) I have never isntalled it.

I like it mainly for reviews (user). I generally prefer downloading software from softpedia or of course direct from the website of the folk that make the software. I use CNET to download things only when I can't find it from the other 2. I think downloads should be virus free from CNET, some will want to install that dreaded ask toolbar and turn your homepage to ask but that's the worst thing that has happened. Generally you should take your time and always select the advanced install and uncheck unwanted features.

CNET, ZDNET, and PCWorld are good, safe places to download applications.  The apps might still be junk, but at least they're "clean".  

I would not, however, download drivers from anywhere but the PC, board, or device manufacturer.

Likely you have just unzipped them and the installer hasn't automatically run.

You will need to got to C:\Drivers\Dell\R123456 where 123456 is a different number for each driver.

In this folder you will need to click a setup.exe file. Then run the installer.

You will need to do this for each corresponding driver I don't know why it hasn't done it automatically. Again you should keep to the correct order.

Ok so I followed steps and actually used my drivers utilities dell disk for drivers. I loaded it and let it auto run. I assumed it was all loaded and went to get on net to start my norton. No Ethernet controller etc. So I loaded disc again and noticed that only certainthings are checked marked (done auto when I loaded the disc). So after scrolling f

Through the drivers and utilities I see that neither chipset driver is checked or the dell notebook system software. I unzipped them and installed them and the restarted my computer and loaded disk to see if checked and they still aren't and I still have no Ethernet controller. What to do next ?

Use the Vista drivers from the Drivers and Download page of support.dell.com, or you can use the driver directly from Marvel for Windows 7:

www.marvell.com/.../driverSearchResults.do;jsessionid=X9cXTFpRQXTN50LbZ7TZbtJR1CC2fzGGV1nx5lHwGZ0PbjXG1lnt!-1017260469