Upgraded to Win 7 64-bit ... where do i get drivers?

Windows 7 has drivers for most hardware. What drivers do you need? Have you checked if any drivers are still needed? Windows Update should have almost everything. You can get missing drivers from the hardware's manufacturer's web site. Dell will only list drivers for your original OS.

Are you actually missing any drivers, or are you assuming that you need drivers because of your upgrade.  Most drivers you need will be on the Windows 7 installation disk..  I have a Latitude D820, originally Vista 32 bit,  I upgraded it to Windows 7 64 bit,  all drivers were on the Microsoft installation disk, or were doewnloaded from Microsoft.  Same for my PWS 7400. 

Basically I find drivers a non-issue, unless you are running some stange/ancient hardware

Welcome to the forums :emotion-21:

You'll just have to try Vista 64bit drivers for any component still requiring drivers?

Unfortunately however, Dell only offer Vista 32bit drivers for the Inspiron 1720, so as Mary suggests... you'll have to try and source them elsewhere - i.e. the manufacturer's website?

That's the chance you took when you upgraded to Windows 7 though... especially a 64bit version, when Dell only offered Vista 32bit drivers - which *might* have worked for Windows 7 32bit.

I think there is some confusion in the minds of a lot of us between using MS Windows Update and the updates listed for our systems under DELL's Drivers and Downloads. Last september I purchased a DELL STUDIO  XPS DESKTOP 435MT w. Windows Vista Home Premium 64 Bit and dutifully registered my system on ecomm.dell.com/myaccount.... I also ran Windows Update on a regular basis.  I upgraded my system to Windows 7 from DELL as soon as they made it available.

Problem 1:  I am not sure if I need to update drivers recommended by DELL or Is all being taken care of by using Windows Update?

Problem 2: Now that I have upgraded from Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 my system that I am registered under here at Dell is still shows Vista Home Premium instead of Windows 7. I can't seem to permanently update my systems profile at DELL. I do find that I can temporarily change my OS to Win 7 under the DELL Drivers & Downloads but not permanently.

Problem 3:  When I check at DELL for drivers and downloads for my registered system it shows a whole bunch of recommended drivers and updates and downloads listed under the original VISTA OS and when I change the OS to Win 7 it shows a lot fewer recommended drivers and updates. This makes me doubt that Windows Update alone takes care of updating one's system??? 

Problem 4: The "recommended order" of installing drivers and updates is very confusing to follow.

The Big Question: If Windows Update has been upgrading drivers and such will I possibly be overwriting drivers that Windows Update has installed and possibly causing incompatibility problems?

Sorry to be so wordy but folks in the business need to see things from the standpoint of newbies and outsiders when providing help and instructions.

I also have a 1720 and am running Windows 7 64 bit. I started with the Beta a year ago, went to the RC in June and now run the RTM. I have had no problems with drivers. Most all of the needed drivers are installed for you from the get go. There were only a fe drivers that did not install that I had to find on my own. I think they were (ALPS touchpad, Richo media reader). What I did was look at other systems that Dell sold that came with Vista x64 or Win7 x64 and found the onles that used the same devices and used those drivers. If you search on the forums here you will see which ones they are and there are also links to the downloads for them. Do an advanced search for 1720 windows 7 and if you want enter my ID in the posted by field and you can see what drivers I used. I just do not have the time at the moment to do the search for you.

Dennis46,

  You bring up some very interesting points to consider. It has to be understood that if your system is not on Dell's compatibility list in their support system, then you are most likely not going to change your system profile nor are they going to provide support for it when it comes to Windows 7, be it 32 or 64 bit. Any legacy system most likely will not see support. Mine is in the XPS category and no support.

  Drivers are a whole different issue. Anyone who wants to upgrade to Win 7, 32 or 64 bit, has to do their homework. That means checking Dell's compatibility list, using Microsoft's Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to see if there system, in it's current state can be upgraded and to which, 32 or 64 bit. This will tell you all the compatibility issues with your hardware and software and what you need to upgrade or get an update or a non compatible issue. Go on the forums as been done here and find out what others have done and what issues they encountered. Use the search box to located the system you have and maybe someone has written a thread about your system. This was done for the XPS M2010 and I am grateful to all who participated.

  If someone has taken the time to go thru the process of an upgrade, especially the legacy systems,  and cured all the ills in doing so, post a thread on that system for all to see and get help. Dell is not going to do this.

  Determining whether you need drivers and what is touchy to say the least. After you upgrade your OS, let Windows update do it's thing. Then go to Device manager and check your status. From there, you have to rely on your knowledge or someone  else who has been there. This forum can help.

Dennis is right and I too am sorry for being so wordy but people need help that they can understand. Let's post what we have accomplished about upgrading our systems and it will help everyone.    

My suggestion, ignore Dell completely.  Use the Microsoft Upgrade Advisor only.  Many, if not all Dell drivers, after certification are obtainable from the Microsoft Update site.  That is how I got the upgrade to the Dell SAS 61/R controller.  

Well, the touchpad is the most urgent - windows 7 rejects the driver and software for that ....

the rest of the stuff seems to be working correctly as you said ...

Thanks,

Garry

Try and run it in compatibility mode. Otherwise try going to the specific manufacturer's site.

Well, the touchpad is the most urgent - windows 7 rejects the driver and software for that .... the rest of the stuff seems to be working correctly as you said ...

Here is the Alps driver from the Vostro 1720 for Windows 7. This is what I am using and it works just fine. LINK

Hello Gaz_57,
For the drivers you need go here to make sure Windows 7 is compatible:
(There you will find out about hardware and software compatibilty.)
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/en-us/default.aspx
There is a pulldown from which you can choose "hardware" and "software".
Microsoft does have an official Windows 7 Support Forum specifically for IT Pros located here http://tinyurl.com/7jq7ps . It is supported by product specialists as well as engineers and support teams. You may want to also check the threads available there for additional assistance and feedback.

John M
Microsoft Windows Client Team