Dell only supports Windows XP (64) on this model. You need, at a minimum, Vista drivers for Windows 7.
It looks like the hardware you have is "standard" so you should be able to find drivers from the various hardware vendors for everything except possibly the sound. Vista and Windows 7 handle some of the audio functions differently and the XP audio driver is not compatible. The rest may even work by instlaling them in a compatibility mode (XP compatibility mode) if you can't find drivers from the vendors, but there is no guarantee. One other issue is your peripherals (e.g. printer), you will need Windows 7 (or Vista) drivers for the peripherals too so verify they are Win 7 compatible.
If you want to try it, set up a dual boot with XP and Windows 7 in case there are compatibility problems. You have to install Windows 7 from a "clean" (full) install anyway as you can't "upgrade" XP to Windows 7.
I have "ignorantly" installed Windows 7 Enterprise w/ SP1 x64 on a GX620 without incident, although the sound card was not initially supported.
After updating the BIOS to the most recent (A11 as I write this, Oct. 2012) I simply booted off the DVD and the OS installed without incident.
I then ran the Intel Chipset Software Install Software to ensure all hardware-specific "bits" are installed.
A quick visit to Windows Update caused the proper sound driver to be downloaded, along with other needed updates.
Windows 7 runs fine - we use them at $WORK all the time, with a couple hundred running Win7.
My machine is a standard GX620 with a P4 (2.8 GHz dual core) on-board/integrated video, 4x 1 Gig DDR2 RAM, and a 160 Gig SATA HD - bog standard, no frills.
fireberd
9 Legend
•
33.4K Posts
0
May 13th, 2010 05:00
Dell only supports Windows XP (64) on this model. You need, at a minimum, Vista drivers for Windows 7.
It looks like the hardware you have is "standard" so you should be able to find drivers from the various hardware vendors for everything except possibly the sound. Vista and Windows 7 handle some of the audio functions differently and the XP audio driver is not compatible. The rest may even work by instlaling them in a compatibility mode (XP compatibility mode) if you can't find drivers from the vendors, but there is no guarantee. One other issue is your peripherals (e.g. printer), you will need Windows 7 (or Vista) drivers for the peripherals too so verify they are Win 7 compatible.
If you want to try it, set up a dual boot with XP and Windows 7 in case there are compatibility problems. You have to install Windows 7 from a "clean" (full) install anyway as you can't "upgrade" XP to Windows 7.
Ken08534
4 Posts
1
October 5th, 2012 08:00
It just works, no workarounds needed, though sound not initially supported - Windows Update has the driver, so not an issue IMHO.
Ken08534
4 Posts
0
October 5th, 2012 08:00
I have "ignorantly" installed Windows 7 Enterprise w/ SP1 x64 on a GX620 without incident, although the sound card was not initially supported.
After updating the BIOS to the most recent (A11 as I write this, Oct. 2012) I simply booted off the DVD and the OS installed without incident.
I then ran the Intel Chipset Software Install Software to ensure all hardware-specific "bits" are installed.
A quick visit to Windows Update caused the proper sound driver to be downloaded, along with other needed updates.
Windows 7 runs fine - we use them at $WORK all the time, with a couple hundred running Win7.
My machine is a standard GX620 with a P4 (2.8 GHz dual core) on-board/integrated video, 4x 1 Gig DDR2 RAM, and a 160 Gig SATA HD - bog standard, no frills.
Ken