IE9

I never h ad windows vista, I had windows XP Professional before and installed Windows 7 home and did the 32 bit cause my drive is not big enough for the 64.  I think I will try the safe mode first and once that's done how do I put it back in normal mode after installing both SP1 and IE9?

Are you serious about this comment - if your drive is not big enough to install the 64 bit version of Win 7 then I would suggest you have much bigger problems - size of your hard drive is very unlikely to be an issue in determining whether to install the 32 or 64 bit version of Windows - if you really are that short of disk space it may well be that something else went wrong during your initial install of Win 7 and this is the cause of your troubles!

I come in this forum to get help with things I don't understand. so if I do sound a little crazy then forgive me, I'm not good at computers that's why I'm asking for your help.  First of all I have a 111GB hard drive and I bought the Windows 7 Home Premium and didn't install it myself (because I have no clue how to do it) so had a professional engineer that works with PC's at work install this for me and he knew how to install the drivers I needed, etc.  He installed the 32 bit on my computer and have no idea why he just did the 32 and not the 64.  He would know why but I don't.  So are you telling me that because I have the 32 bit installed on my computer that I won't be able to install the SP1?  I have plenty of room on my hard drive.  I have 2GB RAM.

Its alright. Thats what these forums are for. You can install 32 bit or 64 bit Windows 7 on your system because it meets the requirements for either or and has drivers for both. He probably installed the 32 bit one as it performs better when there is less than 4 GB of RAM. Unless you plan to upgrade your RAM in the future to 4 GB then stick with the 32 bit OS.

There is a Service Pack 1 for both 32 bit (windows6.1-KB976932-X86.exe) and also Service Pack 1 for 64 bit (windows6.1-KB976932-X64.exe).

I was looking at your system and seen that the default drivers when I went on the drivers and downloads page were Vista 32 bit. Hence I was wondering if you upgraded from Vista to 7. That path should work okay but is sometimes problematic. Its not your case anyway.

I don't know why the service pack is failing to install on your system or IE9 either. I don't know if there is some conflict with drivers or even your security programs (because I don't know them) or if it is something else.

I will give you pretty concise instructions to reinstall Windows 7 yourself from scratch. It may sound complicated but it is actually really easy, mainly alot of clicking next.

You should already have the standalone Service Pack 1 downloaded  (windows6.1-KB976932-X86.exe)  and the standalone IE9 downloaded.

Make sure you have downloaded the Vista 32 bit drivers (they will work with Windows 7 32 bit as both OS are very similar) from the Dell Drivers and Download Page.

From this page download the following and save them in a folder structure (same as the labels I give them).

1. The two Chipset Drivers (Under Chipset)

2. Video Drivers (Under Video) - Your service tag will tell you what ones.

3. Conexant Driver, Application, Utility (Under Communications)

4. Ethernet Drivers Intel, Realtek (Under Network)

5. Wireless Card (Under Network)

6. Audio Realtek (Under Audio)

7. Bluetooth/Media Card Reader (Under Network) - Sometimes Vista Bluetooth drivers don't work well Under Windows 7 but if you have experienced no problems with it thus far then it should be fine.

8. Intel Matrix Storage Manager driver, Applications (Under SATA Drives)

9. Any TV Tuner (Under Video)

10. Dell Support Centre

11. Dell Dock (optional)

Since you bought the DVD. I guess you have it in the house. The product key should be on a sticker in the case. If you don't have the product key or disc write back to say. 

Although I recommending copy everything you have to an external harddrive it is not necessary for a reinstall of Windows 7. If you don't have an external harddrive then don't worry. Windows 7 will put everything in a folder called Windows.old.

Insert the Windows 7 DVD into the disc drive. Power down your computer and hold F12 at the BIOs screen (below) select boot from CD/DVD.

Install Windows. A nice step by step guide to installing windows 7 is here. I have just told you Step 1 and 2 (for a Dell), Step 3 is just selecting your language and keyboard. Step 4 click install Windows. Step 5, accepting the license. Step 6 select Custom (advanced) as you want a clean install. At Step 7 don't do anything with drive options unless you have copied absolutely everything you want off of your computer including the things you have downloaded. Do not do step 8 (again unless you have everything copied to an external harddrive). Follow Step 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 (these steps are al pretty much self explanatory, generally clicking next).

After that go to computer click the C drive, go into a folder called windows.old, go to a folder inside that called users. You should find your name. In that you you should find "documents" ,"music", "pictures", "videos", "downloads" and "desktop". Just move all the items (you want) from these folders to "documents" ,"music", "pictures", "videos", "downloads" and "desktop" respectively. You may delete windows.old after that (big folder don't worry if it takes some time to delete).

Before Step 19, install the standalone service pack 1 and standalone IE9 (You should have these copied from Windows.old).

This will take some time and the computer will reboot a couple of times.

Step 19 is then installing the Dell drivers you have downloaded (in the order listed above). Then rebooting. Then Step 20 and step 21.

Then you should run Windows Update (Start>All Programs>Windows Update). Let it reboot as necessary.

Finally reinstall your security and all your software. Some what I find Useful (mainly free) software download links and descriptions are here. Also here are the security programs I use/recommend. However if you are more comfortable with your current security setup by all means continue with it.

Make sure you have your discs and product keys for all softwares you are using before starting (particularly Microsoft Office). If you don't you will need to use Belarc Advisor to obtain it. It gives your system specifications software and hardware in a browser window. This print out will include your product key. Use cutepdf writer to make a pdf print out of this should you need it.

I am way too scared to try this so I don't know what to do now.  I have so much stuff on my computer now and would have to make sure that everything is saved somewhere.  Someone had told me that if I have Windows 7 then Service Pack 1 is Windows 7 so why is it not showing up that I have it and I can't even install it, it doesn't make any sense to me at all.  I even tried to install it under Safe Mode but in safe mode the program closes down and when it reopens, of course, windows is back to normal, not in safe mode so can't continue installing in safe mode.  Everything always has to be so complicated to people like me that know nothing about computers.  I guess I'll have to stay with IE8 now and hope someday there is a solution to why I can't download SP1 so that I can get IE9 so that means I will never be able to install an upgrade to Internet Explorer ever because I can't get the SP1 to install.  This is terrible.  I wish if something was conflicting with the install it would say so but I close down everything before trying it.  I am just so confused now, have no clue what I'm going to do.

Well maybe you get you're friend in work to reinstall it. I have never came across this case as I have either installed the service packs straight after factory settings, or slipstreamed them in my installation discs. 

It is worrying that your Windows isn't updating.

I would suggest that you go to Google Chrome (also use the free adblock extension for a better online experience) opposed to sticking to IE8. I actually use it over IE9 mainly because of the adblock =) but also it is slightly nippier. 

Compare Google Chrome (left) to IE9 (right) you can see they are very similar. This is actually the same website on both, at the same time (I have multiple monitors) - you can see the adblock extension works pretty effectively.

I am getting a notice that my Malwarebytes has one more day for the trial offer, does that mean I have to purchase this?  Thought it was free.  Or is that the pro version that they are talking about?  Will it run just as good with the free version?  Would like to keep it, looks like a good program.  I have SpySweeper installed on my computer as well, does Malwarebytes detect stuff that SpySweeper doesn't?  All the scans that I've done with Malwarebytes show absolutely nothing so not sure if I should keep this or just stay with my SpySweeper.  Your opinion would be great.  I also have ESET NOD32 as my antibirus.  Let me know what you think.  Thanks.

Ok thank you for your help, will do.

Never ran the trial of the pro version for the full 14 days. I would assume it will revert to the free version. The free version only runs when you instruct it to, it only updates when you instruct it to and only scans when you instruct it to. I would say its handy to have around even if you aren't going to buy it. Just run it, update, tell it to scan from time to time.

So does this Google Chrome take over Internet Explorer alltogether?  You said it's the same thing as IE9, will I be able to install it without having the SP1 installed?  Does this Google Chrome have updates just like the Internet Explorers?  Let me know and I will download it if it's better then IE9, I will take your word for it and I'm sure it's a lot better then IE8 correct?

Well they are both web browsers.

Internet Explorer 7, 8, 9 are made by Microsoft and as default ship with Microsoft Windows,

Google Chrome is made by Google and has a very simplistic interface (no bulk menus etc.). The search and the address bar merged together to become one and the same.Microsoft took a similar approach with IE9 and so they look very similar. I use this one as default as I mentioned above.

Mozilla Firefox is another web browser that is open source. This one is preferred by a great deal of people but its never really appealed to me.

Safari is one made by Apple. I am not a big fan of Apple in general so don't use it.

There are quite a few other ones aswell the four listed above are the most widely used.

Essentially you can install all web browsers and use them all from the start menu, when you install one it will ask you if you want to set it as you're default. When you run one that isn't your default it will generally have a pop-up asking you if you want to make it you're default. It may be worth a test run of them all to see what you prefer. You may uninstall them in the usual way if you decide you don't like them.

You're problem seems to be with Microsofts Update (IE9, SP1 etc.). Since the other browser are not made by Microsoft I think they should install fine. Can only try to find out. All can be found with a quick google search. There is all sorts of websites and tests etc. comparing them but at the end of the day go with what you prefer.

Keep in mind that nature offered his opinion, and in mine, it is NOT better. Workarounds might b ok but it simply ignores the underlying problem. Have you tried downloading sp1 and IE9 in both ways ... Windows Update AND the standalone installer?

Yes as mentioned above, it is my opinion. I like IE9 and Google Chrome both alot. I also rather browse with the adblock addin and a greatly reduced amount of adverts. That is the main reason I take Chrome over IE9. I prefer both to Firefox but Firefox to Safari and Opera.

There are alot of browsers available, you can find endless debates of people arguing which one is the best. Some of these people know what they are talking about and some have almost no idea. There are endless tests for security, performance, stability, etc. etc. Often referring to different versions as they are regularly updated. While it is good to read peoples thoughts about each, the best way is to give them a try and see what one you like the best. They all have the same basic function in common, some work better than others for different things but they are all more or less stable. Likewise for security software with the exception that the web browsers are free.

IE9 is more up to date then IE8 and has alot of improvements. I however think that alot of the improvements in IE9 are also present in Chrome.

It does ignore the main problem with the Windows Updates and I personally would have reinstalled everything from scratch in order to ensure the updates work correctly. As it may cause problems later on it time. If you are uncomfortable with the reinstall procedure it may be better for you to get the guy who done it the first time to reinstall it and ask that he installs the standalone updates... However I would say reinstalling everything yourself is alot easier then it looks.

If I install these and see which one I like the best, can I use this browser rather then any Internet Explorer ones from Microsoft?  Will using one of these browser rather then one from Microsoft do any damage to my computer for updates or things like that?  If it's totally safe, then I will see which one I like better and go with that.  Please let me know, thank you.