Installation
overview
CAUTION This
section of the re-imaging guide covers driver installation and driver updates
and is designed for system administrators. Do not attempt to install or update
drivers on the system if you are not an administrator or if you are unsure of
the procedures. Failure to follow instructions may result in permanent data
loss.
NOTE Information provided
in this guide is only applicable to computers shipped with Windows 10 or Window
11 operating system.
NOTE Dell recommends that
you download and install the device drivers from the Dell
Drivers & Downloads website. Installing device drivers
from a non-Dell website can cause system performance issues, corrupt operating
system files, blue screen errors, unexpected shutdowns, or infect your computer
with malicious software.
Device drivers must be updated when you reinstall the
operating system using either a CD, DVD, USB key, or when you are facing
networking, graphics, sound or other hardware-related problems. Dell recommends
that you install or update device drivers if you have performed a factory reset
of your Dell computer using the
Dell Backup and Recovery
application or other factory-reset methods. This ensures that you have the
latest device drivers installed on your computer and that the devices function
optimally.
Installing or updating device drivers may lead to the
following improvements:
- Increases in
system performance
- Patched security
risks
- Expanded
compatibility
- Fixed device
issues
- Support for new
features
However, if your computer is operating normally and there
are no driver issues or updates being prompted by Windows, driver updates may
be unnecessary. Updating drivers unnecessarily may create new problems.
Review the importance of each driver update on the Dell
Drivers & Downloads page before
assessing the need to continue with an update.