After a clean installation of the Microsoft Windows 7 operating system, you must
install the following drivers/software packages in the following sequence.

SLN285255_en_US__2iC_OKB_new_note_BD_v1 Note:
Some components may or may not be on your system depending on build and specification.
The list below shows which section heading each driver is listed under on the Dell Support Website for your system. Before choosing your drivers be sure and select the correct Operating system, I.E. Windows 7 from the drop down list.

Dell Notebook System Software - System Utilities
Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility - Chipset Drivers
IDT STAC 9205 Audio - Audio Drivers
Video Driver Installation - Video
Ricoh R5C8xx Cardbus Controller - Chipset Drivers
Dell Control Point Security Manager - System Devices
Intel 82567LM GigaLAN - Network Drivers
Wireless Driver - Network Drivers
Bluetooth Driver and Stack - Communications Applications
Dell Touch Pad - Input Drivers

SLN285255_en_US__2iC_OKB_new_note_BD_v1 Note:
Please use this page only as a guide, illustrating how Device Manager will look during driver install. Drivers can be downloaded from www.dell.com/support
1.

Dell Notebook System Software


Install the Dell Notebook System Software update from the Dell Support Website or by inserting the Dell Resource DVD.

If you are installing from the DVD, choose Windows 7>System Utilities>Dell Notebook System Software.

Dell System Software is a compilation of critical Microsoft hotfixes & updates and also enables and enhances the smart card controller

Back to the top

2.

Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility


Check if the Intel Chipset Utility driver is installed by looking at Device Manager (shown below). Install the Intel chipset update from the Dell Support Website or by inserting the Dell Resource DVD.

If you are installing from the DVD, choose Windows 7>Chipset Drivers>Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility.

SLN285255_en_US__41384361874191.Exx00 Chipset


Back to the top

3.

IDT STAC 9205 Audio


Check if the IDT Audio driver is installed by looking at Device Manager (shown below). Install the IDT 92HDxxx HD Audio. update from the Dell Support Website or by inserting the Dell Resource DVD.

If you are installing from the DVD, choose Windows 7>Audio Drivers>IDT STAC 9205. .

SLN285255_en_US__51384361918441.Exx00 Audio

Back to the top
4.

Video Driver Installation


Install the Intel GMA HD Video Driver from the Dell Support Website or by inserting the Dell Resource DVD.

If you are installing from the DVD, choose Windows 7>Video Drivers>Mobile Intel GMA X4500 Video Controller.

SLN285255_en_US__61384361963224.Exx00 Intel GMA
Back to the top

5.

Ricoh R5C8xx Cardbus Controller


Install the Ricoh Media Card Reader driver from the Dell Support Website or by inserting the Dell Resource DVD.

If you are installing from the DVD, choose Windows 7>Chipset Drivers>Ricoh R5C8xx Cardbus Controller.

This will install the updated media card driver with Ricoh R5C8xx Cardbus Controller.

SLN285255_en_US__71384362057413.Exx00 Cardbus

Back to the top

6.

Dell ControlPoint Security


By default the fingerprint driver is not installed. The Dell ControlPoint Security Manager can be updated through the Dell Support Website or Resource DVD.

If you are installing from the DVD, choose Windows 7>System Devices>Broadcom USH driver.

SLN285255_en_US__81384362093867.Exx00 Broadcom USH

BBack to the top
7.

Intel 82567LM GigaLAN


Check if the network card driver is installed by looking at Device Manager shown below. It will show an exclamation mark on Ethernet Controller. Install the Intel 82567LM GigaLAN Network Device update from the Dell Support Website or by inserting the Dell Resource DVD.

If you are installing from the DVD, choose Windows 7>Network Drivers>Intel 82567LM GigaLAN network controller

SLN285255_en_US__91384362140164.Exx00 Intel LAN
Back to the top

8.

Wireless Driver


Check if the WLAN driver is installed by looking at Device Manager shown below. It will show an exclamation mark on Network Controller. For this example, we're using the Intel 5300 WLAN card. Install the Intel Wi-Fi Link 5xxx Series WLAN Half-Mini Card update from the Dell Support Website or by inserting the Dell Resource DVD.

If you are installing from the DVD, choose Windows 7>Network Drivers>Intel Wi-Fi Link 5300 / 5100 Half-Height Mini-Card Driver or the Dell Wireless 1397 / 1510 Half-Height Mini-Card Driver.

SLN285255_en_US__101384362171337.Exx00 Wireless

Back to the top

9.

Dell Wireless Bluetooth Module


By default the Bluetooth driver is installed however please update the Dell Wireless Bluetooth Module update from the Dell Support Website or by inserting the Dell Resource DVD.

If you are installing from the DVD, choose Windows 7>Communications Applications>Dell Wireless Bleep Bluetooth Module

SLN285255_en_US__111384362254526.Exx00 Bluetooth Wireless
Back to the top
10.

Dell Touchpad


Check if the touchpad driver is installed by looking at Device Manager shown below. Install the Dell Touchpad update from the Dell Support Website or by inserting the Dell Resource DVD.

If you are installing from the DVD, choose Windows 7>Input Drivers>Dell Multi-Touch Touchpad

Starting the Setup
To start this Windows install. You will want to tap the F12 key at the Dell splash Screen. On the Boot once menu you will need to choose the Optical Drive and press the ENTER key. This is your CD/DVD Drive.

A message Press any key to boot from DVD..... will appear at the top left hand side of the screen, press the space bar to continue.

SLN155401_en_US__21373289229654.win7pressanykey

The Windows 7 Professional DVD will begin to load files, this may take sometime.

SLN155401_en_US__31373289250389.win7loadingfiles

Windows 7 will now start the reinstall procedure.

SLN155401_en_US__41373289271827.win7Startingwindows.

First you need to select your language, then time and currency.

SLN155401_en_US__51373289291297.Image25

Next set your Keyboard Language. This may have changed correctly when Time and Currency option was selected, if not change as needed. Click Next to continue.

SLN155401_en_US__61373289311266.Image27

Your Keyboard input method will change to the most common used under the Time and Currency selected, you can change this now if needed.

SLN155401_en_US__71373289334329.Image29

Once happy with your selection click on Next to continue.

Now the Install Windows 7 screen will appear, Click on Install now to continue and begin the reinstall of Windows.

SLN155401_en_US__81373289355376.Image33

Setup will begin.

SLN155401_en_US__91373289417784.Image35

You will now see the bar pictured below at the bottom of the screen. It has no relevance to Time in general. It moves at varying speeds. Don't be worried if it stays in any particular spot for long periods of time.

SLN155401_en_US__101373289467160.indexf1

Now the License agreement page.

SLN155401_en_US__111373289487645.win71

Read them and click on I accept the License terms then click Next to continue. If you don't agree then it won't continue past this point.

SLN155401_en_US__121373289509693.win72

Now the Type of installation. Click on Custom (Advanced) to continue to the drives section.

SLN155401_en_US__131373289445222.Image49


Back to Top

Setting up the New Hard Drive for the Install
Hard drive setup comes next. Click next for Automatic Hard Drive setup using full capacity. Otherwise click on the Drive Options menu to configure the drive yourself.

Note: If the hard drive cannot be seen then use the How to Troubleshoot a Hard Drive Not Detected error on a Dell PC guide and follow the No HDD detected. instructions.
SLN155401_en_US__141377169722294.indexf2

On the Drive Options Menu click on New.

SLN155401_en_US__151377169755607.indexf3

On the Drive Options Menu select the size you want the partition to be - Or manually type it in to the box. Then click Apply to continue.

Note: Remember Windows 7 needs a minimum of 16GB of space to operate in.
SLN155401_en_US__161377169836593.indexf4

On the Drive Options Menu you will get a message saying Windows warns that it may need to create a few partitions for the system, Click OK to continue.

SLN155401_en_US__171377169791983.indexf5

Setting the drive up may take a few minutes.

SLN155401_en_US__181377169870327.indexf6

On the Drive Options Menu select the partition that says Primary underneath Type and click on Format to finalize the hard drives setup.

Note: There are now two partitions, Windows 7 created the first Disk 0 Partition 1 by itself for Windows files. Disk 0 Partition 2 is the one you wanted to configure, and its the only one you should format, and any others you setup after this stage of course.
SLN155401_en_US__191377169904375.indexf7

You will be warned about the format, that all data will be lost that's on this drive, click OK to continue.

SLN155401_en_US__201377169939125.indexf8

Now select the drive you created - Disk 0 Partition 2 in the picture. This will be the same drive that you formatted in the previous step.

SLN155401_en_US__211377169970625.indexf9

Once its selected click Next to begin the install of Windows 7.


Back to Top

Copy System files to the Hard Drive
Windows will now begin copying files

SLN155401_en_US__221373289770278.indexf11

Once done it will begin expanding the Quickly copied files

SLN155401_en_US__231373289792106.indexf12

and expand.

SLN155401_en_US__241373289817685.indexf15

When the files are Expanded it will now install features.

SLN155401_en_US__251373289852733.indexf16

It will restart after 10 seconds or you can click Restart to speed it up.

SLN155401_en_US__261373289875686.indexf18

The computer will restart and post again.


Back to Top

Configuring the Setup
Windows 7 is now Starting Windows.

SLN155401_en_US__271373289924016.win7Startingwindows.

Windows sets up the Registry.

SLN155401_en_US__281373289972189.windows7updating registry

Another screen appears, saying setup is Starting Windows 7's services.

SLN155401_en_US__291373290008659.indexf23

Setup now completes the reinstallation.

SLN155401_en_US__301373290048378.indexf24

It will restart again after 10 seconds.

SLN155401_en_US__311373290075676.indexf25

Windows is starting again.

SLN155401_en_US__321373290103661.win7Startingwindows.

Setup now prepares the system for First use.

SLN155401_en_US__331373290140303.win7setupispreparingyourcomputerforfirstuse

This will be the first time in 30-45 minutes where you will need to do something, An Account and Computer name is required.

SLN155401_en_US__341373290173116.indexf29

Fill these in and click Next.

Next you'll see the password setting screen. Either leave it bank without one or fill in the password box, retype to confirm and leave yourself a hint in case you forget it. Click Next to continue.

SLN155401_en_US__351373290215430.indexf31

If you have done the reinstall from your Dell Reinstall Media then you will not need to put in a Windows Product Key.

Now the built in Windows protection modes will pop up. We recommend the top option Use Recommended settings, this will enable updates to be downloaded and reinstalled, click on your selection to continue.

SLN155401_en_US__361373290248712.indexf35

Now you must review your time and date settings

SLN155401_en_US__371373290290931.indexf36

Change your time zone to your present location. Once that's done then click on Next to continue.

SLN155401_en_US__381373290329792.indexf37

Now your Network configuration page is next, if you want to setup the new Homegroup network system then use this option.

If you want a standard network setup then use Work Network, allowing you to browse and see other computers.

Anywhere that's public, that would be a risk to your files and security, select Public Network.

SLN155401_en_US__391373290362324.indexf38

Windows 7 setup will now connect to your network and setup the required settings.

SLN155401_en_US__401373290402200.indexf39

The Homegroup option in Home networking allows you to select what you want to share, and also provides a password, for others to access the Homegroup.

Note: Note this password down as its needed for others to get access to your network.
Note: Users of Media Center, Vista - and above, and XBOX 360 will be familiar with this type of setup.
You can choose skip this now and setup later, or make selections, note password and press Next to continue.


Back to Top

Starting Windows for the first time
Windows 7 will now finalize your settings

SLN155401_en_US__411373290495530.indexf42

Setup brings up the Welcome screen.

SLN155401_en_US__421373290528813.indexf43

Windows prepares the desktop.

SLN155401_en_US__431373290559141.indexf44

The Windows will update the desktop.

SLN155401_en_US__441373290592830.indexf45

Browser customisations will install.

SLN155401_en_US__451373290628659.indexf46

Any updates will now install. Remember that on the next reboot you will be prompted for a password. If you set one up.

SLN155401_en_US__461373290660894.indexf47

Go to the guide below to go through your driver install.

How to use the Dell Support Site to identify and install the drivers for your Dell PC
Note: Using Dell OEM Media to reinstall the operating system on a Dell PC should not require a specific activation or entry of a specific product key.

(Although one will be supplied with the machine if a Windows 7 OS or older was sold with the PC.)

If you are having activation issues after a reinstall then please go to the Microsoft page below for help in resolving them :

Help Activating Microsoft Windows SLN155401_en_US__47iC_External_Link_BD_v1

Back to Top