Can't find win7 drivers!  


  1. Posts : 3
    Vista 32bit Home Premium-I want a clean install of windows 7 professional either 32 or 64 bit
       #1

    Can't find win7 drivers!


    I have vista 32bit home premium on my June 2008 dell inspiron 1420 notebook. I bought windows 7 professional full version (not just the upgrade)
    Dell’s site says that my computer isn’t compatible.

    I've checked plenty of forums, and while some people had issues, people seem to have found solutions. But, I have some concerns. I ran win7 upgrade advisor and there are some software issues, but updates are available for the ones I want, and there are some that I don’t need/want anymore.

    Devices for 32bit report says my printer, Linksys usb root hub (router? I don’t have a usb receiver installed), and my Dell wireless 1395 WLAN mini card are unknown. The printer I know is compatible and so is my router assuming that is what the hub is.
    For the 64 bit report it says the same thing only this time, the wifi card is compatible.
    I asked dell if they knew why. (even though they won’t support my windows 7…I bought it from Microsoft with a student discount)

    They said it was because the 32 bit report thinks I am planning on doing an upgrade. I think I want to do a clean custom install either 32 or 64 bit. They said if I do a clean install of 32 or 64 bit then the wifi card should be compatible because by reformatting I will effectively be uninstalling and reinstalling the card. Although it says its compatible, I can’t find a win7 driver for it from Broadcom or Dell. Does that mean it will run native?

    Upgrade Advisor says my Intel 965 Express chipset (I believe there is a gma x3100 vid card within this chipset as well as matrix something and SATA) is compatible. But, dell doesn’t have win7 drivers for it. Intel does, but they and their driver update utility told me that dell has customized my driver for my chipset. What does this mean? Will my computer work on the native win7 chipset drivers or on the intel site drivers? Is there any chance that it could permanently damage my computer or its components?

    For that matter, can any driver damage a component? If it doesn’t work, will I still be able to pop my vista oem reinstallation CD to go back? Speaking of which, how does installing drivers work? Can I just throw everything at the wall and see what sticks as in keep installing drivers, or do I need to install if it doesn’t work, uninstall then try another and so on?
    Dell does have an updated vista driver. Should I try that? Should I try the older one that I have now? Will windows update be able to get it working?

    What should the order of options be? Do I try a dell vista driver in compatibility mode made for my model over a win7 intel non customized driver? When should I try a windows update or a native driver over a manufacterer's driver? Basically is there some sort of recommended chain of command?

    Finally, when it comes to this, what do you recommend for install options.
    Would it be worth it to try the 32bit upgrade first? (uninstall and reinstall the wifi card like dell said) Do my drivers stay when I do an upgrade? Or just things like documents music etc.
    If that doesn’t work, should I try the 32bit clean or the 64 bit clean?

    Can I use Windows 7 to make an Image of this once I get it perfect and then put it onto CD's or a flash drive?

    One last question. Is it likely that Dell will come out with a driver package in the future. Or will they not bother in an attempt to get me to buy a new computer.

    Also, do either of you have any idea if there are other things I should look out for?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 28,845
    Win 8 Release candidate 8400
       #2

    mcfatty said:
    I have vista 32bit home premium on my June 2008 dell inspiron 1420 notebook. I bought windows 7 professional full version (not just the upgrade)
    Dell’s site says that my computer isn’t compatible.

    I've checked plenty of forums, and while some people had issues, people seem to have found solutions. But, I have some concerns. I ran win7 upgrade advisor and there are some software issues, but updates are available for the ones I want, and there are some that I don’t need/want anymore.

    Devices for 32bit report says my printer, Linksys usb root hub (router? I don’t have a usb receiver installed), and my Dell wireless 1395 WLAN mini card are unknown. The printer I know is compatible and so is my router assuming that is what the hub is.
    For the 64 bit report it says the same thing only this time, the wifi card is compatible.
    I asked dell if they knew why. (even though they won’t support my windows 7…I bought it from Microsoft with a student discount)

    They said it was because the 32 bit report thinks I am planning on doing an upgrade. I think I want to do a clean custom install either 32 or 64 bit. They said if I do a clean install of 32 or 64 bit then the wifi card should be compatible because by reformatting I will effectively be uninstalling and reinstalling the card. Although it says its compatible, I can’t find a win7 driver for it from Broadcom or Dell. Does that mean it will run native?

    Upgrade Advisor says my Intel 965 Express chipset (I believe there is a gma x3100 vid card within this chipset as well as matrix something and SATA) is compatible. But, dell doesn’t have win7 drivers for it. Intel does, but they and their driver update utility told me that dell has customized my driver for my chipset. What does this mean? Will my computer work on the native win7 chipset drivers or on the intel site drivers? Is there any chance that it could permanently damage my computer or its components?

    For that matter, can any driver damage a component? If it doesn’t work, will I still be able to pop my vista oem reinstallation CD to go back? Speaking of which, how does installing drivers work? Can I just throw everything at the wall and see what sticks as in keep installing drivers, or do I need to install if it doesn’t work, uninstall then try another and so on?
    Dell does have an updated vista driver. Should I try that? Should I try the older one that I have now? Will windows update be able to get it working?

    What should the order of options be? Do I try a dell vista driver in compatibility mode made for my model over a win7 intel non customized driver? When should I try a windows update or a native driver over a manufacterer's driver? Basically is there some sort of recommended chain of command?

    Finally, when it comes to this, what do you recommend for install options.
    Would it be worth it to try the 32bit upgrade first? (uninstall and reinstall the wifi card like dell said) Do my drivers stay when I do an upgrade? Or just things like documents music etc.
    If that doesn’t work, should I try the 32bit clean or the 64 bit clean?

    Can I use Windows 7 to make an Image of this once I get it perfect and then put it onto CD's or a flash drive?

    One last question. Is it likely that Dell will come out with a driver package in the future. Or will they not bother in an attempt to get me to buy a new computer.

    Also, do either of you have any idea if there are other things I should look out for?
    I am using that exact computer. You can use the vista 32bit drivers in compatibility mode. You should not have any problems. My install automatically got all the drivers but one

    Ken
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 3
    Vista 32bit Home Premium-I want a clean install of windows 7 professional either 32 or 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    When you say you have the same exact computer, do you mean the same components as me including the 1395 mini card and intel 965 chipset? I have seen people on other forums with the same computer with some different components, so I just want to be sure.

    Also when it comes to the install, do you mean that windows update along with native drivers were able to find all of the drivers but when automatically?
    What was the one driver it didn't find?

    By the way, how has windows 7 been running on this model. Any better/faster better use of memory or battery? Any other concerns I should know about?

    Also, thanks so much for responding! It's my first forum post!
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 1
    W7
       #4

    You should be fine.
    For the missing driver's just use the vista driver if there is no driver yet (might still come out).
    As for speed all my Test's (on 4 different machines)have shown, faster than vista .

    J.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 128
    Windows 8 X64 M3 8102 / Windows 7 Ultimate X64
       #5

    and also in some cases i have got XP drivers to work on some of my old printer's. and you can also unzip the EXE installed and extract the files into system folder.

    Like my PCI Voodoo 2 on my windows 7 x86 file server 3rd part WDM works great when used and tweaked riht
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 3
    Vista 32bit Home Premium-I want a clean install of windows 7 professional either 32 or 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Thanks everyone!
    Can either of you give me a chain of command when it comes to what drivers to try first? In general, should I only look for drivers from dell and component manufacterers if windows update/native drivers doesn't find them. Just in case a vista driver doesn't work, should I try an XP driver?

    More specifically with my intel 965 express chipset family, would it be best to try a customized by dell vista driver rather than just a windows 7 intel driver?

    Also, microsoft has advised me to update my BIOS. Dell has an optional update for it. Right now I have a version A09 and they have A10. Is there any chance this will mess up my computer especially if I need to go back to vista? I assume not as it is being put out by dell for my specific system.

    @apollodominion: I see zip folders i've heard of them, but what the heck are they? how do they work? how can this help with a potential driver issue.

    Thanks again everyone!
    Matt
      My Computer


 

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