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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?