Windows 7: Win7 clean install - is Chipset driver package needed?

I have done a number of Windows 7 clean installs on desktops. So far I have found no need for installing the vendor specific chipset drivers. All devices have, so far, been recognized, and for the most part a basic driver has been installed with Windows 7. Secondary vendor specific drivers are sometimes needed for video cards, printers and audio devices, etc.

1) Is the baseline Windows 7 installation including the appropriate chipset driver, via an MS download, by default?

2) If all devices are working correctly, is there any need to locate and install the vendor specific chipset driver when available?

Since many of the systems I have upgraded using a clean install have been from XP 32 bit to Windows 7 64-bit on Dell systems, sometimes a chipset driver package is not even available (at least from Dell) that is Windows 7 64-bit specific.

I remember having to hunt down vendor specific MOBO chipset drivers to pacify XP but the problem seems to have minimized with Windows 7.

What has been your experience?

Hi,

* Just have a look in device manager. If you have any exclamation or question mark for unknown devices, you can just update the driver via online.

* Sometimes, you may get audio problems while using the microphone, However, you will be able to hear windows sounds, music and other audios. To make your microphone work, you will have to update the drivers.

* Otherwise, you can just go ahead and use drivers that were installed by Windows 7.

Hope this helps

generally speaking not installing the chipset drivers isn't going to be a problem for the typical user whose main use of a pc is surfing the web and maybe working away in ms office. personally i install every driver that i feel i need. and for the the hardware pieces i don't use i just disable them in either the hardware profile or in the bios set up.

Installing the chipset in Windows 7 is oldthink from Vista and XP days.

MS sponosored the WHQL program to build Windows 7 drivers with all manufacturers so has the drivers first in the installer and via Windows Updates.

As stated you only need to hunt down drivers missing in Deivce Manager, or if performance problems dictate.

Thanks to all!

I was hoping it was just my "old XP thinking" because the Windows 7 installs all went so well. I have only had a few audio driver updates needed. And of course some printers.

Even the laptops have gone well, though they require some added steps to get the keyboard function keys and other vendor specific functions working well.