Update on that refurb'd Dell 9020 I've posted about

[FredTastic]

Been tweaking a refurb'd 9020 I got last week. Came w/10, which any thinking person simply HATES so I formatted the SSD & loaded & activated 7 home 64, updating to SP1. I can get online, able to drive 2 monitors, audio seems ok. Added a 4 SATA 6G PCI card, and 5 drives, including the OS one. But it's been a PITA updating all the drivers & software, much more than I anticipated, and I say that as someone who's built several PC's. Some things like the printer driver loaded fine, but others, like the Logitech utility for my wireless K400 do absolutely nothing when I click the .exe. Brief rotating circle, then nothing. Also can't load the office 2010 I have, gets about 3/4 done, then says "an error occurred" or some similarly worthless message. Tried loading Libre office suite, seems like it's going to load, unpacks, etc., but gets about 3/4 done and tells me a I need KB2999226. Dl'd it, tried to load it, just get an error "This is not for this OS" or words to that effect. Another weirdy; I sometimes run a VPN, which still works fine on the older PC, but when I run it on the new one, it connects to the server & acts like it's going to work, then just keeps "failing" & trying again. Looking at the Dell update page for this PC (entering my service tag#) I get the following list of drivers, etc., which have been updated since the machine was 1st built (~2013), or which I otherwise need. Note that the BIOS running is the most recent, thank god (I can just imagine the hell replacing the bios would be at this point). I have installed some of these, but this has been so fiddly and dragged-out, I frankly have forgotten which I've already added (anywhere on the PC I can look that up?). Some of these don't load, and I'm wondering if I need to add them in a certain order. Any input would be appreciated, THANKS!

 

[SIW2]

Easier to use media that already includes SP1.

Then download simplix update pack. SiMPLiX UpdatePack7R2 20.10.15

IMPORTANT Place the net framework 4.8 installer next to simplix pack. dotNetFx48_20201013_x64.WA

Then run simplix pack. It reboots a couple of times and cleans up.

Then check in device manager for any missing drivers.

You are making it hard for yourself..

 

[FredTastic]

Thanks for the reply. I have run Simplix several times already, including w/the net framework file in the same folder. While it installed 10 or so updates, I'm still unable to install numerous items. I've tried running several of the Dell updates, some seem to have worked, but often the process runs for several minutes, then "unknown error" or similar. Also attempted to run Dell's update utility, which scans for needs, but of course, "only works for 8.0 or later." I'm not making this difficult; all aspects of this system DO NOT WANT users to make an older setup work, whether it's an OS or a PC. They want you to BUY A NEW ONE. And of course, they don't want to provide any support for users avoiding a new purchase. Surprise, surprise. I have looked in device manager. 2 items appear, "Unknown device" and SM bus controller. I am especially interested in the latter (I'm guessing the unknown device is that logitech keyboard for which the utility won't load), though as I understand its function, this is unlikely to be the reason things won't install. Naturally, the automated "update driver" from device manager never finds anything. I just tried installing "Intel Management Engine Components Installer," get the error below. "Cannot find file?" WHAT file??? Just one dead end after another. If anyone has any suggestions on how to implement the updates listed in that image, and in what order, please pass them on.

 

[flavallee]

1. Download and save these 5 primary drivers for your Dell OptiPlex 9020.
Intel Q87 chipset
Intel USB 3.0 host controller
Intel HD Graphics 4600
Intel I217-LM gigabit ethernet
Realtek ALC3220 high definition audio

2. Download and save Simplix Update Pack 20.10.15.

3. Do a clean install of Windows 7 SP1.

4. Run the update pack.
(The computer will restart 3 - 4 times)

5. Install the 5 primary drivers.
(Install the chipset driver first and the USB drivers second.
Restart the computer after installing each of the 5 drivers)

6. Make the desired personalization changes and other setting changes.

7. Installed the desired third party apps.

Done!

 

[FredTastic]

Thanks flavallee. The installation in question is SP1. I'm reluctant to give up on it, the install is about 90%, but I've loaded an SP1 iso on a 2nd ssd & will if that one sets up any better. PITA!

 

[SIW2]

Why aren't you using win7 Pro. ?

 

[FredTastic]

1. Download and save these 5 primary drivers for your Dell OptiPlex 9020.
Intel Q87 chipset

Of the updates listed in the pic I posted initially, or located at https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/product-support/product/optiplex-9020-desktop/drivers (basically ALL 9020 items) which is this?


Thanks

 

[FredTastic]

Why aren't you using win7 Pro. ?

Because I have only 1 valid Pro code & I'm running it on my 2nd PC

 

[SIW2]

It comes with the 9020. You are entitled to run win7 pro on there.
That is one of the advantages of getting oem prebuilt machine like that one.

 

[FredTastic]

Running Simplix now...

 

[Megahertz07]

After initial installation, with SP1 you should open device manager and look for missing drivers.
Only after having all drivers you should install other software (updates and programs)