How to know what drivers you will need for clean install.

I am upgrading from Vista premium to 7 pro. I'm doing a clean install.
I have read allot to prepare and I am lost when it comes to the following questions.
Yes I know I ask allot of questions but I'm stupid and it's my job.





I have read that I need to download all the latest system device drivers before I install.
I would then have to also get directions on how to install as some require special methods
I have gleaned that some will come with installers.
Then I guess the others I would go to device manager right click on a sub menu and click upgrade driver and browse to where I have it stored, right?
In order for me to know what drivers I need I have read the following tips.
1. Run DriverMax and go by the list it provides.
2. Any sub menu in device manager is a driver I will need.
3. Go to my pc manufacturer (hP) and input my model # and OS version to see list
4. Run SIW or Belarc to get a list.
These are the problems:
They all 4 seem to list the drivers differently-very confusing
I have found that some of the list splits some drivers into 2 or 3 names.
In Device manager, Sub menu under Computer says: ACPIx86-based pc. ? This is a driver name?
Every list has different amount of drivers listed. No way this newbie will ever figure it out.

The word "Latest" is in a lot of tutorials, when describing what version of the driver I need. Yet I have heard if it isn't broke don’t fix it.
Hp will not even give a list of drivers for the windows 7 Os.
The drivers HP list for me are all older versions except maybe one or two.
I ran windows compatibility tool and it listed one incompatibility and gave me a download .
The download says this "15.35_nforce_win7_32bit_international_whql (1)" I Don't know what it is.
Cross reference to driver max list it could be either of the following for all I know:
Display adapters
NVIDIA GeForce 7150M / nForce 630M
Network adapters
NVIDIA nForce 10/100 Mbps Ethernet
System Devices
NVIDIA nForce PCI System Management
NVIDIA nForce System Management Controller

Some say let windows update do most drivers.
Some say download all the "Latest" and have the older ones that work right for you.
Some say Upgrade later after clean install.
I can't get a handle on it.
There really need be be a tutorial Named "How to identifying the drivers you should have before a clean install".
The terms are not constant when naming drivers. Chipset/Mother board? CPU/processor? Grahics/video card? It is too confusing for a newbie.
I have studied for 100 hrs or more preparing myself for a clean install and 50% of that on drivers and still can't get it.
I've read: Priority lies with video, sound and network drivers. Is this all I need before hand? And should it be the Latest and not the ones that already are on my system and working?


Other issues:
Brink says that I "may" need to flash Bios in his Windows 7 clean install Tut. Is this the one I need to do?
Hp does list an update called Bios. System Bios. Yet when I run their program called Hp support it says everything is up to date. Yet their website section for drivers a system bios update. Hmmm
The term Bios seems to be used as if it refers to a specific thing. Yet then I guess that video cards also have a Bios. I'm confused.
I guess I should do this do this before I load 7 and than when I re-format my system drive during the install this will not be affected. Right?

During the Install the master boot record will be picked up and restored correct?
Should I run a MBR hacker program and back it up?

Will my Linux Unbutu live cd be a way for me to reload the MBR if I should need too?
I need a tutorial for the bios flash. I have only found one for graphics cards they are different right? lol See how a tutorial is needed.

This is not XP. Win7 is driver-complete with newer arriving quickly via optional Windows Updates when you enable driver auto-updating: Automatically get recommended drivers and updates for your hardware

Any drivers then missing in Device Manager can be found on the Support Downloads webpage for the Device or Computer model.

I would not change out any drivers given by the installer/Updates unless performance problems are confirmed to be caused by them. Driver programs, like registry and optimizer programs, are not advised in Win7.

Put any wireless driver on a stick just in case so you can get online quickly after install to run your Updates.

Other tips for getting a perfect Win7 install based on hundreds done here - use the ones which apply: Reinstalling Windows 7

gregrocker said:

Put any wireless driver on a stick just in case so you can get online quickly after install to run your Updates.

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Is this the wireless? Broadcom 802.11b/g WLAN or this
HP Wireless Assistant
2009-07-23 , Version:3.50.9.1, 3.94M

Thanks for responding
I've read other post of yours before.
Your'e a fan of windows update for drivers but others disagree. Your advice is probably the best especially for those confused as I am.
Yet Brink writes this.
• Before doing this*clean*install, you should download and save all of your device drivers to DVD, or some other media, to have them handy to make setting Windows 7 up easier later. Sometimes using the Vista drivers in Windows 7, you will need to use*Compatibility Mode*on the driver for it to*install.


Also what do I do with application that Windows 7 upgrade adviser had me download.



Also I ran Siw and saw many information errors from my bios. Should I flash my Bios before install? The bios would come from the pc manufacturer? In my case HP?
or is the Bios a motherboard thing which in my case is still HP.
This is the update that Hp list for me. Is this the bios that has to be flashed and that i should recruit help performing.

I am referring to Brinks following statement In windows 7 clean install. I do have more ram than 2 gb.

• Sometimes you may have a problem with installing Windows 7 with more than 2 GB of RAM installed on some older motherboards. If you have this problem, then you should*install*Windows 7 with a maximum of 2GB of RAM installed and add the rest of the RAM after Windows 7 is fully installed. You may need to flash your motherboard BIOS with the latest version to support more RAM like this. (WARNING*-*DO NOT FLASH THE BIOS if you do not know what you are doing. Please ask for help instead. One mistake can kill your motherboard permanently.)


Thanks Gregrocker.

1) Most Vista drivers will work with Windows 7

2) The priority driver is for the Network card.

3) For a tutorial to update BIOS, check on HP website for your model.

4) Formating & partitioning the drive, take a look at this tutorial:
SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

5) Rebuild MBR, take a look at this tutorial:
How to use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment to troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows

shouldn't need drivers for win 7 build like the above post(s) said... But if you're nervous, just download the NIC driver.

brady said:

shouldn't need drivers for win 7 build like the above post(s) said... But if you're nervous, just download the NIC driver.

Thanks Bradely.
What is the Nic driver also known as (AKA).

theog said:

2) The priority driver is for the Network card.

Thanks Theog.
Which one of these is the Network card?





Gregrocker Thanks
I looked in the device manager nothing says wireless. Is it one of the above in my pic?

This is why I think someone should write a tutorial on drivers and their AKA's. Listing the other names that are used.

You have a NVIDA nForce 10/100 Mbps Ethernet, wired Network card.

theog said:

You have a NVIDA nForce 10/100 Mbps Ethernet, wired Network card.

Thanks Again Theog
So the ethernet is "the hard wired" card... right? It would be safer for me to have this driver on a stick (Thumbdrive) right?


Thanks Gregrocker: So what is the wireless driver? The broadband one?

I am sorry if I ask stupid questions, but I am stupid.