Bought used Dell laptop, how to re-install windows for a clean setup?

[JohnnyScience]

And then I already downloaded this and installed it a while ago:

0x002B
Chip Number: E017105B
Chip Description: Atheros AR5B95 Wireless LAN 802.11 a/b/g/n Controller
Notes: http://download.wireless-driver.com/driver/Atheros/Atheros_wifi_921470-win7.zip

 

[gregrocker]

That's the results. I need the actual string from the Device Manager which will look like the sample in tutorial: PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0611&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_A2

 

[JohnnyScience]

Maybe we can focus on the ethernet driver & once we get that working I can hardwire it in to download the right wireless driver?

 

[JohnnyScience]

Ahh sorry it is:

PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_002B&SUBSYS_02041028REV_01

There are 3 other ones listed under this one, but from the tutorial you just need the 1st one right?

 

[gregrocker]

And then I already downloaded this and installed it a while ago:

0x002B
Chip Number: E017105B
Chip Description: Atheros AR5B95 Wireless LAN 802.11 a/b/g/n Controller
Notes: http://download.wireless-driver.com/driver/Atheros/Atheros_wifi_921470-win7.zip

It matches the make and model but not the subsys.

Did you install http://www.wireless-driver.com/athe...less-windows-xp-vista-win7-drivers-ver920458/

We should go first with the exact match for what the Device Manager says is installed.

 

[JohnnyScience]

Downloading & installing that one now too

 

[JohnnyScience]

Still nothing. Went in & ran the setup in the Install_CD folder, everything installed successfully.

Went to the network trouble shooter, it still detects the wifi card, but has no answers as how to fix it. Trying to restart computer now to see if that helps.

What other steps should I be trying once running the setup for the driver?

Should we focus on the ethernet drivers & try to hard wire first?

 

[gregrocker]

Tried another approach googling the model + wireless drivers and found several prospects, first this one: http://www.driver7vista.com/laptop/dell-inspiron-15-intel-n5040-windows-7-64-bit-drivers. These may have fallen off the Dell page as the rest look the same:

Dell Wireless WLAN 1502 Half Mini-Card A009.2.0.225 Driver R302518.exe (21MB)
Dell Wireless 1702 802.11 b/g/n, BT3.0+HS Driver R302518.exe (134MB)
Dell Wireless 1701 802.11 b/g/n Driver R302627.exe (104MB)
Realtek RTL8105E-VB 10/100 Ethernet Controller Driver R307625.exe (5MB)

Another mirror site to Dell same model downloads to compare here:
http://driverswin.com/dell-inspiron-n5040-drivers-win7/

and this page says its R302518: http://www.azsoftwaredownload.com/driver/dell-inspiron-15-n5040-wireless-lan-driver

Your idea to start with Ethernet is probably best since the wireless drivers for that model are jumbled.

 

[JohnnyScience]

Ok those are all downloading now, just try installing all of them, restarting & having it troubleshoot again?

 

[JohnnyScience]

Realtek RTL8105E-VB 10/100 Ethernet Controller Driver R307625.exe (5MB)

Progress!

This one fixed the ethernet & now I've got it hardwired & just tried to update the driver for the wireless & it's been searching online for software for the last minute or two now...

 

[JohnnyScience]

Damn it even after searching online it came back unable to install? WTF!!!

 

[gregrocker]

Realtek RTL8105E-VB 10/100 Ethernet Controller Driver R307625.exe (5MB)

Progress!

This one fixed the ethernet & now I've got it hardwired & just tried to update the driver for the wireless & it's been searching online for software for the last minute or two now...

Run WIndows Updates which should deliver all missing and newer drivers under Optional. Enable Automatically get recommended drivers and updates for your hardware

 

[JohnnyScience]

Ok running some things now. I was able to also successfully update Other Devices - Ethernet Controller & PCI Simple Communcations controller

Now it's just the wireless adapter left. It installed a couple of updates & I just restarted again & about to run the driver update again...

 

[gregrocker]

I think your wireless driver is R302518http://www.azsoftwaredownload.com/driver/dell-inspiron-15-n5040-wireless-lan-driver since all the rest are R302627 you tried earlier: http://www.azsoftwaredownload.com/dr...ess-lan-driver

 

[JohnnyScience]

Ok windows update was already set on auto-update & I tried updating the wireless driver through device manager after a restart & it's still not finding the driver.

R302518 is done & I'm going to try & install it now, be back in 2...

 

[JohnnyScience]

HOLY CHRIST IT WORKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Damn it I hate IT work lol

I really really really appreciate you taking all of the time today to help me out.

Now that I installed a bunch of drivers I don't need should I go back & just delete them? I know most were in the c:dell/drivers folder, but there were others in other folders, how could I find out what all of the junk I just installed was so I can delete it but keep the realtek ethernet driver & the Dell R302518 driver?

I really want this laptop as striped down as possible & ONLY have on what I absolutely need to keep it lightening fast.

 

[gregrocker]

Good work, Johnny. Perseverance always pays off.

Uninstall now any driver software that shows up in Control Panel>Programs and Features that you know was not needed.

Since you should rely on a WIn7 backup image for future reinstalls once you get it all set up and running perfectly per the tutorial, you can delete C:\Dell drivers folder, or just delete the numbers you recognize were unneeded.

While you're waiting for the Updates to install, get some sleep or read over again Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 so you're primed and rested to get it perfect.

And let us know how it goes.

 

[chris1neji]

Congratz i read this entire thread, Gregrocker is a very patient and tends to stick til the end