Clean Reinstall Windows 7 on laptop - Drivers

[AliAbela]

Performing a clean reinstallation of Windows 7 on a Dell Inspiron N5010. Should I let Windows Update give me everything that I need, and then look for drivers on the Dell website for anything that does not work properly? Because I think that a lot of the stuff that their website recommends you install will end up as useless clutter ...

Thanks

 

[theog]

Download your drivers from the Dell website before reinstalling.

 

[gregrocker]

Yes, WIn7 is not XP and will decide which drivers it wants and provide them from the installer and from optional Windows Updates when you enable Automatically get recommended drivers and updates for your hardware.

Everything you need to get a perfect reinstall is detailed and provided in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

Be sure to read the section on how drivers are handled in WIn7, and the Special Note for Dell Owners at end. I'd also begin by running Dell Diagnostics from the F12 key at boot.